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Beautiful polish by Moses. I ve never used him but I ve always admired his work. I am a big time lover of negare and any type of O hada and this is brought out in spectacular fashion here. It is the workmanship that confirms the skill of the artisan. Not the background of his training.

It should be related to the shrine's receiving an official ranking. Shintō shrines had a kind of ranking system, with the shrines most closely connected to the Imperial family receiving the rank of "Imperial Shrine", and other major shrines receiving various "National Shrine" rankings. The phrase you posted means something like "appointed National Shrine 3rd Rank" (see Wikipedia for a list of such designated shrines). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_system_of_ranked_Shinto_shrines#Imperial_shrines,_3rd_rank

All, I am looking to reenter the habit after a long hiatus. For those that don’t know me, I used to focus on the Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu group and amassed a nice collection before life took a detour. I am specifically looking for the Miyairi school, Enomoto Sadayoshi group, and Minamoto Moriyoshi. I do like So Tsutomo and Matsuba Kunimasa as well, so while I do have a preference to these groups, I’m not locked into them. I do have a preference for shinsakuto, gendaito, and possibly shinshinto. I’m looking to get a couple of blades to get started. Feel free to message me if you have any excellent examples you’re looking to move - or know of any.

This one isn't bad for the price: https://world-seiyudo.com/product/ska-030126/ - wide with good length and curvature

Conway, you never cease to amaze me! Good call. It's a Masanori, thought for a second it was Mitsunobu. Never mind. But great ID work on the saka. Ed, thanks for the mune number! The chevorns seem to be polisher marks, but I've never seen any like that for sure.

梵鐘・仏像・銅像・寺院仏具の　老子製作所 | 梵鐘(釣鐘)・寺院仏具・仏像・銅像の老子製作所は、伝統工芸高岡銅器と共に 鐘の専門メーカーとして、寺院仏具金物や洋鐘、カリヨン、モニュメント等の鋳物製品を製造しています Although Lao Tsu or Laozu is spelt like this, the Buddhist manufacturer of bronze bells is called "Oigo" (Old Child) 老子 with these characters, so presumably that is how they would like it to be read. Their blurb says that they made/make objects in the spirit of Laotsu. 老子青銅作品 - 検索

I see what you did there Old Bean Its Oigo for sure and my grateful thanks for shining the light. I came up with Lao Tsu as a first opinion, which was my first opinion, or the prime opinion as opinions go, but then the party of the first part and the party of the second part doubtfully intervened and a second opinion to the first opinion, which was fact the first opinion of the second part was required. A little like the Sanity Clause in the Marx Brothers "Night at the Opera"....... https://www.marx-brothers.org/whyaduck/info/movies/scenes/contract.htm

Oh, but that was my first opinion, and you asked for a second opinion, no? Hmmm...