Wakizashi Mei and Kozuka Blade

[ChuckJ]

Hello Everyone,

 

I recently purchased an old Wakizashi in mounts which has a signed Kozuka blade and Tsuba .

 

The reason for the post is to hopefully have another opinion on the translation.  The nakago, is very dark the iPhone lightened it to a bright rust color.

 

Thank you,

 

Chuck

[SteveM]

Sword is signed

 

濃州住兼光　Nōshū-jū Kanemitsu

 

Kogatana is "signed"

 

志津三郎源兼氏　Shizu Saburō Minamoto Kaneuji

 

I put signed in quotations because these items are often signed with a famous name as an homage to that smith. The smith on this kogatana, Minamoto Kaneuji, is also a famous smith, so the first reaction is to be skeptical - or, to put another way, this item seems to be of the same tradition as other kogatana, in that it carries a big name. 

 

Tsuba photo is upside down, but the mei reads  国廣 - Kunihiro 

[Ray Singer]

Some of the later generations of the Kaneuji lineage specialized in kogatana production and many examples are found with this mei.

 

 

Andy Quirt read the mei of your sword as Choshu ju Kanemitsu, however he signed '金光' rather than '兼光'. Steve's reading above is the correct one.

 

http://www.nihonto.us/MINO%20KANEMITSU%20DON%20SAYERS.htm

[ChuckJ]

Steve and Raymond!

 

Thank you  both for the wonderful and informing replies!  I appreciate you time and help as I could not obtain it anywhere else!

 

Again, Thank you both!

 

Chuck