Paul Chen sword inscriptions

[Somin]

I know this is a not a true nihonto but I could really use some help....

 

I am considering selling a Paul Chen sword to put towards a true nihonto and it would be nice to identify the mei and other marks for buyers. I have had it around four years and always wondered what it says.

 

Can someone tell what this mei reads ? Also, what do the other markings indicate ?

 

Thanks in advance, Pez

[Somin]

Here is the photo of the other side of the tang....

 

Thanks,

Pez

[Nobody]

The mei may be "中國大連陳朝波壬午年", though I do not know its Chinese reading.

 

The meaning may be as follows;

中國: China

大連: Dalian

陳朝波: name of a person (Chen Chao Po?)

壬午年: 2002 (year)

[Guido]

What Koichi said. Here's the Chinese (and in brackets the Japanese) reading:

 

中國 = ZHONG-GUO (CHŪ-KOKU) = China

大連 = DALIAN (DAI-REN) = a city in Liaoniang province, used to be called Port Arthur

陳 = CHEN (CHIN) = family name

朝波 = CHAO-PO (CHŌ-HA) = given name

壬午年 RAN-WU-NIAN (MIZU-NO-E UMA (no) TOSHI) = year of the horse = 2002