What do the inscriptions mean ?

marklefont · 15th February 2013, 08:22 PM

Can anybody tell me what these inscriptions say / mean ? Japanese. Found at the hilt of some wakuzashis and katanas. Thank You.

kahnjar1 · 16th February 2013, 08:08 AM

...invisible Japanese writing??

Iain · 16th February 2013, 01:00 PM

See here for a guide to posting photos.

http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631

Lee · 21st February 2013, 07:20 PM

The missing images:

Battara · 22nd February 2013, 12:29 AM

Not exactly my area, but I would say that the one on the left end and definitely the one on the right end are Chinese made fakes.

Sorry.

Battara · 23rd February 2013, 03:31 AM

We need Rich for his explanations since he is the expert in this area........

Battara · 23rd February 2013, 03:32 AM

wrong post

estcrh · 23rd February 2013, 07:10 AM

I do not think that any of the swords pictured are Japanese, in general the carvings on the nakago (tang) of a nihonto (Japanese sword) would show the mei (signature) of the sword smith, some additional information such as the date the sword was made, who it was made for, inspirational messages also.

Rich · 23rd February 2013, 01:39 PM

I think (?) the inscriptions say Made in China by Crafty Faker. Not really, but I do believe the sword is a Chinese fake. The hada is definitely acid etched, not at all a trait found on true Nihonto. Actually the characters don't make a bit of sense to me. Just two immediate things that say fake to me. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Rich S

marklefont · 23rd February 2013, 03:08 PM

OK, people, Did not ask whether the swords were fake or not or opinions regarding their craftmanship. I just want to know what the inscriptions say / mean. Can't someone read Japanese?

pbleed · 23rd February 2013, 09:18 PM

Friends,
I have a low tolerance for Chinese fakes. I fail to see how anybody could confuse this stuff with traditional cutlery. Unfortunately, the last time I let this bias manifest itself I was corrected. I remain terribly sorry
Please let me try again.
These "swords" are constructed of high contrast steels. The grain they show may be real, but they seem not to be edge tempered. They are not old enough to vote.
One says Tata Hanamichi Jiro and the other says something like Morita Kazujiro with a "date" that says something like "the 1st year of creation. "
These names look NOTHING like a traditional swordsmith's signature. I suspect that they were copied from a recent Japanese business card - or more likely a credit card signature on an order or porno tapes.
Peter

marklefont · 24th February 2013, 01:36 AM

PLEASE PEOPLE !!!! I do not want to start a debate about chinese fakes, age of swords, or anything else! I just want to find out what these inscriptions say / mean. It is unfair to coopt my thread to push your own political agenda. We can talk about ( and you can rail about ) fakes, chinese things, and anything else you care to LATER. I posted this on this site because I was led to believe that experts inghabited this site and that I could find a translation. Do not other people ask for this kind of thing? Snotty sarcasm has no place here. I am asking a perfectly legitimate academic question. Are the "experts" on this site not up to it? I am beginning to be disappointed. Cheap shots are easy; having the skill to translate an obscure script is not.

Battara · 24th February 2013, 02:32 AM

I guess the answer is no, no one can read them because they are not Japanese. May be just jiberish. At least this is what I am hearing.

15th February 2013, 08:22 PM	#1
marklefont Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 9	What do the inscriptions mean ? Can anybody tell me what these inscriptions say / mean ? Japanese. Found at the hilt of some wakuzashis and katanas. Thank You.

21st February 2013, 07:20 PM	#4
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	The Missing Images The missing images: Attached Images

23rd February 2013, 03:08 PM	#10
marklefont Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 9	Can we focus ?? OK, people, Did not ask whether the swords were fake or not or opinions regarding their craftmanship. I just want to know what the inscriptions say / mean. Can't someone read Japanese?

23rd February 2013, 09:18 PM	#11
pbleed Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 88	Fake Chinese blade Friends, I have a low tolerance for Chinese fakes. I fail to see how anybody could confuse this stuff with traditional cutlery. Unfortunately, the last time I let this bias manifest itself I was corrected. I remain terribly sorry Please let me try again. These "swords" are constructed of high contrast steels. The grain they show may be real, but they seem not to be edge tempered. They are not old enough to vote. One says Tata Hanamichi Jiro and the other says something like Morita Kazujiro with a "date" that says something like "the 1st year of creation. " These names look NOTHING like a traditional swordsmith's signature. I suspect that they were copied from a recent Japanese business card - or more likely a credit card signature on an order or porno tapes. Peter

24th February 2013, 01:36 AM	#12
marklefont Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 9	CAN WE FOCUS ?????? PLEASE PEOPLE !!!! I do not want to start a debate about chinese fakes, age of swords, or anything else! I just want to find out what these inscriptions say / mean. It is unfair to coopt my thread to push your own political agenda. We can talk about ( and you can rail about ) fakes, chinese things, and anything else you care to LATER. I posted this on this site because I was led to believe that experts inghabited this site and that I could find a translation. Do not other people ask for this kind of thing? Snotty sarcasm has no place here. I am asking a perfectly legitimate academic question. Are the "experts" on this site not up to it? I am beginning to be disappointed. Cheap shots are easy; having the skill to translate an obscure script is not.

16th February 2013, 08:08 AM	#2
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	...invisible Japanese writing??

16th February 2013, 01:00 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	See here for a guide to posting photos. http://vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13631

22nd February 2013, 12:29 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	Not exactly my area, but I would say that the one on the left end and definitely the one on the right end are Chinese made fakes. Sorry.

23rd February 2013, 03:31 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	We need Rich for his explanations since he is the expert in this area........

23rd February 2013, 03:32 AM	#7
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	wrong post

23rd February 2013, 07:10 AM	#8
estcrh Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: USA Posts: 1,497	I do not think that any of the swords pictured are Japanese, in general the carvings on the nakago (tang) of a nihonto (Japanese sword) would show the mei (signature) of the sword smith, some additional information such as the date the sword was made, who it was made for, inspirational messages also.

23rd February 2013, 01:39 PM	#9
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I think (?) the inscriptions say Made in China by Crafty Faker. Not really, but I do believe the sword is a Chinese fake. The hada is definitely acid etched, not at all a trait found on true Nihonto. Actually the characters don't make a bit of sense to me. Just two immediate things that say fake to me. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Rich S

24th February 2013, 02:32 AM	#13
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,220	I guess the answer is no, no one can read them because they are not Japanese. May be just jiberish. At least this is what I am hearing.