Fukuro Yari mei, need help

[EdWolf]

Yesterday i have bought two Yari. This one, a Fukuro Yari is signed but very difficult to read. I know you guys can do miracles. Please help if possible.

 

Best regards, Ed

[IanB]

Sorry but not a chance. I would suggest trying more oblique lighting.

Ian Bottomley

[EdWolf]

Hope this will help.

[Brian]

I can't read it, but there seems to be an overwhelming amount of fukuro yari signed by Nobukuni (maybe a workshop) so see if that fits what you can see?
Maybe: Chikushû Nobukuni...

[EdWolf]

Thanks Brian, but chikushu doesn't seems to fit. I believe the signature starts with Sekishu but the rest is almost impossible to read.

[Bazza]

Thanks Brian, but chikushu doesn't seems to fit. I believe the signature starts with Sekishu but the rest is almost impossible to read.

Ed,

 

Why not try an honest-to-goodness oshigata.  Even a B pencil on A4 bond 80gsm paper might be better than a poor photograph.  Then copy it and try to "fill in the blanks" on the copy.  Use magnifying glasses in different lighting to trace where strokes go...

 

Bestests,

BaZZa.

[EdWolf]

Thank you BaZZa, that is a good idea. I will give it a try.

[Bugyotsuji]

The photos are really not good enough. Shoot two characters, or even one character at a time and we will get there! 

[EdWolf]

Unfortunately oshigata failed. I'm not that handy,

 

I have tried to take some better photos.

 

I think it starts with 石州.

[ROKUJURO]

Second KANJI could also be KAWA so ISHIKAWA perhaps?

[EdWolf]

Jean, ishikawa fits probably better. Thanks. Hope we can solve the remaining part of the signature.

[Ganko]

It's Seki Shu

[EdWolf]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your reply. I'm still not sure. 石川 ishikawa fits better than 石州 sekishu. It's missing the little strokes.

We need the remaining part to solve this little mystery.

[SteveM]

Looking like 石川忠次郎源囗囗　(Ishikawa Tadajirō Minamoto ?)

 

or possibly 石川定次郎源 (Ishikawa Sadajiro)

[mywei]

Looking like 石川忠次郎源囗囗　(Ishikawa Tadajirō Minamoto ?)

 

or possibly 石川定次郎源 (Ishikawa Sadajiro)

Agree appears to be Tadajiro

Character after minamoto looks like Hisa.

 

Need better lighting or chalk to see the last one

[EdWolf]

Looking like 石川忠次郎源囗囗　(Ishikawa Tadajirō Minamoto ?)

 

or possibly 石川定次郎源 (Ishikawa Sadajiro)

Steve, that's really impressive!

 

Thanks Matt for sharing your thoughts. I shall try to make a better picture soon.

[EdWolf]

In the meantime a few photos of the two Yari.

The Yari on the left is mumei.

[Bugyotsuji]

忠次郎源久..............

[EdWolf]

I think I have found the last piece of the puzzle.

 

石川忠次郎源久道

Ishikawa Tadajirō Minamoto Hisamichi

 

Thanks you all for your help!