Japanese sword - Tang Translation

R

rwaddell

Joined
Jan 12, 2015
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Would like some help with the Kanji on this sword Tang please. I know that the bottom area is hard to make out.
 
You could try putting some baby powder on the tang and wiping it off the surface to make the characters stand out more.
 
Can you provide additional photos of the rest of the blade ? The kanji doesn't look right to me, giving me a bad gut feeling. More photos may help.
 
The sword was handed down with a Japanese Arisaki Rifle from my Great Grandfather. There are no Factory Stamps on the blade, or serial numbers.Only the Tsuba matches ones that I have seen online from WW2.
 
When I said the rest of the blade, I meant the entire blade and koshirae. These close ups don't help much and they hurt the eyes. Need to see more than a few little close ups.
 
The signature is so worn it is difficult for me to see, though the first part looks like Ryokai ??? Without full length photos I would be hesitant to give an opinion.
 
Southern Comfort,
Thanks for the help. Had someone on nihonto forums who could translate it. The signature is:
Ryokai Kageyoshi Saku

He was active from 1504-1521.
 
David,

Here are a few full length and Tang Pictures.



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Thank you. One of the first things that struck me is it doesn't have as much sori as I've come to expect, at least, on more modern blades.Iis the hamon still visible? It's hard to tell in the picture.
 
It does have a hamon, very faint. It was in my grandfathers possessions and has never really been cared for before now.
 
Update:
Just got back from the Chicago Sword Show. Put the sword through Shinsa. The sword was not certified due to the condition of the blade. The layers could not be seen clearly due to the polish currently on the sword. However, I asked for the sword to go through the remaining steps of Shinsa and everything was confirmed, smith, period, province, date.

Ryokai Kageyoshi
Late Muromachi Period
Buzen Province
1504

Can be restored with a polish

Needless to say that I would have loved it to be certified 100% with origami, but I will take what they called 95% and the information written down on the non certified form.
 
rwaddell said:
Update:
Just got back from the Chicago Sword Show. Put the sword through Shinsa. The sword was not certified due to the condition of the blade. The layers could not be seen clearly due to the polish currently on the sword. However, I asked for the sword to go through the remaining steps of Shinsa and everything was confirmed, smith, period, province, date.
Click to expand...

The sword such as it is, doesn't have what could be called a polish......you could have a nice piece, or a dog, depending upon going through polish and no flaws being revealed.....full polish will be very expensive, but perhaps worth it.

Are you going to roll the dice?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
It's 500+ years old and handed down by your great-grandpa, DO IT!
 
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