Images of Japanese swords and fittings

View Details, Image of the tsuba (333 Kb).

View Details, Kin Noshu Kanenobu saku kore So Kanenobu of Mino province respectfully made this sword (500 Kb). This is Kanenobu who's real name is Niwa Shuji and became a intangible cultural asset of Gifu prefecture in November 1973. View Details, Image of the ura side of nakago (500 Kb). View Details, kanji of left hand column of ura side (60 Kb). View Details, kanji of right hand column of ura side with parts missing (50 Kb). With the help of Harry Watson (all mistakes are mine) I think the left hand side translates as "This blade was presented to the person, who’s name has been deleted, for his sincere assistance in the shipping department at the the Hankengoku Educational Institution located by the Kizugawa (Kizu River) in Kyoto, in Greater Japan." And the right hand side translates as "This blade was presented to someone of rank that could be called His Majesty" Where many of the kanji have been 'erased'.