Can anyone tell me what this means

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NanakiXIII

先輩

16 Jul 2004

34

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• 16 Jul 2004

• #1

I've a katana which has an inscription, and I'd like to know what it means, if it means anything. I tried drawing the inscription, but I'm afraid I'm no artist at Paint. Any help is much appreciated.

Those weird circle things above the first two characters are, I think, something like apostrophes ('), but it's hard to see on the actualy katana. I'm sorry that picture is so bad, but please help.

 

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Wang

先輩

21 Apr 2004

432

17

• 16 Jul 2004

• #2

It looks like bad handwriting.

 

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NanakiXIII

先輩

16 Jul 2004

34

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• 16 Jul 2004

• Thread starter
• #3

That's because I wrote it.....

 

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NANGI

先輩

Twenty-year veteran

8 Jan 2003

2,460

518

• 16 Jul 2004

• #4

Konnichiwa NanakiXIII-san!
Welcome and Hajimemashite. Yoroshiku!

Those weird circle things above the first two characters are, I think, something like apostrophes ('), but it's hard to see on the actualy katana. I'm sorry that picture is so bad, but please help.

Click to expand...

I think it is "Na Ba Ru U" in Katakana. But it has no meaning. Is it a anyone's name?

NANGI

 

Mandylion

Omnipotence personified

Contributor

15 Mar 2003

1,209

47

• 16 Jul 2004

• #5

Where does this sword come from? Where is the inscription? Under the grip? If you can answer those, we might get a bit further.

However, the inscription is in katakana. If there are two marks to the upper right of the first character, and not just pitting of the metal, that character doesn't exist. However, without it's marks, it reads "na" (ナ)

The second marking is "ba" (バ), followed by "ru (ル) and "u" (ウ) In total you have "nabaruu" Nothing shows up in my dictionaries, so this is most likely the name of the person who made the sword. Japanese smiths almost always sign there names in kanji, not katakana, so my guess is this is a foreign-made Japanese style sword.

If you can post a number of pictures, I could help you a lot more. You up to it? If you need help on attaching photos, PM me and I'll go through it with you. Have great day - M

 

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NanakiXIII

先輩

16 Jul 2004

34

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• 16 Jul 2004

• Thread starter
• #6

It might not mean anything at all, it's not an authentic Japanese katana. It's from Greece. Where it was fabricated, I don't know. The inscription is on the blade, near the handle.

They look like apostrophes and are painted in, so I don't think they're pitting of the metal.

I'm afraid I don't have any pictures, nor a digital camera. That's why I tried to draw the inscription. Sorry.

Oh, NANGI, konnichiwa, I don't know what the other Japanese words mean.

 

Mandylion

Omnipotence personified

Contributor

15 Mar 2003

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• 16 Jul 2004

• #7

In that case, it is probably the name of a previous owner or maker (if you are the first to own it).

 

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NanakiXIII

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16 Jul 2004

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• 16 Jul 2004

• Thread starter
• #8

Alright, thanks. Is 'Nabaruu' a common Japanese name?

 

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NANGI

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Twenty-year veteran

8 Jan 2003

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• 17 Jul 2004

• #9

Konnichiwa NanakiXIII-san!

Is 'Nabaruu' a common Japanese name?

Click to expand...

No, it is not Japanese.

NANGI

 

Nuala

Hell's Finest Daughter

15 Jul 2004

1,725

39

• 17 Jul 2004

• #10

My sword has some funky characters on it too. The blade is broken and when I say that I mean the blade is broken into 2. I'll post it later.

 

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NanakiXIII

先輩

16 Jul 2004

34

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• 17 Jul 2004

• Thread starter
• #11

Alright, thanks again.