ASSISTANCE PLEASE LONG SST INSCRIPTION

THIS IS A LONG INSCRIPTION ON A VERY FINE SHINSHINTO SWORD THAT HAS ME STYMIED. ASSISTANCE PLEASE. I WILL POST THE SIGNATURE TOMORROW, SO TODAY IS THE DAY FOR RAMPANT SPECULATION

DALE

Hi,

It is very interesting A LONG INSCRIPTION.

Is there the swordsmith's signature on the other side of the tang?

interesting.....never seen such thing before. the smith actually tells you a lot of things concerning the making of this sword.

Looks like Gassan Sadakazu.....

As promised here is the signature. I cannot get the town name? after "niote ---- ----- Osaka"

Hi,

Thanks for the photos.

Oh great. Kurihara Nobuhide sword !

The mei says:

武州之人,栗原筑前守信秀,於摂州大坂作之.

A man of Bushu province, lord of Chikuzen Kurihara Nobuhide, Made this at Osaka in Settsu-province

Can we see some pics from the blade?!

an online example, Chikuzen Kurihara Nobuhide http://www.siseido.net/item/2010/02/kurihara-chikuzen-no-kami-nobuhidekeio-yo-nen-sho-gatu-hi.html

how does one go around to find a 栗原信秀 sword? :?

Hi DGARBUTT,

I read PM from you.

Can you share some pics of the blade for members here?

If you do so, we(I) will translate the long-mei.

Here are some pictures of the Nobuhide. Unfortunately I have not been able to get good shots of the hamon or hada. The hada and hamon on this sword are very similar to the link posted earlier by Franco to the online Nobuhide. I would say the hamon on this sword is more active that the online sword.

More pictures of the Nobuhide

Nice sword Dale! Where did you find it? Cheers, Bob

Please forgive my bad English.

Someone might translate more better.

A LONG INSCRIPTION of the Tang:

(Original)

慶應紀元歳次乙丑夏五月,渥美義章奉長賊誅討之命,先大駕赴于大阪因使作此刀.

A. On 5th month Summer,1865.

B. 渥美義章 Atsumi(surname) Yoshiaki or Yoshiakira.(Name of orderer of this sword)

C. 長賊　"Chozoku" means Choshu clan to be hostile to Tokugawa shogunate.　長州征伐　

D. 大駕 "taiga" means, Palankeen that feudal lord got on.

E. 大阪 Osaka.

(yomikudashi readng of the kanbun):

慶應紀元歳次乙丑夏五月、渥美義章ハ長賊誅討之命ヲ奉ズ、先ズ大駕ハ大阪ニ赴クニ因リテ此刀ヲ作ラシム.

(English translation)

On 5th month,Summer 1865, Atsumi Yoshiaki followed the attack order against Choshu clan. and I had a swordsmith make this sword when palankeen(that the feudal lord got on)(and his soldiers) arrived at Osaka.

Just a little spelling correction, 大駕 taiga, big palanquin. John