translation assistance

[rfranco]

Hello, I just received a sword as a gift from a friend.

He said that it was given to his uncle 50 years ago by a diplomatic as a present.

Could somebody help me finding out its origins and the meaning of the signature

thanks in advance for your help

 

[k morita]

Hi,

The Kanji-characters on the blade is not a sword-smith's signature.

It means "Hachiman-Dai-Bosatsu",Great Bodhisattva Hachiman.

 

Are there any characters on the handle(Tang) of the blade?

[outlier48]

Hi,

 

Per board rules, please sign your name. Do you have any better photos of the horimono, or any photos of the entire sword, the hamon, the kissaki, and/or the nakago?

 

Charlie Brashear

[Jean]

Charlie,

 

Rafael Franco is the real name of our member (Rfranco), (accesible in his profile) so it is not an issue :D

[outlier48]

Hi Jean,

 

Thanks for the correction. Rafael, my apologies! Still would like to see better pics.

 

Charlie Brashear

[rfranco]

Thanks to all, currently I´m out of town, will be back next week.

I will see if there is another characters on the blade.

regards

 

Rafael Franco

[rfranco]

Hello My friends, I got back from my trip and find out that in fact there are some characters on the handle(Tang).

Bellow you will find pictures of it and the Tsuba.

Any help will be appreciated.

Best.

[outlier48]

Maybe (?) Mori saku - I cannot clearly see the first kanji.

 

I definitely like the tsuba. Can you please post a picture of the other side?

 

Charlie Brashear

[Markus]

Seems to be "Masumori saku"

増守作

 

Hawley lists a Bingo-Masumori group working in late Nanbokuchô,

and a Bungo-Masumori group for the end of the Muromachi period.

The shape of the entire blade would reveal more about the time

of production.

[k morita]

Seems to be "Masumori saku"

増守作

 

Hawley lists a Bingo-Masumori group working in late Nanbokuchô,

and a Bungo-Masumori group for the end of the Muromachi period.

The shape of the entire blade would reveal more about the time

of production.

 

Hi,

I agree with you.

You have good eyes. ( I was not able to read the mei before you.)

[reinhard]

Hawley lists a Bingo-Masumori group working in late Nanbokuchô,

and a Bungo-Masumori group for the end of the Muromachi period.

The shape of the entire blade would reveal more about the time

of production.

 

This seems to be very rare group of smiths almost forgotten. Meikan says:

 

reinhard

[rfranco]

Thanks again for your Help. Attached you will find pictures of every part of the Sword (not posted before).

I´m traveling tomorrow morning to Japan and would like to take with me the Tsuka, kashira, tsukamaki, saya etc for restoration. Any advice?

Also, the blade needs a lot of care, any recommendation will be appreciated.

at last, is this sword valuable?

 

Best Regards

 

Rafael Franco

[Markus]

Can you provide some measurements of the blade (nagasa, motohaba ...).

[rfranco]

Hi Markus

 

Nagasa: 68.2 cm

Nakago 17.7 cm

Sori: 1.2cm

Motohaba: 3.1cm

Sakihaba: 2.1 cm

Motokasane: 0.6 cm

Sakikasane: 0.5 cm

 

Thanks for your help

[Markus]

The nagasa in combination with the fact that the

blade is ubu or only slightly shortened speaks for

the later Tenbun-period Masumori.

But because of the somewhat elongated kissaki,

I would place it a little later, i.e. to the end of the

Muromachi period.

 

Other opinions warmly welcomed :D

[rfranco]

Thanks everybody for your help.

Especially Markus.

 

best regards

 

Rafael Franco