It seems to me that lines on the tang are not chinese characters at all. Am I right?
Thank You,

THE PICTURES SEEM TO INDICATE THIS IS A JAPANESE SWORD. HOWEVER, THE BLACK COLOR ALONG WITH THE SHALE ON THE TANG WOULD INDICATE TO ME THAT THIS BLADE WAS IN A FIRE AND LIKELY A RETEMPER AND THUS, WORTHLESS.

Sorry. I did not mention that the photo was in black and white.
My friend has bought a sword from ebay.
It seems to me that:
- line of the edge was missed after polishing of the edge near kissaku.
- Kissaki also was changed
- Defects on hiraji are serious (fatal ?)
- Characters on the tang are not kanji

What is Yours opinion?

Thank You/

photo

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tang

BLADE IS SIGNED "MIHARA JU MASASANE." HE TEMPER LINE IS NT UNUSUAL FOR A BINGO MIHARA BLADE. BETTER PICTURES SHOW THE BLADE IS NOT A RETEMPER.

Dear Mr. Coleman,

Thank You for Your answer.

What about the age of the sword or information about Bingo Mihara?
Can You advise characters for Masasane ?
Thank you.

There are eight Masasane smiths listed, but only one from Bingo province.

Name: MASASANE
Date/Time: BUN-GI 1501
Province: BINGO
Rating -
Toko: 555
Hawley: MAS 818
Level: JO-SAKU
Point: 300

http://www.sho-shin.com/smiths1d.htm

It's a nice wakizashi (it's waki, right?) and with some surface (ji & ha) polishing would be a screamer.
Did it came with kozuka and kogatana?

Dear Mr. Coleman, dear Walter,

Thank You for Your answers.
1) Excuse me for my English.
You wrote “…with some surface (ji & ha) polishing would be a screamer.”
May I understand this phrase as: “with some surface (ji & ha) polishing it would be very nice”?
2) Kozuka without kogatana. Fuchi - shingunto.
3) Please find photo of the wakizashi.

Thank you very much For Your assistance. .

1

2

THE SEPPA WITH HOLES HAVE EVIDENTLY BEEN ADDED BY A COLLECTOR AS THEY ARE OFF A MILITARY SWORD. THE BINGO MIHARA SWORD MAKERS WERE VERY ACTIVE IN THE 16TH CENTURY, FROM WHICH LIKELY THIS BLADE DATES. THE SWORDS OF THAT ERA ARE CONSIDERED, ON THE WHOLE, TO BE MASS PRODUCED AND NOT BLADES OF HIGH ARTISITC QUALITY.

Dear Mr. Coleman, dear Walter,

Thank You for Your answers.
Please note that I made a mistake in my message. Seppa – shingunto, not fuchi.

Sincerely Yours,