Wakizashi mei tranlation assistance

[grapppa]

I recently acquired this wakizashi in shirasaya and would appreciate your translation assistance. The saya has 10 characters; the blade 8 - the last 8 of the saya appear to me to match the blade... Here is my attempt at interpretation:

 

char

1 ?

2 ?

3 ichi

4 bun/fumi

5 mori

6 de

7 wa

8 mamori

9 yuki

10 hiro

 

Thank you for your time and expertise.

[DGARBUTT]

Ichimonji Dewa (no) Kami Yukihiro. Hizen smith.

Dale

[runagmc]

To expand,

 

1. Hi

2. Zen

Hizen is a province

 

3. Ichi

4. Mon

5. Ji

Ichimonji is a school of sword making from early Koto, known for putting the character Ichi on some of their swords. The name Ichimonji has been used occasionally by smiths who may, or may not, have any real connection to the original Bizen schools. Original Ichimonji styles are immulated very often...

 

6. De

7. wa

Dewa is a province

 

8. Kami

Dewa no Kami is a title, literally read as "lord of Dewa province"...

 

9. Yuki

10. Hiro

Dewa no Kami Yukihiro is a well known smith of the Hizen Tadayoshi school in the 1600s... I can't remember how many, but there are multiple generations. Also, I'm sure MANY gimei exist... your blade has to be judged on it's merits to determine if it's a genuine mei, or not... even if gimei, it can be a good sword...

I rememeber seeing Yukihiro signing with the "Ichi" kanji, but not "Ichimonji"... someone else may have better info, or remember better...

[grapppa]

Thank you all. I will be posting details on the sword and saya shortly.

[Motorgun]

I just purchased a Waki with the exact Mei that has Tokubetsu Hozon certificate noting it is (Sho-Dai) so it is definite that the first gen Yukihiro signed some swords this way.