Katana ID

[najay]

Can anybody help me ID this katana? My Father in Law brought it home after a tour in Post WW2 Japan.

 

 

thank you in advance.

[Jamie]

You might consider posting them this way so others don't have to rotate.

You may also want to post some blade pics. You will get sme good info on the sword if you do so.

[Grey Doffin]

The date (top picture) reads, "Bunji Go Nen Hachi Gatsu Hi". A day in the 8th month of the 5th year of Bunji (1189). The signature I can make out says, "Bizen ? ? Ju Suke ? Saku". I'm sure someone more Japanese than me can read the rest.

Grey

[John A Stuart]

Very hard to read for me, but, maybe Bizen Fukuoka ju Sukesada saku. A start anyway. John

[Veli]

Is that "ichi" above the mekugiana?

 

Veli

[John A Stuart]

Which is what makes me believe it may be Fukuoka Ichimonji school work, even though Ichimonji is not in the mei proper. Definitely pics of the whole sword and closeups would really help. John

I wonder if it might be 助延 Sukenobu the character after Suke is very deteriorated. J

[Grey Doffin]

It can't be Fukuoka Ichimonji school, John, because it is signed katana mei. Which calls the date into question, also. No Bizen sword from Kamakura time would be signed katana mei. I thought the nakago looked newer than the date says, and unless I've misread the date (don't think so), it must be. Also, there were no Sukesada from this early. A clumsy gimei, maybe?

Translation for Najay (original poster). The signature on Japanese swords is supposed to be on the side of the tang that faces away from the wearer's body when worn on the left hip. Swords made in the time that your sword is dated to were worn edge down (tachi edge down and katana, which didn't exist at the early date, edge up). There were a few exceptions, for instance tachi of the Aoe School were signed katana mei, but no exceptions I'm aware of from Bizen. Gimei means fake signature; I'm wondering if that is what's happening here. I also think pictures of the whole blade will help us tell you what you have.

Grey

[John A Stuart]

Blast!! Grey, sometimes I forget the basic thing over the interesting bit. Most likely gimei if I read it right then. John

[mdiddy]

Hello,

 

Can we see the nakago of the 2nd sword in your pictures? Thanks!

 

Matt

[najay]

I will get a full set of pix of both long and short blades, and the bokken in the saya this weekend.

 

george