Request for a Translation

[drac2k]

This is another katana that almost had a sad ending. I found this at a recent show and while it may not be evident the original owner did a couple of small abrasive passes with sandpaper on the sword. We agreed on a price and he told me that for a few more dollars he could completely redo the blade. The marks are not deep, but he did them vertically and they are driving me crazy, so I'll just put it back into the scabbard. It is a nice heavy blade and it measures 28" to the bottom of the habaki and 36" overall.

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I believe the signature would be 江府住立花圓龍子藤原義秀作 / 元治元甲子(X)八月日

 

Smith is Tachibana Yoshihide and dated to 1864. Unfortunately I am not confident in the one character that I put as X but someone will fill that blank spot.

[xiayang]

48 minutes ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

Unfortunately I am not confident in the one character that I put as X but someone will fill that blank spot.

 

The missing character is 歳.

 

元治元甲子歳八月日 = on a day in the eighth month of Genji 1, year of the wood rat (1864 CE, as Jussi correctly pointed out).

[drac2k]

Thank you both very much!

[ROKUJURO]

David,

just to help: We have a translation section. Also, to make reading easier for the experts, please show all NAKAGO photos vertically, tip-upwards. The photos should be taken directly from above (which yours are) and preferably with light from the side and against a dark background.  

[drac2k]

Thanks