Need help identifying Nihonto

[Kaine]

hello I am new here . I apologize if I am going about this the wrong way.. 

so I was handed down an old Japanese nihanto from my stepfather when he passed away. I was left with the zero information about it and I would really like to know everything possible.

So, I took 10 pictures with decent detail on all of the lettering and artwork .

I'd really like to know everything I can about it. .  like what the Japanese words say? what type of nihanto it is? around when it was made? any makers marks?

please comment on any little information or tidbit you can pass on. nothing is too small because I literally know nothing about nihantos and more specifically this one.

thank you in advance for any info+!

 

[Kaine]

if any more detail is needed on any part of the piece let me know.

Kaine

[Ray Singer]

Signed Inoue Shinkai 

 

[rebcannonshooter]

Hi Kane, your sword is signed INOUYE SHINKAI.  The other side with the Chrysanthemum is the date which is giving me problems. (maybe one of the other guys can help) ShinKai worked from circa 1673-82     Tom

[rebcannonshooter]

Hi Kane,  Ray beat me to it while I was typing!  SHINKAI is a BIG name, very famous, but probably the most faked signature out there.

[ROKUJURO]

Hi Kane,

welcome to the NMB!

Your sword (= a WAKIZASHI if between 30,3 and 60,6 cm long) seems to be an authentic NIHONTO (not nihanto, and no plural form), signed with a very famous name (https://www.nihonto.com/shinkai/). The signature is not necessarily by the swordsmith, so you will have this to be verified. 

If I may, I'd  suggest that you do nothing with the blade except keeping it dry and not touching it with your bare hands. Read about handling and etiquette here on NMB, and try to have an expert (preferably a NMB member) near you have a look at it for an evaluation.  

[Ray Singer]

Date is a day in the 8th month of Kanbun 13.

[Franco D]

7 hours ago, Kaine said:

please comment on any little information or tidbit you can pass on.

 

https://yuhindo.com/inoue-shinkai/

 

https://www.nihonto.com/shinkai/

 

If nothing else, there is no shortage of information on this sword maker. Verification as others have said is recommended.