Anyone know Japanese? Sword tang translation help please.

[Emanuel]

Hi there, could anyone help me identify what it says on my old Japanese sword tang?

Sword is a katana, I think from between the first and second world wars, atleast that's what I was told.
I've had this sword for the last 12 years.

I tried to take the best photo I could of the tang.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Here's the photo:
http://i36.tinypic.com/2jetw1k.jpg

 

[CAB]

Hi,
It reads;

NOSHU (no) JU MASAUJI SAKU KORE

Hope that is of help...............

CAB

 

[Emanuel]

Thanks a lot!!!!

I really appreciate that.

May I ask one more thing? Is that a name or does it mean something that can be translated into English?

Thanks!

emanuel

 

[Bors]

Hi there, could anyone help me identify what it says on my old Japanese sword tang?

Sword is a katana, I think from between the first and second world wars, atleast that's what I was told.
I've had this sword for the last 12 years.

I tried to take the best photo I could of the tang.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Here's the photo:
http://i36.tinypic.com/2jetw1k.jpg

I don't know if this organization still does it but they used to offer free translation from a rubbing of the tang. If it's the makers name he supplied information about them as well as information on the sword such as where and when it was made and how it was probably made.

I met him at a gun show once in Southern California and had him do one for me. besides having an incredible collection he has a book that lists all the makers for probably the last couple of hundred years or more and there marks.

I would give them a call or e-mail them.


http://members.aol.com/Sfkatana/



Buy the way your sword looks just like mine...

 

[CAB]

Emanuel,
That is a name.

It means MASAUJI a resident of NOSHU (Seki ) made with respect. The sword was most likely made between 1933 and 1945, is known as a Gendaito (modern sword) and is in stardard military mounts.

More pictures would be of benefit.

Hope that helps more.

Craig Bird

 

[Rich S]

Beware of the SFJapanese Sword Society and any affiliates related. They do not
have a good reputation among the Japanese Sword collecting community.

Rich

 

[Bors]

The handle and fittings on mine are identical to yours. Mine is supposed to have been made in Seki in 1942. It's supposed to be 50% hand made and 50% machine made. The blade is in great shape but the handle is very poor and missing one of the fittings. The scabbard is black lacquered wood with a nice leather covering. The leather is in good condition. The scabbard condition is not bad.

It was supposedly surrendered by an officer (General) to my uncle in the Philippines. Unfortunately the cord on the pommel was lost long before I got it so the rank of the officer is impossible to verify.

 

[Bors]

Beware of the SFJapanese Sword Society and any affiliates related. They do not
have a good reputation among the Japanese Sword collecting community.

Rich

I've heard that before. They seemed to do a good job on my translation but that was quite awhile ago.

 

[Rich S]

Translation is one thing, but polishing and restoration is quite another. It is the
latter (among other things) that have led to their poor reputation. This is not just
one person's opinion; problems with them have been well documented on most
every Japanese sword discussion group on the 'net for years.

Rich

 

[Bors]

Translation is one thing, but polishing and restoration is quite another. It is the
latter (among other things) that have led to their poor reputation. This is not just
one person's opinion; problems with them have been well documented on most
every Japanese sword discussion group on the 'net for years.

Rich

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[kuribo]

Actually, it reads:

"Bishu ju Masauji Saku Kore"

Which translates to:

"Made by Masauji, living in Bishu"

Bishu is an old name for what is present day Aichi Prefecture. The blade was made during WWII and may or may not be a traditional, hand forged and water quenched blade, called a "gendai-to". Since he is an unlisted smith (does not appear in the Japanese master list of smiths), odds are it is a mass produced blade made with Western steel and oil quenched, which is commonly called a "Showa-to" to distinguish it from the traditionally made "gendai-to". Someone with advanced knowledge would need to inspect the blade to be certain.

Hope that helps.

 

[CAB]

Kuribo,
You are absolutely correct. Had I enlarged the image instead of making an assumption, I would have seen that.

Best to take ones time................

CAB

 

[Emanuel]

Thanks kuribo and everyone else too, that helps me a whole lot!

I knew I could count on the knowledgable folks at BFC to help me out.

After 12 years of not having a clue what it says on my sword it's nice to finally know who made it, atleast the name and the area it was made.

The main hope I have is that it was atleast partially handmade.

The scabbard was a bit cracked when I got it, and the leather was gone. The blade was messed around with a little by the previous owner. I think he/she tried to sharpen it on a belt grinder. Not a future ABS mastersmith, you can be sure. Handle is OK, although it's missing a couple of those metal spacer thingamajigs (technical term). You'll laugh but I actually made another one of those metal spacers out of kydex and put it there. Works well! Keeps the handle nice and tight!

Over all it's actually in an ok condition, good enough for me, I'm more a user than collector.

Here are a couple of photos. Nothing out of the ordinary but it's special to me and will never part with it.

http://i35.tinypic.com/25al015.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/3004qph.jpg

Thanks again everyone! Between the info I got here and the info I gleaned off the internet I think I'm getting a much clearer picture of what I have.

 

[kuribo]

You are welcome. By the way, it is mounted in standard WWII Army issue mounts. The leather cover was used in combat areas.

 

[Emanuel]

Sorry I dropped off like that, we had a couple of big storms and I've been without phone.
--------------------

Thanks kuribo.

Yesterday I decided to go ahead and fix up the blade a bit, and polish it. I was startled to find a wavy whispy hamon showing up across the entire blade. It's light, but it's certainly there quite clearly. I didn't know they differentially heat treated the mass produced WW2 blades.

That was a really pleasant surprise for me, there is something quite special about a hamon on a katana. In the 12 years I've had this sword I haven't felt as excited about it as I do now.

emanuel r.

 

[akadave2]

Before making any final assumptions whether or not this is a showa-to or Gendai, you should join the JSS/US. They have guys there that have gone to extreme lengths studying every aspect of Nihonto including some that specialize in Showa era blades.

 

[nate3993]

Sorry I dropped off like that, we had a couple of big storms and I've been without phone.
--------------------

Thanks kuribo.

Yesterday I decided to go ahead and fix up the blade a bit, and polish it. I was startled to find a wavy whispy hamon showing up across the entire blade. It's light, but it's certainly there quite clearly. I didn't know they differentially heat treated the mass produced WW2 blades.

That was a really pleasant surprise for me, there is something quite special about a hamon on a katana. In the 12 years I've had this sword I haven't felt as excited about it as I do now.

emanuel r.

do you know how much it's worth?

 

[Emanuel]

akadave2,
I'll do that. I'll shoot them an email. Problem is, living in NZ it's tough to really accurately identify a sword by photos, and I don't want to send it away (scared of customs).

nate3993,
I paid about 600 usd 12 years ago. I was 18 and just arrived in New Zealand and wanted to give myself a BIG gift with money I saved for years. Beyond that though I don't know it's worth. I don't think the person who sold it knew much about it either.

 

[kuribo]

Even mass produced blades were oil quenched and have a discernible hardened edge (hamon).

One should never polish a Japanese sword that is traditionally made as the blade can be irrepairably damaged if not polished by a fully trained professional.

I know collectors in New Zealand. If you pm me your email address I will put you in contact.

 

[Emanuel]

Sent, thank you!

I'm not too worried about it because I don't want to sell anyway regardless. The hamon was a nice surprise even as a mass produced sword.

I'm actually quite happy just knowing a little about it, and knowing the signature.