Shin Guntō Nakago Mei

This is the tang of a shin guntō sword that is in the Small Arms Collection at Warminster Garrison. It was presented to the museum by Lord Mountbatten. The blade and tsuka in a very poor condition, but it does bear this signature. I've been trying to read the kanji, but failing miserably. The only character I'm confident about is the 2nd to last "Hiro". (Hirotsugu? Hironaga?), but am stumped with the rest. Can anybody help? Cheers.

....Can anybody help?....

I will give it a try: MINAMOTO MICHIHIRO SAKU might be the last four KANJI, while the first may be SEKI.

Nice try:

Seki ju Ishihara Michihiro Saku

*Edit - forgot the saku.

Thanks you guys! It will add knowledge to the piece and there may be some funding to restore, to an extent.

Dear Dick

To add to Joe's translation here is a picture with

kanji

Hope that helps

david mcdonald

Dear Dick

To add to Joe's translation here is a picture with kanji

Hope that helps

david mcdonald

Thanks David!

................

To add to Joe's translation here is a picture with

kanji

.........................

To be accurate, the kanji for "Michi" in the picture is wrong.

---> 石原通廣

To be accurate, the kanji for "Michi" in the picture is wrong.

---> 石原通廣

Hmm, now I'm confused...If it's Michihiro, then shouldn't it be 道廣? Isn't what you've written Tsūhiro 通廣?

"通廣" also reads Michihiro.