Good Morning,
I am seeking help / assistance to be able to know the meaning of inscriptions on the tang of a sword I own.
Omote- Possible reading
1st kanji: Hon = true / real ?
2nd kanji: I do not know.
3rd kanji: Kane (Mino way).
4th kanji:Uji.
Incised stamp: I have absolutely no idea.
Ura-
Date: My reading
Meiji 9th year 2nd month a day. A day in February 1876 ( one month before the Haitori Edict).
2nd last kanji: Ichi.
Last kanji: I do not know. However there is an Ichimongi sword smith listed by Kazarena for the Meiji period ICH 50 with the mention [help]. This kanji Ichi ++ is incised inside the kashira and brush painted on top of the kashira (normally covered by kashira).
Opposite side-
1st kanji: no idea.
2nd kanji: Kawa ?
3rd kanji: Tosa? / samurai?
No idea about the other kanji caracters except for the last one: Kore.
I am not holding my breath over the Kaneuji name- so many of them over the centuries. However I am very curious to know the meaning of the writing and at the same time to learn a few more kanji caracters.
Kaneuji
Hi,
You did a good job of taking detailed close-up pictures, but a couple more pictures of the entire nakago would be helpful, so that we can see everything at once.
The condition and color of the nakago looks older than Meiji...
Here's what I see in the pictures:
2 - Maybe kitetsu, or hontetsu, or ???.
3 - Kaneuji saku
4 - Don't know, possibly a kamon (family crest)? Probably added later.
5 - Meiwa (not Meiji). 1764.
6 - ?
7 - 2 gatsu hi (February)
8 - Not sure what it is, but it was added later - note how much crisper it is. It may be an "assembly mark" added during WWII, to match the blade with the other pieces, such as the kashira.
9-11 - Ogawa Kiyomasa (something) kore. A guess about the (something) - perhaps it is "owned"? Ogawa Kiyomasa is clearly a person's name.
Pete
Kaneuji
Thank you very much Pete, You are right on Meiwa and I was wrong on 9 as Meiwa spend only 8 years. It has to be 6.
I use techniques derived from Roman epigraphy ie angle 35-45 degree. It enhance the relief but as well enhance the irregularities of the support. An other technique is to make an imprint with papier mache then gently rub graphite on the top.
Saya is 68 cm, tsuka 23 cm. Nagasa 59.5 cm, blade with at habaki 26 mm with width at yokote being 20 mm. Fuchi kashira and substantial end of saya + middle of tsuka are made of unadorned and unalloyed copper.
I will try toattach photos if I fail will send them separately.
Regards
Michel
Michel