Interesting Japanese sword

Maskell · 3rd July 2009, 09:25 PM

Hello RSWORD,

Can give someone a head start on the tang inscription, read from the top,

BUSHU is a shortened way of writing Musashi province, kind of like MA for Massachusetts.

DO means a body, usually indicating that it is a body cutting test.

The next 3 kanji I have no idea at this time but think it relates to the cutting test.

KORE WO means this.

SEKI is a village in Mino province, renamed and currently Gifu province.

KANE means combine but in this case is a kanji used by most sword smiths from Seki as the first kanji in their two kanji name.

Bottom left is a name plus what is called a kakihan or counter signature and presumed a testers name.

When I have more time I'll check more on the inscription. Hope this is of some help.

Best,
MASKELL
Jerry

RSWORD · 4th July 2009, 05:54 PM

Hi Jerry,

Thank you very much for the translation provided. It is very helpful. Any sense what the characters are on the scabbard?

3rd July 2009, 09:25 PM	#1
Maskell Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 38	Hello RSWORD, Can give someone a head start on the tang inscription, read from the top, BUSHU is a shortened way of writing Musashi province, kind of like MA for Massachusetts. DO means a body, usually indicating that it is a body cutting test. The next 3 kanji I have no idea at this time but think it relates to the cutting test. KORE WO means this. SEKI is a village in Mino province, renamed and currently Gifu province. KANE means combine but in this case is a kanji used by most sword smiths from Seki as the first kanji in their two kanji name. Bottom left is a name plus what is called a kakihan or counter signature and presumed a testers name. When I have more time I'll check more on the inscription. Hope this is of some help. Best, MASKELL Jerry

4th July 2009, 05:54 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,086	Hi Jerry, Thank you very much for the translation provided. It is very helpful. Any sense what the characters are on the scabbard?