Can anyone put me out of my misery?

[Brian]

I feel like I really should know this one, but I'm just not finding the answer. Aside from the last one which I think is 'shi' ?
It's on a tanto, likely Shinshinto.
Thanks in advance.
 

[Bugyotsuji]

青龍子　Seiryushi? (Don't have my books here to double-check).

[Brian]

Hmmm. Interesting.
I wonder if this could be Seiryuken Moritoshi?
He firstly named himself Seiryushi (a child of Blue Dragon) and then changed it to Seiryuken.
Or does anyone have any other ideas?
Maybe Seiryūshi Kanetsugu?
It's hitatsura, Hirazukuri and an o-tanto. Will post pics soon.

[Mark S.]

Most definitely Seiryushi, but strange no name afterward.  Here is a Seiryushi Moriyuki I own.  Passed NTHK-NPO.  He used the simplified ‘ryu’ in mei.  

 

[george trotter]

Brian,

My book 'Nihonto Meikan' by Homma and Ishii 1975 shows in the index of titles (shogo) on p.16 (1539) has 9 smiths who used the this shogo. 2 from Showa, 2 from Meiji and 5 from earlier. This list gives the page number where you can read about the smith, his work etc. (has no images).

I would send you the references but my computer is causing problems with images right now so I can't copy the pages for you.

Maybe someone who has this book can help you?

 

Regards...

[vajo]

Seirushi means founder/ mother. So it means nothing without a smith name following.

[Stephen]

I don't do Mercy killings but once you're in the states we can set up a contract, I'll drive out to.....what?....oh..... Never mind disregard. 😎

[Brian]

Thanks Mark and George.
Can someone explain the exact use of the word "go"?
I know it is a personal name or art name, but does that mean the smith signed using that, or does it just mean that is what he called himself?
If a book says he used the go "Seiryushi" would that mean he sometimes signed that way or something else?
Pics of the sword are posted here: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/45504-tanto-signed-seiryushi/

 

[Larason2]

It's a nice blade. The tanto doesn't look like standard geometry to me though. Is it possible this is a suriage tanto, cut from a larger blade?

[Brian]

Mine isn't pictured here. It's on the other post. But nope..it is fairly typical, and ubu. I'll need to pull it out of the koshirae and post pics of the bare blade when I get time.
Currently hectic working through the fittings for the show.
I think it's probably a short wakizashi, but will measure tonight.

[C0D]

What if it's this guy?

NORIKATSU (徳勝), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Hiroshima – “Seiryūshi Minamoto Norikatsu kore o kinsaku” (青龍子源徳勝謹作之), “Minamoto Norikatsu” (源徳勝), real name Nakahara Tokuji (中原徳二), born October 12th 1906, gō Seiryūshi (青龍子), he was basically a self-taught smith, taking the writings of Suishinshi Masahide as a guidline, he also worked as guntō smith (it is said about 180 guntō blades until the end of World War II), ryōkō no jōi (Akihide), Fifth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941) (see picture right)

[Brian]

Thanks Manuel, I did come across his too. I'm not sure how to work out which guy it is unless I come up with another hitatsura sword.
I think I have about 5 smiths that mention the go of Seiryushi. But haven't seen any just signed with that.
It's a real puzzle. I wonder what Shinsa would say.