Shimosaka mei?

[SAS]

I bought this yari from a member (it took a while to get here due to mail issues, we forgot who it is supposed to be, can't find the thread here on NMB) and i have not had good luck trying to translate....it seems to be something something Daijo Shimosaka something something...any help please?

[Ganko]

I think it is "Ise Daijo Shimosaka Mitsuhiro"?

[SAS]

I saw one mei online that was similar from Genroku period; any others to compare?

[SAS]

I saw a few more online; i am convinced...thanks Tom!  

[SteveM]

Here the 下 (shimo) for Shimosaka has been changed into 平 (hira). Interesting.

 

I also laughed when I saw Markus's comment about this smith:

 

"signed with a rather thick chisel in a barely legible manner"

[SAS]

It certainly is an idiosyncratic signature, which lends itself to judging shoshin mei, looking at the available examples.

[SAS]

Referencing the shifted character, is this the same one used for "Taira"? 

[SteveM]

Yes, that's right.