mei.(gold inlaid) help to translate.

[wittman12]

 

 

I have a shingunto in pristine condition,complete with sword knot, three chain hanger,leather sword belt and original sword bag and would like help translating the mei which is gold inlaid. Thank You.

[cabowen]

Munechika maker's name

 

宗近

 

Showa 17 Nen date (1942)

 

昭和１７年

 

The stamp reads Seki　means the blade was made in the area of Seki city, Gifu Prefecture, and is non-traditionally made

 

関

[runagmc]

If that is real gold (which I would kinda doubt), you should probably dig it out and melt it down. Mabey it's gold paint or something. The reason I say this is because the blade's value wouldn't warrant a gold inlay.

[wittman12]

Hello,i had a sample of the gold tested and it is real gold.

[runagmc]

I have to admit, I am surprised... I never thought I would see that. I wonder, would the experts on the board recommend leaving the gold, or picking it out. Seems a waste of good gold to me... and I don't mean that as an insult. It's just something I've never seen on a sword like this.

[David Flynn]

Pick it out!

[Sporkkaji]

Is it really being recommended that he pick out what is probably $10 or less in gold leaf? The sword may not measure up to the standards of Nihonto collectors, but it meant a great deal to the officer who carried it to war and was proud enough of it to add this little touch.

[Lindus]

A couple of points should be made, first the mei cutting will leave a V shape cut into the steel, this would not normally be a way of holding any metal inlay. Overe some years I have seen several gold inlayed inscriptions,allways the end product is flat to the surtface of the Nakago, to retain the inlay the edge needs undercutting or as in Zogan,cross hatched, both methods will then allow retention of the metal inlayed.

 

I have one on a gendai where gold {or similar} has been applied to the mei and kakihan, most of the inlay has fallen out on the mei leaving only two characters with partial remenants. the Kakihan still has 90%. What I would suggest is that this was most likely done by a post war collector to enhance the value or equally likely an officers supplier to raise the asking price.

 

Roy

[Brian]

Yep..doesn't really matter if it is gold or paint or whatever. It is a Seki Showato, so whilst a nice example...the gold mei has no real bearing to the sword at all. Anyone with a bit of gold leaf in the past 70 years could have done that. It is never going to indicate much at all in this case.

 

Brian

 

PS - Looking at the date side, is there a chance that someone has filed the nakago and given totally new "yasurime"?

Doesn't look original like that. I think someone messed with the nakago and added the "gold"

[wittman12]

Thanks for all your imput.the shingunto has never been in a collection i got it from the family of the RAF officer the sword was surrender to in Malaya.i have enclosed some more photos.can you tell me more about the stated swordsmith. thankyou

[Lindus]

After thought,have you checked under the press stud flap on the combat cover?,some times the officer penned his details there.

Roy

[wittman12]

I checked under the combat cover there is no name,but there is a square label with a blue border but I cant makeout what was on it.the ito is in perfect condition because it had a sewn on combat cover which the RAF officer took off to see what was underneath.i cant find any reference to a munechika swordsmith in the ww2 period,also the sword has never been in a collection or in the hands of a dealer as it was in the officers family since it was surrendered. If anybody could tell me about the munechika swordsmith I would be grateful. Wittman

[cabowen]

Most likely an homage to the famous koto smith, Sanjo Munechika.....

[wittman12]

Thanks for all your help,if it could be a homage to Sanjo Munechika could that explain the gold inlay? Wittman.

[Grey Doffin]

Possible but probably not. Many edged weapons made during WWII, especially small knives, were inscribed "Sanjo Munechika". Many of them were made after the war to sell to Westerners. Never seen gold inlay on one before. Probably no way to know why yours is inlaid.

Grey