signature on blade ! and sayagaki translation needed

[Petersan]

hello, I got this katakiriha zukuri blade with signature on its side above the shinogi, it is most likely says:

 

阿州海部住氏次

ashū kaibu ju ujitsugu

 

and perhaps from 1670's ???

 

I aim to find out more about this nice sword by translating the saya gaki, if anyone could translate it would be great ,also why is the signature on the blade and not on the tang? it is very strange

 

regards

Peter G.

[Geraint]

Hi Peter.

 

Nice find. I recalled seeing something about Kaifu smiths signing on the blade in this way and a search brought up this one, http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/tanto/11179.html You will see in the accompanying description by Tsuruta San that two smiths at least signed on the blade.

 

Hope this helps.

 

All the best

[Petersan]

Thanks Geraint for the message, but unfortunately I did not come much closer why they signed on the blade and what the sayagaki says, but thanks for the link, helped a little. The blade is flawless by the way and in mint polish, very nice piece.

 

regards

Peter G.

[cabowen]

The paper on the saya (not a sayagaki) just says it is katakiriba and the period of manufacture. I will let you work that out (the last two kanji before the last kanji　（year 年)

[Petersan]

thank you for the info and the forced lesson, but I can not figure out the 3rd kanji from the back, is this Shoho era, the second kanji looks like it, but these writing are never like in a book, they do differ.

Anyone any thoughts why it is signed on the blade?

[cabowen]

享保

 

it is signed on the blade because that is what some kaifu smiths do....

[Kai-Gunto]

Funny , the sageo is the strap for the company grade officer tassel.

[Petersan]

This is just the information I was waiting for