<p>my initial guess, the 3rd character is 刻 (u+523b)</p>

<p><a href="http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E5%88%BB" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=刻</a></p>

<p>the seal script in the picture is slightly deviated from standard one.</p>

<p>anyway, i guess your sword is made by 光雲堂, a japanese carving knife manufacturer; maybe you can ask them directly :) </p>

<p><a href="http://kouundou.com/index.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://kouundou.com/index.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-05T10:57:33.470Z
Thank you very much! So it seems to say "Light cloud engraved sword", you've made my day!
smirkingman
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-05T02:44:27.753Z
2017-08-05T02:44:27.753Z
水巷孑蠻
<p>I have an century+ old sword which has this label:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4QzHo.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4QzHo.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>A Chinese friend at work said she understood 光雲一刀 = "Light cloud [something] sword" but she couldn't figure out the third character, some kind of classifier, she thought maybe.</p>

<p>Can someone help me with that 3rd character please?
Thanks in advance.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-05T00:44:31.037Z
looks as if characters 1,2 and last (4 or 5?) are left-right reflections of 光，雲，刀
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-05T10:54:29.900Z
@user6065 Thanks for pointing that out, you're right, I made a mistake editing the picture (which was upside down)
smirkingman
<character-identification>
What does the 3rd symbol on this sword label mean?
# What does the 3rd symbol on this sword label mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-04)

I have an century+ old sword which has this label:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/4QzHo.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/4QzHo.png)

A Chinese friend at work said she understood 光雲一刀 = "Light cloud [something] sword" but she couldn't figure out the third character, some kind of classifier, she thought maybe.

Can someone help me with that 3rd character please?
Thanks in advance.

**Tags:** character-identification
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: looks as if characters 1,2 and last (4 or 5?) are left-right reflections of 光，雲，刀  
> **username_0**: @user6065 Thanks for pointing that out, you're right, I made a mistake editing the picture (which was upside down)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-05. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

my initial guess, the 3rd character is 刻 (u+523b)

[http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=刻](http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/lexi-mf/search.php?word=%E5%88%BB)

the seal script in the picture is slightly deviated from standard one.

anyway, i guess your sword is made by 光雲堂, a japanese carving knife manufacturer; maybe you can ask them directly :)

<http://kouundou.com/index.html>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you very much! So it seems to say "Light cloud engraved sword", you've made my day!  

---

