Shin-gunto, Seki - Tang translation help.

[Robbitybob]

Hi and thanks for your time in looking at this post.

I would appreciate any insight to the meaning of the inscription on the tang, inscribed on the one side only.

 

I have my fathers Shin-gunto that I am now looking to pass onto my son and would also like to pass on a little background.

My father received this either at the Japanese surrender at Balikpapan, or more likely the general East India surrender at Morotai.

 

All that I can work out is that it was made at Seki. The Seki character looks to be the smaller version at ~4mm square.

 

As well as the inscription, there are also some painted characters.

 

Photos attached.

 

Thanks for your help.

Rob

[xiayang]

濃州住塚原兼次謹作 = Nōshū-jū Tsukahara Kanetsugu kinsaku

[Robbitybob]

1 hour ago, xiayang said:

濃州住塚原兼次謹作 = Nōshū-jū Tsukahara Kanetsugu kinsaku

Thank you Xiayng,

So ...

‘made with utmost respect and care by Tsukahara Kanetsugu of Noshu’

Noshu = old name for a province now known as Gifu prefecture 

Ju = resident of 

Tsukahara Kanetsugu = name 

Kinzaku = to be made with respect and care

??

Rob

[Mikaveli]

53 minutes ago, Robbitybob said:

Noshu = old name for a province now known as Gifu prefecture 

 

Noshu / Mino now forms the southern part of Gifu, but Gifu also incorporates Hida province.

 

I'm not sure if the exact borders of the two former provinces were maintained, but modern Gifu is much larger (than Mino province was).

[Bruce Pennington]

I would say it is the larger Seki stamp.  The small one is often hard to see, it's so small.

[xiayang]

Hi Rob,

 

1 hour ago, Robbitybob said:

‘made with utmost respect and care by Tsukahara Kanetsugu of Noshu’

 

Yep, that's pretty much it.  You can find more information about the smith in this thread: