Kanji Translation ?

[Dan-K]

A friend has three swords that have Kanji on the handles . The first two are Army and the third is Navy. Any help would be appreciated.

[Dan-K]

#2 Army

#2 Army

[Dan-K]

Small Mark ?

Does anyone know the significance of the mark at the arrow ?

[Dan-K]

#3 Navy

#3 Navy

[BruceP]

Does anyone know the significance of the mark at the arrow ?

Dan, that's a "Seki" stamp. In the late '30s, it was a swordsmith guild stamp, but in the early '40s it was used by the Tokyo Army Arsenal as an inspector stamp. The Seki area made approximately 70% of the war swords.

[GHP]

Post 1:
栗田口近江守忠網
Awataguchi Ōmi no Kami Tadatsuna
About the Smith

Oshigata
[Perhaps gimei when compared to the above link]


Post 2:
[関] 福本兼文
[Seki] Fukamoto Kanefumi


Post 4:
濃州住忠勝鍛之
Nōshū-jū Tadakatsu Kitae Kore [wo]
Made by Tadakatsu, Resident of Nōshū [Mino/Gifu Prefecture]

The fist sword might be Edo-era if the signature is authentic [or it also could be Edo-era if the name is forged]; the bottom two swords are probably no earlier than mid-Showa.



I'll leave it up to our resident experts to opine on authenticity and quality of the smith.


--Guy

[nickn]

The tadatsuna is gimei

[GHP]

The tadatsuna is gimei

Thanks for the confirmation, Nick!


--Guy

[Andy Van...]

signature

Hi nickn, What makes you think the Tadatsuna is a gimei? Which if I am correct means it is a fake/false signature.

Thanks, Van...

[nickn]

Hello van
Yes sorry it means the signature is not genuine
It looks nothing like a genuine tsdatsuna Mei
Nick

[GHP]

Hello van
Yes sorry it means the signature is not genuine
It looks nothing like a genuine tsdatsuna Mei

Adding to what Nick writes:

Concentrate on the highlighted colors below and compare against the oshigata [rubbing] I posted in post #:
栗田口近江守忠網

The other kanji are noticably different, but maybe only to people who have studied Japanese ~ it's a matter of "handwriting analysis." The highlighted kanji should be the easiest to compare.

[GHP]

I suppose having both oshigata in one post will prove easier to compare.

Your friend's:


栗田口近江守忠網
Exemplar:



--Guy

[nickn]

Look how well cut and evenly spaced the genuine Mei is

[Bob Coleman]

There are many gimei of this smith.

[Andy Van...]

signature

What does "awataguchi omi no" (kami) translate to? Kami means honorary title if I'm not mistaken but what does the rest mean? Online translator only repeats it but doesn't say what it means..

Thanks so much for you help, I have several others that will be listed in the next few weeks. These are coming from a 93 year old customer who bought these from the `60's to the early `80's and has finally realized he may not be around much longer.

Van...970.472.9670