This may have been posted here already and if so please direct me to it as I could not find it.

Translation and info about the maker along with age would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

James Friedrichs

Please sign your post with your real name, it is a bit inconvenient to address you as "Prewar" ...

The signature is tachi mei, chiselled shallow and not in a very elegant way. It is not clear enough for me to say anything definite, but I would guess Higo (no) Kuni Naomune 肥後國直宗. If this is the smith, he worked in late Edo period (Early 19th century).

BR,

Veli