help needed with a mei

[b.hennick]

The first character appears to be Naga or Cho. The last two saku kore. The essential middle two elude me. Any help would be appreciated.

[k morita]

HI,

 

"Cho-un-sai saku kore".

長運斎作之

[b.hennick]

Thanks! The blade is dated as well. I read it to be February 1844.

[Ludolf Richter]

Hi,there is a Katana by him ,rated yushu-saku by the NTHK,in Yoshu to Zuroku (YTZ) Vol.2 on p.162 und 163 with pics and Oshigata,dated August 1853 (Kaei roku-nen hachi-gatsu kichijitsu) and signed Chounsai Tsunatoshi kore o tsukuru:there is quite a difference between your Mei and the one from YTZ 2!Ludolf

[Ludolf Richter]

Here are the pics.Ludolf

[Ed Harbulak]

Don't give up on the mei too soon Barry. Tsunatoshi had a son who did quite a lot of dai saku and dai mei for his father. I don't recall the exact dates of the two smiths just now, but it's quite possible the sword you have was signed by the nidai who also signed Chounsai Tsunatoshi after the shodai passed away. He would have signed daimei before the shodai died. The nidai's mei was Koretoshi before he changed to Tsunatoshi.

Ed Harbulak

[Ludolf Richter]

I am sorry,but the first known Daimei from the Nidai for the Shodai (1796-1862 or 1863) had been made around 1855/57.In 1844,the date on your sword,the Nidai was a boy of 9!Have a look at other Mei-examples:Fujishiro,Watson (Shinshinto hen), Shinshinto Taikan and others.Ludolf