Does this stamp have any special meaning?

[Drago]

I know that sometimes stamps are found on the Nakago of swords, be they aresenal stamps, Crysanthemum, factory stamps or hot stamps by the smith.

 

I found this in an eBay offer: http://www.iconicjapanimages.com/ebay/j ... -84029.jpg (eBay offer http://www.ebay.com/itm/120902864200)

 

Due to the condition of the rest of the I can't judge if the sword is authentic, but if we assume it is: What does the stamp mean? Why would you add the Tokugawa mom to the Nakago of the sword? According to the item description this was perhaps made during the Bakumatsu, so does this mean "taking their side"? Or was this made for someone of the Tokugawa? Or...

 

If you judge this sword to be fake, please close/delete this thread.

 

Thanks.

[falconj]

there are a few 'nobuyoshi' that signed with an engraved 'kikumon' earlier in the En-po and Kwan-ei period's , but can not find any in the Ansei period to the date indicated that this sword is from by the seller! not saying that it is no good either, needs further investigation!

john

[leo]

This is not stamped, but engraved.

Only few smiths were allowed to put the aoi crest on their blades usually because they made swords for the Tokugawa household, among them the famous Echizen Yasutsugu smiths.

The pictured Nobuyoshi is not one of them. I enclose an example of a genuine engraving for comparison. The signature looks o.k. though and for the price asked it does not matter anyway.

 

Martin