Translation Of One Character In Shinsakuto Mei

[zap123]

Hiya,

 

I'd appreciate some help with the following mei, particularly the first character.  It is on a big Mino-den shinsakuto.

 

Thanks

 

[Brian]

Spidey senses are tingling.
Not a Komonjo eBay sword is it? I would expect it to be better signed. These kanji appear rough and not well done. Hope I'm wrong.

[kyushukairu]

Toshinobu (寿信) but as Brian said, it looks somewhat questionable

[zap123]

Thank you.

 

What is this Komonjo Ebay of which you speak?  The blade in question wasn't bought through Ebay, and if it's not Nihonto it's the best fake I've ever seen

 

It is in hadori polish and mounted in shirasaya.  I suspect it is most likely a shadow sword.

[Brian]

It's a dealer on eBay known for selling lots of such swords. Search the forum for more info. I suspect the idea of "shadow swords" is just smoke and mirrors for swords either made in China and smuggled to the West or illegally made Japanese swords signed with spurious signatures.

[Stephen]

how about pictures of the full sword? end of nakago, kissaki , hamon?