Can anyone read Japanese???

[HolyBear]

Hey fellers, me Father-in-law gave me another gift today. It's an axe head. It's fairly old, guessing WWII era, but I cain't find it on the net. Man, this thing has some good metal in it. It was already sharp, but after just a few licks on a stone I can shave with it... damn good metal... does anybody have any ideas about it, where it came from??? I'de really appreciate y'alls help... here's some pics...

[HolyBear]

Another

[HolyBear]

And this...

[Bushman]

Wacabi, if you don't get an answer at one of our local high schools we have a teacher that teaches Japanese so if you want I can contact him.

[HolyBear]

Bushman, if you would be so kind, please do... not a whole lot of locals up er in tha Ozarks speak Japanese. I only assume that it is Japanese since it is such good quality metal. Something tells me it is WWII Japanese but I can't find anything about it on the net.

I know I'm "simple minded", but man, this is some good, quality, metal. Any help would be most appreciated...

[Bushman]

I sent him an email at his work, we will see what response I get next week when he returns to work!

[AdkHillbilly]

I found this site with what looks to be similar to what you have, but newer. Only has a little bit of info, but it might be something to go on.


http://www.cartercutlery.com/japanese-k ... tosa-style" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Bull Rider]

It says;

"Made in Japan"....



But my Japanese is pretty rusty.


Bull.

[eviljesus]

I've got a mate that is fluent in Japanese and lives there for half the year then comes back to Australia.

I have sent him this link and will see what he can do for us. I'll report back when I hear findings.

Cheers,
Evil.

[Bushman]

Here is the reply and actually have more info than you asked for



About the axe, I can read the two big hand curved Kanjis at the top saying "Kunitoshi", smaller characters at the right 土佐　"Tosa", and another set of smaller characters at the left 保険 "hoken" means assurance.

I figured out that the axe was made in Tosa area, which is a city in Shikoku Island. So, I just sent the picture to Tosa Cutlery Association asking if they could tell us more about the axe. I got their reply, and here is what they say.

- The axe is for chopping firewood.
- It was made in around 1965.
- Suzuki Hardware Shop in Suido, Kochi-city, Kochi-ken in Shikoku was selling the axes.
- The blacksmith who made the axe is Masaichi Saito, and he is still alive and lives in Kochi-city.
They tried to contact him, but he has been demented and couldn't talk.
- "Kunitoshi" is a brand name for the axe.
- "Tosa" is a name of the location that the axe was made in
- "hoken" means warranty.

[Durace11]

I hope it's a lifetime hoken!

[HolyBear]

Whoa!!! Thank-you very much Bushman... That's more than what I dreamed could be found out about it. The maker may be demented now but he certainly wasn't at the time of its forging. Excellent metal. This is gonna sound weird, but I carry an axe with me every day... since this one isn't some sorta national treasure, I'll fix a handle for it and this will be what a carry... Thanks again, good folks here...