Can anybody give me any information on this .thanks

[bullet]

[Bruce Pennington]

@SteveM or @Ray Singer, or one of the other guys will help with the smith's name.  In the meantime, could you post a straight-on, clear shot of the menugi - the metal piece under the ito (handle wrap), please?

 

Also, if you actually go by "Bullet" as a nickname among friends and family, great!  But if not, please post a real first name in you profile that will show up.  It's NMB rules, and we just like to chat with real people! 

[SteveM]

近江大掾藤原忠廣

Ōmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadahiro

 

(Made by Tadahiro Fujiwara, Lord of Ōmi Province). 

[Tensho]

Looks like it has some "civilian" gunto fittings. I too would like to see more of the koshirae. 

[bullet]

Hi SteveM how old do you think it is?

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Bullet , the maker is quite famous and worked in the 17th century but the signature on this piece is almost certainly a fake one . it is signed on the wrong side and looks badly executed .

[bullet]

Hi Ian thanks for that I have now looked in to it, definitely signed on the right side but probably a fake , was brought back from ww2 .

Thanks any way

[Ray Singer]

Omi Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro 

 

https://hizento.com/...eration-tadahiro.php

[Bruce Pennington]

Bullet,

You might already know this, but a "fake" signature, or gimei, doesn't mean the sword is a fake.  It was a fairly common practice done for hundreds of years.

 

Thanks for the added photos.  You have an interesting piece there.  Old, civil blade re-fitted for the war.  The black leather cover is usually found on Navy swords, but the menugi is Army.  The fuchi (the collar on the handle with the flowers) is a pattern used for the civil branch of the military called Gunzoku.  I suspect this explains the rest of the combo.