Help needed with a translation.

[Brian Wolfe]

Hello Everyone,

I've have a long sword that may or may not be authentic, though my guess is that it is NOT.

The sword, which I will post in its entirety after I research it, is 53 inches in length. It could be a copy (real?) No-datchi, I hope the spelling is correct.

On the blade and tang there are some markings that look like Kanji. The area around the "Kanji" has been etched away with acid, or at least that would be my best guess. The whole idea of acid etching to bring out markings on a Japanese blade is suspect in my books to begin with. I have photographed these markings with the hope that some of our members could give me a translation. I checked with a Chinese friend of mine and was told that the markings were not Chinese.

I've had this sword for quite some time but because I thought from the start it was a copy I have never included it with my Japanese sword display.

Any help you could give me would be graetly appreciated.

Cheers

Brian

[Paul L Murphy]

Hi Brian,

Bad news, these are not kanji. They look like the sort of scribble type characters you see when people who cannot write Japanese are trying to create something that looks like kanji so I think that supports your belief that the sword is a copy.

Regards,

Paul

[Henry 24th]

Sorry Brian,

I would have too agree with Paul. If the kanji were "shoso script" then we could try to make a signature of it. This however is definitly not kanji...looks more like sanscrit. As for the acid etching...never.

What I do find interesting is that it is on a No-Dachi. Regardless of the Signature, the blade may still be real and reliable.

I suspect the signature was etched into an unsigned blade (people are capable of doing some odd things).....Please post more pics when you can.

Henry

[Brian Wolfe]

Thanks guys,

I wish the lettering was the only thing that makes me think this this is a copy.

I will post photos later in the week.

Cheers

Brian

[Hugh]

Not Korean