Shugyosha

Hi John, I'm sorry I can't help there, however, but it has been the received wisdom since I've been interested in the subject. The vast majority seem to not be high quality items and confirm that rule whereas the one you've shown is clearly the exception - it has a hamon, and is well finished on the side with the signature and the mei is well carved and is clearly something that the smith was rightly proud to sign. In my post I was careful to qualify what I said by use of words like "generally" and "probably" because, as with most things nihonto and I've made the error more than once before, the instant something is stated as an immutable rule, something appears that proves the opposite and there are undoubtedly good kogatana out there.

As Piers says, the signatures on kogatana (the blade part as opposed to the handle which is a kozuka) are generally aspirational and more often than not the name of a famous swordsmith that bears no relationship to the actual maker or the maker of the main blade to which the fittings belong. That the kogatana is signed, and that the signature is probably false, doesn't add to or detract from the value of the piece or the package as a whole and, unfortunately, in this case isn't very clear and it's very much a peripheral issue relative to the interesting wakizashi in quite a nicely made scabbard that you have.

It matches my pyjamas!

Yes that's it - I completely missed the "Noshu" - it's either my eyes or my screen or both.

Hi Robert, 関前川助 (廣)作之 - Seki Maekawa Suke(hiro) saku kore. I'm not convinced about the "hiro" as I can't find a Seki tosho with this name but someone who knows better may chip in to confirm or suggest an alternative.

Owari Kinko.

Actually it was my web browser that was out of date - I've updated it and everything is working again. ...so here's the NMB thread referred to above:

No, it's a different problem - I get no copy/ paste options either with my mouse or keyboard right now. It's happened in the last couple of days and I can't work out what's different - it's a pretty old computer though and not running the current version of windows so it may be that.

Thank you Dale, yes that's the one.

Hi Khalid, That's an attractive tsuba. I think the mei reads Kishu ju Sadanaga - if I'm correct (see below), there's an example with Tokuho papers on Aoi at the moment but in a different style to yours. I'm having computer issues at the moment and I can't copy and paste the link so here's Aoi's comments on the artist longhand: "Edo period...Sadanaga, a prominent tsuba artist from Kii province is believed to have descended from Hoan, who migrated from Owari to Kii and later to Aki. His works, likely based on the Owari tsuba tradition, exhibit exceptional craftsmanship in both iron quality and design. Good metalsmith". There's a thread on the artist on NMB if you have a search which was started by @Higo-san who can perhaps offer further information - again I can't link it as I can't copy the link. To be fair I don't think your tsuba is done in the Owari style and the examples shown in the thread I've tried to quote differ from yours, so there is some doubt in my mind as to whether this is the same guy, but I'm sure you'll get some more informed answers shortly.

Tarzan?

That’s very kind, thank you - I’m glad you’re enjoying them.

Hi Colin and Uwe, I went with mine because of the comment in Haynes about the stylised “ta” kanji - but the “Denryusai” one sounds more prestigious in terms of lineage…

Hi Colin, Yes, it's the same one that Jean posted - for some reason I couldn't get that picture on my phone last night. I had it down as "Taryusai Yoshiyuki" Haynes reference H 12344.0

Hi Colin, I think that might be one I sold you - I’ll check my records in case I still have my notes. Does it have Shoki on the other side?

The mei bun - jidai column gives it to den Jumyo from around Kanbun.

Looks like you’re going to need more tsuba…

Hi Paul, It’s a date, Teikyou, gan’en saku kore: …made this in the first year of Teikyou - 1684. Sorry, my phone screen is playing up so I can’t assemble the kanji.

Hi Geraint, Sorry, now corrected - thank you!

The usual indicator of age is the length of the kerakubi (the part between the blade and the tang). I would say this is a long kerakubi (the blade in the OP's and Jean's example look short) and this points to it being being Muromachi or perhaps on the cusp so I don't think the description is that far out. Shorter kerakubi normally indicates an Edo period blade.

Hi Andy, This is probably not too much to worry about - it’s an antique blade and if it isn’t going to be used for cutting, it’s just part of the appeal of an older blade.

Hachimonji Chogi; Heshikiri Hasebi.

Hi Harvey, I think you’re safe with Nobody San’s reading. Enjoy your blade!

Hi Uwe, I think I like yours better than mine - other examples of Kanetada I’ve found look different, though they might not be done by the smith. @Roam any chance you could post a clearer picture?

Hi Harvey, Welcome to NMB. I’m not seeing the photos very clearly on my phone but I think 石原兼忠 - Ishihara Kanetada.