Kai-Gunto Mei translation

[GaryMJ]

Hi guys, please help...

I recently bought a Kai-Gunto Wakizashi, and I call it this only because I've spent hours on the Net trying to understand a bit about Japanese swords

I collect TR daggers mostly, so I have zero knowledge on these. I've tried to make sense of the Mei trying to translate myself and have no idea on who made this blade, either than one of several 'Nobuyoshi's", which is what the seller suggested.

Can anyone identify which one this is, I tried to match characters and this is as close as I got, don't know if I got it right though, but I tried... There is also some wring inside the mouth of the Saya, what or who is this? the maker???

Any feedback or opinions would be greatly appreciated, this is such a complex subject and area of collecting that a novice can only but get everything wrong

Thanks, Red

[GaryMJ]

Saya1

[GaryMJ]

Saya2

[nixe]

the makers name is Nobuyoshi. I am not at home with my books but can look up the maker when i get back. The writting inside the saya is probably notes made when the saya was made, i have seen this several times, it might be measurments or name of the saya maker.

[Stu W]

All Kai-gunto mounted blades I've come across are longer. It would be interesting to see this Wak length set-up. Can you post more photos and provide the length of the sharpened portion of the blade?

Regards,
Stu

[GaryMJ]

Thanks for the comments... The blade seems in good condition although there appears to be some light blistering and faults in the metal, and I can't seem to get any good shots showing the hamon.

The saya is 29 inches long and the blade from tip to tsuba is just over 21 inches. I checked the length of the open part of the saya that sheaths the blade and that measures 22 inches, so I suspect the saya was made to fit this blade as the rest of the saya is solid wood below where the blade slides in. (Sorry, I don't know the correct terminologies for these swords).

I'll do some shots of the whole sword.

Thanks, Red

[GaryMJ]

Blade

[GaryMJ]

As mentioned, the saya is solid wood below the lower scabbard band (Semegane?)

[Stu W]

Thanks for the additional pictures. That's an interesting piece.

Regards,
Stu
PS: Good shots of a hamon are impossible to take unless you have good equipment, lots of practice and the patience of an angel.

[GaryMJ]

Hi Guys, anyone have any ideas on the smith, which Nobuyoshi this is? Also, can anyone translate the writing inside the Saya? I've tried to research this myself and can't get any further...

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Red

[gunto]

The kanji in the saya ,can be name of koshirae maker or assembly number.
IMO its Nobuyoshi from Yamashiro province made prox 1688.

[Luis22]

Hi Guys, anyone have any ideas on the smith, which Nobuyoshi this is? Also, can anyone translate the writing inside the Saya? I've tried to research this myself and can't get any further...

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Red

here Buddy....

http://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/m...ei=+Nobuyoshi+

[nixe]

it is signed Heianjo Nobuyoshi there is a maker who signed that way in the books living in Yamashiro Province circa 1532

[GaryMJ]

Thanks for the help! I can't find an exact match to the name as engraved, the closest is 平安城住信吉 (heianjō ju nobuyoshi), however my blade only has 5 characters: 平安城信吉 so I'm not sure if this is the same smith... it would be great if it is such an old family blade.

Trying to decypher these characters is impossible to a novice

Thanks again, Red