Hello, and thanks to the administrator for the registration...
First of all I need to say sorry for my english but I try do my best
to make not to much mistakes.
Im not to familiar with Japanese swords. I have bought a few books
to get some kind of basic knowledge.
There was a chance to buy some swords from a Veterans estate and
I take them all because it seems to be a nice start for a collection.
Amoungst them are some Wakizashi, Katana, and 2 Tachi swords.
One of the Tachi is a very long one and that makes me think it could
be a no dachi.
The fittings look very nice, the saya has a crack and the tsuka seems to
have a new wrapping. The Tsuba as well as the blade have a Mei but Im
not able to read it. I think 10 of the 16 swords have a Mei and that makes it not easier
for me. It's a frustrating Situation and I would be very, very thankful for any
help.
I add some pictures of the long Tachi and if it is no Problem would I also post the other swords.
Thanks forward
Kanemoto katana
The one in the pictures is signed "Kanemoto".
It is signed "katana-mei" (not tachi-mei), and also the SAYA (scabbard) does not have tachi mounts.
So, I would call it a katana.
It is longer than usual, but not long enough for a no-dachi (in my opinion).
Note that there is no special length where a blade becomes a no-dachi. A no-dachi is simply a very long sword that is worn over the back (instead of at the hip). So, if the person was very short, and they chose to wear this sword over their back, then it is a no-dachi.
Pete
Kanemoto Katana
Hello, and thank you for the response.
As I said, Im not familiar with that terms and I also dont know that
there are different Mei for Katana and Tachi.
I was thinking that it is more a question of the shape, the curvature and the lenght.
You are wright that there is no special lenght for a no-dachi but in this case it
seems to be very long for a Katana. Therefore I was thinking it could be a no-dachi...
Anyway, I need to say thank you for the translation!!!
Do you have any Idea how I could find out more about the smith
and the Time it has been produced?
George
Hi Georg, I wouldn't put too
Hi Georg,
I wouldn't put too much attention into how to call it. As Pete said, calling it katana is sufficiently right in this case. Swords may change their practical names depending on the way they are (re-)mounted. What may have been a tachi or nodachi 500 years ago can be a katana now.
In regards to its age, it's hard to tell based on the photographs and sword's condition. It's not ancient anyway, but how old it is - I can't tell with much degree of certainty. But these are good, proper swords - definitely worth preserving.
Regards,
Stan
Hi Stan, I realy enjoy the
Hi Stan,
I realy enjoy the comunication on this Plattform because here in
austria it's rather hard to find somebody with this interest's.
I allready read about the change of the practical names and the mountings.
For me, the hardest part is the translation of the Mei and how to get more infos about the smith's. (I tought about purchasing some old Swordsmith lexikon...)
There are several swords with Mei and I try to post them in a seperate term.
I would be very pleased for any help...
Thanks
George