Translation Help

[Kyle68]

Hey everyone! Im looking for opinions. The seller says it was made by Echizen

No Kami Minamoto Nobuyoshi. Is that correct? Do you think this signature is Gimei or real? I’ve included what the seller sent me

[Geraint]

Dear Kyle.

 

As far as the mei goes the reading is correct.  As to the possibility of gimei............well I know nothing but in your comparison of papered examples you might want to note the rather blocky and very upright way in which the signature is chased,  On your example take a look at the sweeping left to right stroke at the bottom of the Echi kanji, it's very 'swoopy' for want of a better term.  Also compare the zen kanji, nicely vertical and confident on papered examples but here rather sloppy and bow legged.  My feeling is that the 'handwriting' is off for this smith, have a look at papered examples and see what you think.  

 

Hope some of that helps.

 

All the best.

 

 

[moriarty]

Greetings Kyle, 

 

Thanks for posting clear pictures of the nakago, as stated above by Geraint and by the seller, this piece does a signature of (越前守源信吉)- Echizen No Kami Minamoto Nobuyoshi (17th century). Being that his lineage is reasonably famous, gimei and the likes are quite common. Just by the signature alone, I do not believe it's a gimei. However, more pictures of the sugata would be beneficial to any assessment. 

 

As for the koshirae/fittings, they seem a bit mismatched and much later additions to the blade. I've attached another of his signed works for comparison, this one too, lacks the usual kikumon. 

 

                        Kind Regards, 

                                                Maurice