All About Pocket Knives

I sometimes will hear the term"the information under the handle" at a gun show in reference to the information a swordsmith inscribes on a tang of a Japanese sword.It is called the "mei" and usually gives the smiths name,sometimes the town or city name,and date.Sometimes more(some swordsmiths put cutting test results that included where in the body they cut through,or number of bodys stacked in a pile were cut through)This "nakago" from 1942,has makers name,basic adress and date.First pic is maker"Takashima Kunihide from Fushimi(district in Kyoto)
Greg

Greg said :

" some swordsmiths put cutting test results that included where in the body they cut through,or number of bodys stacked in a pile were cut through."

Sounds like a pretty messy way to test a blade ! I don't think I'd want to have been an apprentice to a swordmaker if part of the duties were cleaning up the shop.


Fran