Shugyosha

Hi Gerry, To me that doesn't look like natural wear from normal polishing. I'd suggest that it is the product of an acid polish and, given the state it's now in with most of the natural activity obscured and what looks like fake hitatsura, I think it is going to be a futile exercise trying to kantei it.

Welcome to the forum Kai. Unfortunately, you don't get much buyer's remorse for $130 these days.

Hi Lewis, Have a look at Michael's post in this thread on the subject which might help you come to a conclusion. I can't draw a firm conclusion and it doesn't help (me) that this is an older form of the kuni kanji. To my eyes the second horizontal stroke off the central diagonal in "kuni" looks like it might run in the opposite direction to normal and the bottom stroke of the enclosure is a possibility too but less obviously so. The long horizontal bar on "mitsu" also looks like it has been done right to left to me but it's finger in the air stuff. I think the best opinion you will get would be from @Nobody san.

Those are the kanji but I think you need another reading for them “Banjuu” is one possibility but there may be others.

A long overdue recognition IMHO. What name have you decided on for your nengo?

@Spartancrest and @When Necessary Good eyes!

I'm confused - used by Geisha who are also assassins or by others to assassinate Geisha?

Hi Darren, I'll go first to get the easy bit - the large characters on the right read "Mizusashi": 水指

For reference, here's one I used to own which I thought was Ko Tosho:

Hi Jeff, Welcome to the forum. Are you able to post a picture of the tang with the handle taken off as there may be a signature and date there?

Hi John, In my head I had the Tosho as being Edo period and Ko Tosho as anything before, but Shibui swords, Robert Haynes/ Elliott Long's website has the boundary before the end of the Muromachi period (if I'm reading the table correctly) so probably more in line with Sasano, though it suggests that the dates should be "taken very liberally". https://shibuiswords.com/tsubaera.htm

You can check out any time you like but...

It’s not suriage - might be a fraction machi okuri but that might be my eyes? Nothing to worry about though IMHO.

Graham, The word "please" is a politeness often overlooked but it can do wonders when you're asking a favour from complete strangers. Perhaps a few words about yourself and what you have too?

If you have the patience, I don’t think repeating what you did with the last one would hurt. @ROKUJURO knows a good deal and may be able to advise, also you could try a search on “tsuba fussing” for advice on cleaning up tsuba.