Interesting Nakago On Mitsuyo Katana

[Ron STL]

Looked at an interesting sword yesterday, brought over by a friend looking for help translating the nakago. The sword is suriage, signed: Higo no kame Hata Mitsuyo. The ura states that Nobutaka suriage it. A date on the ura is Kyoho 2 (1717). My impression is the date relates to when Nobutaka shortened the sword...I think. What I could not figure out was the other inscription above Mitsuyo's mei. I found this almost same inscription for a Mitsuyo in Shinshinto Taikan except on the blade, one character is repeat while in the Taikan, another character preceeds it. Can anyone tell me what this translates to please? 

 

The mei certainly looks right for 1st generation Mitsuyo although there are a couple others mentioned. But the Kyoho date seems too late for any of them, why I thought it was when the blade was shortened. Comments always welcomed. RonSTL

[SteveM]

Date is 享和 (Kyōwa)　1801～

The inscription is

 

以古鍋鐡作之

 

 

Made from old iron pot steel

 

[Bazza]

Ron,

 

Do you have a pic of the habaki???  Or get one, both sides??  It looks to be a gem...

 

BaZZa.

[Ron STL]

Date is 享和 (Kyōwa)　1801～

 

以古鍋鐡作之

 

Ah, now I see Kyowa. Thanks, that makes sense, a shinshinto era suriage. On the other inscription, I'll see if I can translate this myself, but I still would like another verification of what it says. Also, why the character 3 and 4 are placed differently on the sword and in the Taikan. 

 

As for the habaki, I didn't get pictures of it, but yes, it is very nice. Silver foil wrapped and quite nice work. I'll see the sword again and get a couple photos of it then. Thanks guys.  RonSTL

[Ron STL]

Do you have a pic of the habaki??? 

 

Buddy sent one photo of habaki, but as you can see he is not a photographer. RonSTL

[SteveM]

The sword in the Taikan is made from something different from what the sword in your post is made of, that's why the kanji order is different. 

Also, this thread below might be of interest to you.

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22929-made-from-old-hoe-inscription-sword/

[Ron STL]

Okay, it took some digging but it reads...made with old kettle/pot steel...more or less. Interesting excersize using Nelson's and a basic handbook on Japanese. (I ko katetsu saku kore?) RonSTL 

[SteveM]

I think it's probably something closer to

 

Furui nabe tetsu wo motte, kore wo tsukutta (tsukuru)