Just trying to get some info on this sword.
I posted the same info on another board and they have been very helpful and I just want to spread my request for information far and wide to see if anybody catches anything someone may have missed.
I have one that my Grandfather brought back from Japan at the end of WW II. He was a Marine and during the Occupation of Japan, he was in the Suoh (Suo, Swoh) Provice. A family there was contracted to work for him and eventually they became friends. The family had this Wakazashi which they said had been in their family for generations. They said they wanted to give it to him so that it went to someone they respected rather than having it potentially confiscated.
My Grandfather obviously did not know anything of Samurai Swords but thought it was a touching gift. He accepted it, eventually returned Stateside, and put the sword in his garage. Long story short, I found it one day, expressed interest in it and he eventually gave it to me. It had not been well cared for, just sat in his garage. The binding from the hilt is long gone as are the hilt cap and menuki.
The tsuba is very ornate and must have been absolutely beautiful in its time. It still has some gold inlay present on it. The collar appears to be silver. The seppa spacers (there are two) appear to be copper or brass and have decorative beading on them. The Saya is deteriorated but is red with black speckling.
The tang is very dark, almost black, with two holes. Some time ago, I had a colleague who said he could date it. He translated the markings at the sword being made by possibly Kiyosada of Suo Province somewhere between 1320 and 1360. Interestingly enough, I had not told him of the sword being given to my Grandfather by a family in the Suo Province.
The more current consensus is that it is a Nio Kiyosada blade from the 1450's to 1550's and the Tsuba and its accountrements Choshu school, probably mid to late Edo, 1700's to 1850's.
I am hoping someone here might be able to assist me in verifying the signature and giving me a more cluess/opinions on my sword. I know that better photos of the Kanji are needed and I’m working on that.