Partial mei translation,Bizen..

Good day all,

I am researching another interesting blade that has had a major portion of the mei removed.This was an unusual modification as can be seen.

I know the first two kanji are Bizen province and from there I can only guess.I know that some board members are so skilled at reading kanji that we may have a chance here (even though there are only bits and pieces).

Also note the unusual patina on the nakago (not the fresh red rust ).It almost looks like it was gold anodized or a gold wash applied?

Thanks

Bizen Kuni Osafune ju - cut-

Smith's name has been removed....

what a wonder that looked like before the ages took it's toll. what is the nagasa now?

Also note the unusual patina on the nakago (not the fresh red rust).It almost looks like it was gold anodized or a gold wash applied?

Strange colors on nakago are most often pointing towards yaki-naoshi (retempering). By (accidental) over-heating and shock-cooling the nakago will eventually display a strange color afterwards. Heating steel to F 410° and plunging it into water its color will stop at a light yellow. Rapid cooling at higher temperatures will result in tones from straw (F440°) to bronze (F510°). I even remember a dark blue nakago I saw once. - This might be a possible explanation.

reinhard

Stephen,the nagasa is about 26"-27".

I did not even think of yaki-naoshi Reinhard.I have heat treated a lot of different steels (in my machine shop) and this does not look like the colored oxides that form on the surface during the tempering cycle.This really looks like it was applied.The color is too uniform throughout.I will examine it again this week with yaki-naoshi in mind tho.

Added a couple more pics that shows the hada (itame?) and a different look at the nakago.

Thanks for the input.