Yari Translation Sought

[hddennis]

Just acquired this yari and would like to know what the signature says.

 

Howard Dennis

[Ray Singer]

Masazane 

[hddennis]

Thank You Ray appreciate the help.  

 

Howard Dennis

[hddennis]

Ray, another site translated this as Masanao. Could this be both or did they make a mistake?  Just wondering what direction to go in researching the name.

 

Thanks again,

Howard Dennis

[uwe]

Howard,

 

I can’t make out if the last character has the two little “foot strokes”. Nao “直” and Zane ”真“can sometimes easily mixed up.

So if the two foots are present, than it’s Masazane….

 

[Geraint]

I think bottom right of the top mekugi ana I can see one of the little feet.

 

All the best.

 

[Ray Singer]

I am not seeing the stroke that wouid be present in NAO. I continue to vote Masazane. 

 

 

[hddennis]

Thank You all for helping me with this. Does this help in swaying your opinions in the same direction?

Howard Dennis

[uwe]

Howard,

this is the stroke at “Nao”, Ray is referring to….

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

One of the problems here is that there were variations in the Nao kanji used by different artisans. 

See u76f4 (直) - GlyphWiki 

 

So you need to compare it against known signatures.

[Bugyotsuji]

The only example of Masanao in my old copy of Fujishiro, Shintō, shows no photograph.

 

On the other hand there are some Masazané examples shown in Fujishiro’s Kotō volume.

 

What do you think?

 

 

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

The guy in my 2nd photo above is said to have made Yari.

A couple more…

[Bugyotsuji]

This is why I bought books, Howard, for the thrill of the chase! 

[ROKUJURO]

Counting the strokes and considering their position, it can only be MASAZANE

[hddennis]

Thanks again for all the help. To be honest I didn't invest in books about signatures because it was learn about the swords and have enough money leftover  to actually buy some OR just own books. So let me see if I'm understanding what you all have posted. In order for the kanji to be Masazane the upper newer hole has to have taken out the righthand side of the bottom horizontal stroke AND the lefthand "foot" stroke. Am I seeing that correctly?

 

Howard Dennis

[Jussi Ekholm]

Here is a reference Yari that has mei Masazane and has been attributed towards Sengo.

 

https://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2009/0910_4008syousai.htm