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Thread: Translation request . . .

  1. #1
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    Default Translation request . . .

    In need of a translation of the mei on a katana I recently acquired.

    The katana appears to have a naval junto sai and fittings.

    the blade however I'm curious if it might be considerably older, or if it also is junto era....

    Thanks for any assistance
    Rog


    note - for some reason I keep getting an error message when I try to upload photo(s)

    please email me if you want to view them, no idea why they won't load as they are resized properly for this forum.

    michelesangel@yahoo.com
    Roger Palmer

  2. #2
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    Hi Rog,
    I had the same problem recently by uploading a photo, it only works by uploading it from a url, the link of a website where the image is. Hope that helps

  3. #3
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    Thanks for this update Carina.

    If the system hadn't taken me directly to my system file I might have realized that it only accepted URL files.....
    I'll get on that shortly and try uploading again.
    Roger Palmer

  4. #4
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    update of photo's - - -













    Looking for any history on this tired katana,
    and if it might be worth investing a few dollars to have restored -
    or if it should just be left alone to rest in peace.....
    Roger Palmer

  5. #5
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    Roger,

    What you most likely have is a gunto sword. As you said probably Navel, but there is usually a specific mei/symbol on the nakago. The sword is probably stainless or oil quenched and was probably made during the war. This is just based on your pictures, the color of the nakago etc.. My ability to read mei is not the best, so i won't try to embarrass myself.

    While the blade doesn't seem to be nihonto, there is a market for military swords in varying conditions if you're looking to sell. Getting the mei translated will help tremendously.

    Hope this helps.

    Regards,

    Matt Ubertini

  6. #6
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    Thanks Matt

    I've not found any military stamping/markings on either side of the nakago.

    But I'll get my Sherlock Holmes magnifier out and triple check once more.
    Roger Palmer

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    Roger, I suggest that you post your blade on e-Budo.com. There are many members who are expert in reading sword mei, & you can sign up for free if you're not already a member.

    Ken
    Ken Goldstein
    --------------------------------
    Judo Kodansha/MJER Iaido Kodansha/Jodo Oku-iri
    Fencing Master/NRA Instructor

    "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it'll annoy enough people to be worth the effort."

  8. #8
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    ? ? ? you did say: "e-Budo.com" correct . . . . .

    I thought that is where I am currently posting, am I not ( ? ).

    Or, am I totally miss reading your post ????????????????????????????


    Quote Originally Posted by Ken-Hawaii View Post
    Roger, I suggest that you post your blade on e-Budo.com. There are many members who are expert in reading sword mei, & you can sign up for free if you're not already a member.

    Ken
    Roger Palmer

  9. #9
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    Roger,

    The Nihonto Message Board will get you an answer pretty quickly. Anytime I have a mei question, they generally nail it.

    http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/

    Regards,

    Matt Ubertini
    -Matthew Ubertini
    NYC Budo

  10. #10
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    Gomen nasai, Roger! My brain is shot from 4 hours of jodo training this morning. I meant to say that the Nihonto Message Board (http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/index.php has those experts. Sorry for the mistake.

    Ken

  11. #11
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    Oh my good man, you've no idea what you just walked into have you . . . !

    I did post already on the Nihonto Message Board (back on the 18th) -
    had the kind of day you had today, and my posts reflected it as well ;-)
    finally gave up and went to bed . . . . .
    haven't gotten any responses as yet from that site.

    Have got a bunch of help from Gabriel L at www.swordforum.com
    he gives this rough translation 勝(武?)三郎助(光?) (?katsu [Take?] Saburō Suke[mitsu
    Roger Palmer

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rog View Post
    Oh my good man, you've no idea what you just walked into have you . . . !

    I did post already on the Nihonto Message Board (back on the 18th) -
    had the kind of day you had today, and my posts reflected it as well ;-)
    finally gave up and went to bed . . . . .
    haven't gotten any responses as yet from that site.

    Have got a bunch of help from Gabriel L at www.swordforum.com
    he gives this rough translation 勝(武?)三郎助(光?) (?katsu [Take?] Saburō Suke[mitsu
    Roger,

    I'm not saying it is, but there are many Chinese fakes on the market posing as gunto swords, but based on the condition I would assume this was WWII-ish, however, without it in hand one can not tell for sure. I have seen "gunto" swords with mei that didn't make sense that were fake Chinese repro's made to look old. This is more rampant with fake swords posing as nihonto.

    Hope you find your answer. I've been trying to get a mei translated on a koto tanto for months now and it's still up in the air. Have to wait till I get it to shinsa I guess.

    Good luck!
    -Matthew Ubertini
    NYC Budo

  13. #13
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    Much appreciate your input Matt.

    Knowing where this came from (it's last owner/person in possession at least) I'd 99 & 44/100ths rule out its being a fake.

    That person had it hidden in a closet for going on 70 years, which pretty much accounts for the condition of the saya.

    They did bring it back from overseas at the end of WWII.
    Roger Palmer

  14. #14
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    The first two characters seem to me to read 必勝 hisshou: certain victory.

    Then you have what seems to be a person's name: 武三郎. Since Saburoh would be the first name, it would follow the family name, which looks like Take.

    As for the last two characters, the first one seem to be 助. I am not sure about the second one.

    I know nothing about swords, by the way,
    Peter Goldsbury,
    Forum Administrator,
    Hiroshima, Japan

  15. #15
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    Default

    The last two look like Sukeji(?) 助治

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