sayagaki help please

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

Someone has contacted me and asked for help with a sayagaki. I'm not having much luck; can one of you please help?

I don't know if the sword is for sale, certainly not by me.

Thanks, Grey

[cabowen]

I can't make out the top half clearly but the bottom reads:

 

...支所剣道大会優勝

 

... shisho kendo taikai yusho

 

So this sword was a prize for winning a X branch kendo tournament ....

[k morita]

Hi, :D

[Nobody]

和歌山刑務支所剣道大會優勝 (Wakayama Keimu-shisho Kendo-taikai Yusho) – Wakayama branch prison, the Victory in Kendo competition

 

However, I might be wrong about the first 4 or 5 characters.

If the reading is correct, it must be written between 1924 and 1946.

 

 

edit: Ah, Morita san was faster than me…

[Grey Doffin]

Thanks guys. There is a date on the sayagaki: Showa 8, 1933.

Grey

[cabowen]

What kind of blade?

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Chris,

The sword was on ebay; the seller was fishing for information more than trying to make a sale. Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220642407409&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

Looks to me like a sword made about the same time as the Kendo competition, 1933, or not much before. No idea why it wouldn't have been signed. With the narrow yakiba and the badly broken kissaki it is probably toast, no nearly so. Unless you can see something I've missed.

Grey

[cabowen]

Yeah, blade looks to be contemporary with the saya. Kissaki is borderline repairable. The shape of the blade is awful. Not much of a prize, though giving it away is probably the only way to get rid of it!