Ray Singer

I see that this same sword was posted here in 2018 (and the same photos of the nakago, rotated).

Tsuba = Echizen ju Kinai saku

I believe the mei is Yamashiro (no) Suke Moritake (山城介盛武), and the date is 慶應三年八月日 (a day in the 8th month of 1857 - Keiō 3). Best regards, Ray

This is signed Minamoto Kunihiro. Unclear which Kunihiro this is, there were many. Nakago and mei give the impresson of a Muromachi period sword.

Perhaps Goto Kanemitsu (後藤兼光). Best regards, Ray

Appears to be a gimei of Yasutsuna with a Tenryaku (天暦) 2 date - a day in the 8th month of the year 948. Best regards, Ray

Please see below.

A number of additional books have been added today. Please see below and message with any inquiries. https://swordsofjapan.com/product-category/books/ Best regards, Ray

A list of books has been added to my website below and will continue to updated in the coming days. Please email me directly with any inquiries and to confirm the exact amount with shipping. https://swordsofjapan.com/product-category/books/ Best regards, Ray

Thank you David, I have copies of the 5th, 11th and 12th Exhibitions. Best regards, Ray

This appears to be Hisamitsu. Best regards, Ray

Ashū - province (area) Fujiwara - clan name Toshihira - swordsmith art name

As I shared in your other post, this appears to be 阿州住藤原利平 - Ashū ju Fujiwara Toshihira.

Looks like: 阿州住藤原利平 - Ashū ju Fujiwara Toshihira

Nihon (no) Meiso - sold

I am in taking a large collection of books focused on swords, fittings, kabuto and armour. I will follow up on this initial post with details on the books that I received, however if anyone sees a reference that they have been looking for here, please reach out to the email below and I will get back to you quickly with further information and pricing. Raymondsinger@gmail.com Best regards, Ray

I don't offhand see a record for this smith: Ashu Masamune saku, and dated a day in the 8th month of Ansei 2.

The blade is signed Kanenori and appears to be Sue-Seki (late Muromachi period Mino school). Best regards, Ray

The kokuin is just the kanji be used for YASU.

Sharing the entry below from Sesko's compendium. I've always seen this read as Shizu__ for this group of swordsmiths. SHIZUTOMO (鎮知), Enpō (延宝, 1673-1681), Iga – “Hizen no Kami Fujiwara Shizutomo” (肥前守藤原鎮知), real name Takada Mo´emon (高田茂右衛門), he came originally from Bungo´s Takada (高田) but moved later to Nabari (名張) in Iga province, he signed his name also with the charaters (鎮智), gunome-chōji-midare, suguha

Appears to be a mumei Shinto katana attributed to Hizen (no) Kami Shizutomo -肥前守鎮知.

It is unfortunate the nakago was so abused. 予州波止浜住橘宗広作 - Yoshū Hashihama-jū Tachibana Munehiro saku, and dated January, 1945. He was a very good smith.

I don't know that I can help you find the Honjo Masamune (any more than I am able to help myself do so), however a couple of quick items. I actually just posted a video on the Honjo Masamune a few weeks back, with some informtion which may be helpful in general in learing about the sword: I see now that the koshirae for the Honjo Masamune appears to have remained in Japan, perhaps rediscovered but likely never left Japan, and was displayed at an exhibition: https://tsumugu.yomiuri.co.jp/feature/桃山展「本庄正宗」の刀装初公開/

菊一文珠金重作 Kiku Ichimonju Kinju saku