Translation and Info Request

[max]

Hello All,

 

Would someone be so kind and translate the writing on this sword for me please. Also, any additional information anyone may be able to add in regards to what I have here would be wonderful. From what I was told I believe it to be a type 98 army sword made between 1933-1945 and possibly at the Yasukuni shrine with a possible smith of Yasunori. I am still a novice and this information was given to me with the sword. This sword may eventually be for sale.

 

Thank you very much,

 

Max

 

http://imageshack.us/g/824/20120714152414851.jpg/

[cisco-san]

Hi,

 

blade is signed Yasunori, on a lucky day in November 1936

[Nobody]

I could be wrong, but frankly the inscription looks too poor to be genuine.

Ref. http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2010/1010_1093syousai.htm

[max]

Thank you for the translation, I'm thinking the signature is good based on some info i have already recieved.

[cisco-san]

Thank you for the translation, I'm thinking the signature is good based on some info i have already recieved.

I am also not sure if Mei is good --> Shinsa would bring clarification!

[cabowen]

 

I am also not sure if Mei is good --> Shinsa would bring clarification!

 

Can you give specifics as to why you think it is not good?

[cisco-san]

Hmm, good question.

I tried to compare this mei with some other I have in my library. I came to the conlusion that as this mei is done very sloopy (from my point of view) it could be gimei. Therefore my statement.

If I am wrong, please correct me!

[cisco-san]

for comparison

[Geraint]

Hi Max.

 

Can't add to the debate on the signature but I can say that the mounts are better than average and it's a nice looking thing. Curious about the shape of the nakago/tang.

 

Cheers

[cabowen]

The nakago is the so-called kiji-momo (pheasant thigh) shape, which Kajiyama Yasunori began using when his student and nephew, Kotani Yasunori, became a full fledged smith at the Yasukuni Jinja.

 

While I have been wrong before, and would need to see the blade in hand to make a more confident call, I don't think this is gimei. The mei is a bit sloppy, but these guys were working like dogs so there is a bit of exhaustion they had to contend with. The rest of the blade looks spot on, it comes in original koshirae, the nakago is the right shape and has the right patination...There were also daimei of this smith to consider if I remember correctly. This is detailed in Kishida san's Yasukuni book(s) if someone wants to have a look....

 

Here is a blatant gimei of Yasunori (for sale on a dealer site

[max]

Chris, All,

 

I was told this shrine that the blade was likely made at produced around 8000 swords from variouse smiths that worked out of it including this one. However, with said I was also told this smith was good and this sword would still be considered somewhat rare. Is that true? Also, thank you to everyone thus far fotlr your insightfull discussions thusfar.

 

Max

[cabowen]

He was a good smith but he made over 1600 blades. Among WWII era smiths, his work is not really rare. They are around....