Help with sword tang translation

[Wolfe1165]

Hi everyone,

Haven't posted in a while, but this officers sword came into the shop and had to snap some photos. Any help with translation is appreciated, and enjoy!


Thanks for your time, John

[ghp95134]

藤原重作
Fujiwara Shigenari

EDIT: Usually 作 is read as "Saku" and means "made." This threw me off for a few minutes. I found that in this case, as part of a name, it is "~nari."

Two of them listed here on p. 144; numbers 12 and 13 from the top. The only two that write Shigenari as 重作.

12: Ansei period (1854-1860). Kaga prefecture. Civilian name Kinoshita Jinnojō 木之下湛之丞.
13: Period unknown, but Shintō.

Let's wait to hear what our resident experts have to say.


Cheers,
--Guy

[BOB COLEMAN]

I believe the mei is "Shigeyuki." The blade looks like a typical Bungo(province)Takata(village)blade. There are two generations of Bungo Shigeyuki who worked in the early to mid 17thc. Bungo blades were not considered great art swords but were known for their cutting ability. They were a popular private purchase blade with IJA officers.

[Nick Komiya]

Guy, that's　藤原重行　Shigeyuki ???????????

[Bruce Pennington]

Did you guys notice the kanji on the kabuto gane?

[ghp95134]

Tsuba scratches look like assembly marks whereas instead of numbers, katakana "alphabet" are used:

ワナ甲
Wa Na Kō
wa, na, First Class

EDIT:
Old ordinal system: 1 甲 2 乙 3 丙 4 丁 5 戊 6 己 7 庚 8 辛 9 壬 10 癸
=========

Kabutogane:
茂
Shige
This can be a surname; also part of a surname such as Shigemori 茂森.
See all the surnames beginning wit 茂
Hmmmm. .... a direct link does not open. Paste 茂* in the bottom window that says "Find Japanese names."


--Guy

[Wolfe1165]

Thanks for the replies everyone, very informative! I like how this officer put his surname on the sword.

[ghp95134]

Dayummmmmm! I need new glasses. Thanks for the correction, fellers!

藤原重行
Fujiwara Shigeyuki


Page 153 Fujiwara Shigeyuki
1st & 2nd generation, #18 and 19 from the top.

SHEESH, fellers .... I really feel bad about that!!


--Guy

[ghp95134]

Here's the nakago from the link that Nick posted .... in case you didn't notice:

[BOB COLEMAN]

Bungo smiths used the Yuki character in almost all their names. Nakago is classic Bungo Shinto shape.