Translation Help Please

[Daws]

Good morning all, 

 

hoping to get some help on a translation for a sword which I am Purchasing from another WW2 collector. Not looking to sell it, but wanting to know if it is worth sending to Shinsa or if it is simply gimei. I am unable to find very much helpful info on the swordsmith and from what I hear, his signature is one of the most forged. Honestly looking for someone to verify my suspicions and tell me to stop obsessing over it. thanks in advance for any help you may provide.

very respectfully,

Daws

[Geraint]

Dear Daws.

 

As you will see from the link the two kanji above Kaboku are Ohmura, 

 

Now comes the challenge of seeing if you can find papered examples to compare.

 

All the best.

 

[Daws]

Thank you very much for your kindness in responding. So much to learn… trying to figure out if the sword’s characteristics match with Edo period papered examples (which is a challenge for a beginner). 

[moriarty]

Signature for this one should be:

 

越後幕下士大村加卜- Echigo Bakufu Samurai Omura Kato

真十五枚甲伏作- 15 True/Certified Armorers

Here's an Edo piece for auction, maybe you'll find it useful for comparison

 

https://www.myday.co...itemcode=n1081016464

 

God bless

 

 

[Daws]

Thank you very much Moriarty. that is extremely helpful… the mei do not match nor the hamon pattern? Is that enough to confirm that it is not Edo period and is gimei? 
 

[moriarty]

16 minutes ago, Daws said:

Thank you very much Moriarty. that is extremely helpful… the mei do not match nor the hamon pattern? Is that enough to confirm that it is not Edo period and is gimei? 
 

 

I have my own doubts about the signature myself, Omura is a rare and very highly regarded smith after all. Maybe you should post a picture of the whole blade, that could really help. 

 

                                   Kind Regards

[Yumso]

Here, this is papered Omura Kaboku mei.

https://ginza.choshu.../r2/04/02_kaboku.htm

To me "Omura" part seems quite similiar. But the date I'm not sure...

[Toryu2020]

Not a genuine Kaboku signature I am afraid...

[Daws]

Moriarty, please see attached:

 

I’m sorry, I cannot get the whole sword to download… 

 

Will send close up pics next if that helps

[Daws]

More pics:

 

thanks again to all that have replied… 

 

[Daws]

Moriarty,

 

please see attached full sword pics as requested:

 

hope this will help with period recognition. Since the mei is not correct, is this a modern copy? 

[Toryu2020]

More for comparison

[moriarty]

32 minutes ago, Daws said:

Moriarty,

 

please see attached full sword pics as requested:

 

hope this will help with period recognition. Since the mei is not correct, is this a modern copy? 

Greetings Daws, 

 

Very thankful for the pictures, although my pool of knowledge is limited, I believe this blade may be a fairly old gimei. Some other server members should give you a more concise opinion on this piece, since it looks so inconsistent. 

P.S In order to capture the Hamon activity, try using no flash, natural lighting and different angles with your phone/camera close to the blade. 

[ROKUJURO]

Daws,

it is obvious to me that your blade looks like a decent one (with the images available) while the NAKAGO inscription is a mess. It was probably done by a non-Japanese with a sharpened screwdriver and in a wrong manner, trying to copy a given MEI. So you have to look at the blade itself to find out the maker.

As a general remark on photographing NIHONTO, images of swords and especially NAKAGO should be:
 

- well focused and not blurry
- made with a dark, non reflective background for good contrast
- made with light from the side (does not apply for HAMON photos)
- made from directly above (not at an angle)
- made with correct orientation (tip-upwards) 
- without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI 
- made in high resolution to see details
- showing details of the sword like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc.
- presented as cut-outs so very little background is seen
 

[Daws]

Rokujuru,

 

thank you kindly for your response and guidance! Really appreciate the knowledge from forum members! 
 

Hope you have an awesome day!

 

Daws 

[SteveM]

 

22 hours ago, moriarty said:

越後幕下士大村加卜- Echigo Bakufu Samurai Omura Kato

真十五枚甲伏作- 15 True/Certified Armorers

 

越後幕下士大村加卜- Echigo Bakka-shi Ōmura Kaboku

真十五枚甲伏作- Shin jūgomai kōbuse saku (Made with 15-times folded steel)

[SteveM]

For Daws:

 

[moriarty]

43 minutes ago, SteveM said:

 

 

越後幕下士大村加卜- Echigo Bakka-shi Ōmura Kaboku

真十五枚甲伏作- Shin jūgomai kōbuse saku (Made with 15-times folded steel)

Thanks, wasn't sure about the last one at all, for a moment I thought it was a title😂

[Daws]

Thanks very much for the research and reply and you time Steve M! 
I understand this is probably a breach of forum etiquette, but could anyone give any type of rough ballpark value? The pictures are certainly not that helpful I understand, but a replacement value would be hugely helpful insurance wise… $1-$2k at best? 

[Mark]

that is hard to judge........... it is in shirasaya and gimei so that limits value.  I would estimate you could SELL it to a knowledgeable collection fo $500-800, if you are thinking replacement cost you will never find an identical one but should be able to buy something similar for $700-1000

 

just my opinion, keep in mind i attend a lot of shows so see a lot of swords offered, if you have to rely on online sales you may have to pay higher

 

mark

[Daws]

That is absolutely acceptable! Thank you for your time and reply Mark! Greatly appreciated!! 
 

Daws