(Can you read these markings)Anyone know anything about this?

R

RDog

Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Messages
366
I hope someone can shed some light on these markings.
trip013_zps0688dd0c.jpg


trip014_zps6d6fb6cf.jpg


trip017_zps1dbaa502.jpg


trip010_zps8c7264ef.jpg


trip009_zps06712019.jpg


I know its in rough shape...a real shame. There once was a little dragon under the original handle wrap...don't remember what it was made of.

My hope is someone can read these markings and share the info.

long story short its been in my family for as long as I remember...
 
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Can't really make out all of them, from top to bottom goes like this.
長 = Long.
?? = Can't tell if its a Japanese letter or not.
?? = Somewhat blurry.
藤 = Vine.
泉 = Spring (water fountain kind of spring, not the season that comes after winter), but then again can't really tell since the top half is smudged.
清 = Clear.
?? = Can't read this one.


Cheers.
 
No, you're trying to read the Kanji as words; they are not. It is a place and name.

Cho-shu (province) ju (resident of) Fuji-wara (family name) Kiyo-shige (smith's given name) saku (made this)

I've put the dashes to separate the individual Kanji, remove them to read it properly.
Choshu ju Fujiwara Kiyoshige saku

There were several generations of Kiyoshige working in Choshu (Nagato) from the 1600's to the mid 1860's.
Can't tell which generation due to condition of blade and tang.

Hope this helps.

Rich S
-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD

Japanese Sword Guide
http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

"Never go anywhere without a knife"
- Leroy Jethro Gibbs
-------------------------------------------------------
 
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That was more information than anyone in my family has had on this old sword, Thank you!

I will post more photos, those were taken and posted as soon as I could, I will take some time and try and get the best I can, with what I have to work with.

Perhap you will be able to tell me more about the sword and the family who made it then Rich.

Thank you.
 
RDog -

That's about all t he information I can provide. The sword is in bad shape with missing parts of the mounts.
It may or may not be worth professional restoration. DON'T try to restore it yourself. More swords are
destroyed by amateur "restorations" than I can tell you. Japanese swords (Nihonto) are very difficult to
restore properly and it takes a lot of training. I don't even attempt it myself and I've been collecting, studying
them for nearly 30 years. Perhaps my website linked below may be of some help.

Rich
-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD

Japanese Sword Guide
http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

"Never go anywhere without a knife"
- Leroy Jethro Gibbs
-------------------------------------------------------
 
Dr. Stein, I have a WWII era sword as well. It has a leather saya, a fuller, and no serial numbers. The saya is in sad shape and the button lock is broken. Where should I start to have it identified? I have no interest in selling it and it is my belief that it is not valuable enough to warrant the cost of a restoration. Thank you in advance for any advice.

Keith
 
Hey buddy, If this is a sword from WWII, if it was used by a soldier, then there are about another 2-3 inches of the tang that was cut off in order to fit the sword inside of military size requirements. MAny of the swords that were used by Japanese soldiers in the war were family swords, and they are not able to be fully identified since not all of the maker's mark is available. Sorry man.
 
While I'm far from an expert (!!!), I wonder if the item is a wakizashi, or even tanto, due to the short tang? I have a sword brought back by my
Dad from WW2 that is definitely a pre-war handmade blade, signed, and in Japanese Army mounts. The cord/sword knot indicates it's a lieutenant's
grade sword. Blade length is 26.5", and handle length is 10". Weight of the blade with fittings but no saya is 2 lbs, 6 oz.

Giving us the blade length would be helpful.
John
 
While I'm far from an expert (!!!), I wonder if the item is a wakizashi, or even tanto, due to the short tang? I have a sword brought back by my
Dad from WW2 that is definitely a pre-war handmade blade, signed, and in Japanese Army mounts. The cord/sword knot indicates it's a lieutenant's
grade sword. Blade length is 26.5", and handle length is 10". Weight of the blade with fittings but no saya is 2 lbs, 6 oz.

Giving us the blade length would be helpful.
John
 
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