Help appreciated... :)

[Steve Waszak]

Looking to have the writing accompanying the upper two (Yamasaka Kichibei) tsuba translated.  If anyone could assist, I'd really appreciate it!  I can read a little of it (like the artist's name), but much I can't make out.  Thanks for any help! 

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

 

P.S.  A bonus would be having the writing on the other side of the page translated, too, some of which can be made out through the paper...

[Bugyotsuji]

OK, I'll bite just to get the ball rolling. The top one says Yamasaka Kichibei, as you state. 

薄手 usude (slim?)

向蝶 mukai-cho (opposed butterflies)

地透 jisukashi

無銘 mumei

[Steve Waszak]

Thanks, Piers!  Would you be able to confirm if that lone kanji in between the two tsuba-and-text means something like "the same"?  And I'm guessing that for the second tsuba, "kiku" would be one of the kanji?  Thanks again. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Without giving too much away, Steve, and without hitting the books.... yes, and yes. 

[Steve Waszak]

Thanks, again, Piers.  Much appreciated.

[Bugyotsuji]

I think... it says (but the font is going crazy)

稍　yaya/wazuka 薄手 usude (slightly slim) 菊地透 kiku ji sukashi