help in identifying my father's katana

[Kevin E C]

  I also have pics of writing on the Tsukamaki. Any assistance in identifying these images would be appreciated!

[Mark S.]

I believe the second kanji is “naga”.

I’m struggling with the first… possibly “toshi”???

[SteveM]

That's what it looks like to me, too. Toshinaga 歳長

[Kevin E C]

Thank you Mark and Steve!

Might Toshinaga be the maker of the katana?

I have several pics of inscriptions on the Tsukamaki but am limited to one photo because of file size.

[SteveM]

22 minutes ago, Kevin E C said:

Might Toshinaga be the maker of the katana?

 

Yes, that would be the maker's name. Maybe this guy (although there may be others who also used the name Toshinaga)

https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/TOS294

[Kevin E C]

I wonder if there is a way to find the ancestors of the person this katana was made for?  Possibly returning it to them?

[Kevin E C]

this is a better image.  Is there a way for someone like myself (no knowledge of Japanese language) to decipher the inscriptions on the Tsukamaki? Some are faded and would require a considerable skill with Japanese.