Translate katana

K

krb

Registered

12 Apr 2022

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• 12 Apr 2022

• #1

I have a sword that was left me from my father who sadly passed away, I have tried to translate the tang,but wonder if anyone can help with it,as would like to know more about it.

 

Majestic

先輩

Ten-year veteran

12 Oct 2013

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• 12 Apr 2022

• #2

It's upside down, and I think it is too far gone to be read, except for the second-to-the last kanji which is 宗 (sō or mune).
If my guess is right, the lacquered mei is trying to be 囗囗正宗作 (something Masamune-saku). In other words, "by Masamune", in which case the writing is 99.99% certain to be a forgery.

 

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

Admin

Twenty-year veteran

21 May 2003

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• 12 Apr 2022

• #3

Flipped it. Man , that thing looks like it was in the ocean for 10 years.

 

K

krb

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12 Apr 2022

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• 12 Apr 2022

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• #4

Uncle Frank said:

View attachment 86527Flipped it. Man , that thing looks like it was in the ocean for 10 years.

Click to expand...

surprisingly the blade is in excellent condition, but the tang is very pitted,don't know weather it's from age or when it was made, it's what made me want to get it checked,as thought it might be old.

 

K

krb

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12 Apr 2022

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• 12 Apr 2022

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• #5

Majestic said:

It's upside down, and I think it is too far gone to be read, except for the second-to-the last kanji which is 宗 (sō or mune).
If my guess is right, the lacquered mei is trying to be 囗囗正宗作 (something Masamune-saku). In other words, "by Masamune", in which case the writing is 99.99% certain to be a forgery.

Click to expand...

The sword was surrendered to my father by a Japanese officer, he served in Burma,Malaya, and Singapore, it was left in a corner of his shed, the fittings all fell away,so he put new ones on,originall it had Japanese army fittings,really sharp, and apart from the tang in good shape,although my father polished it, and not sure if that was a good thing.

 

K

krb

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12 Apr 2022

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• 12 Apr 2022

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• #6

A pic of the correct way up,I've noticed the tang seems to have been shortened,or looks like it's been chopped at some stage,

 

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

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• 13 Apr 2022

• #7

I like the new version for those whose fighting skills are lacking.

 

Majestic

先輩

Ten-year veteran

12 Oct 2013

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• 13 Apr 2022

• #8

Self-polishing is definitely one way to ruin a Japanese sword. As it is, the tang has been already been ruined. The sword itself - we'd need to see some closer photos of the sword, without its furnishings, so that we can see the overall shape and can take a look at the grains in the steel.