Type 98 translation help please

[ribendao]

Hi everyone.

 

Can anyone help it out with this signature that was on an old type 98?

did the flour trick but still hard to make out.

 

thanks 

[JohnL]

Hi, 

 

Whilst I can't help with the translation I've edited the photo to make the mei hopefully a little easier to read 

 

 

[robinalexander]

Hattori MASAHIRO

 

But will need to verified 

[SteveM]

↑　You got it. 服部正廣 Hattori Masahiro.

[Bruce Pennington]

Slough said he was from Gifu and made low-medium grade showato and medium grade gendaito.  Any small stamps on the nakago?  Want to show the rest of the blade for an evaluation, if possible?

[ribendao]

No other stamps from what I can see. There is one spot of rust on the nakago that might have been a seki stamp at one point. Fitting are in rough shape and missing the scabbard lock ring.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ok, so that at least opens the possibility this was traditionally made.  If you want to pursue that track, the guys will need some good, clear close-ups of a few sections of the blade showing skin/hamon details.

[ribendao]

12 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Ok, so that at least opens the possibility this was traditionally made.  If you want to pursue that track, the guys will need some good, clear close-ups of a few sections of the blade showing skin/hamon details.

Probably too much rust to get an accurate Kantei at the moment. There does seem to be a choji mlidare hamon peeking through the rust.