Dear Group
I am trying to identify a signature on a naginata and I would like to ask if anybody in this forum have signed items with papers, having “Kinmichi saku” at least as a part of the name or know if other Kinmichi-smiths than Iga-no-kami Kinmichi used a “Kinmichi saku” signature.
The signature on the naginata says “Kinmichi saku”, but this is not listed in the sources I have access to. The naginata was until 2006 in the collection of a well known Scandinavian collector and Nihonto-expert and had paper/certificate. The paper/certificate has since then unfortunately been lost but a later owner remember that it should be from around 1600 and of high quality. That fits with 1st gen. Iga-no-kami Kinmichi, but other Kinmichi may have used the signature too…
I found one source telling that Shodai Iga-no-kami Kinmichi used “Kinmichi saku” (at least once). His earliest dated work is dated Tensho 9 (1581), with said signature, see page 2. ( https://www.touken.or.jp/Portals/0/pdf/english/tobi_translation/753_NBTHK_October_2019.pdf ).
If anybody has signed items with papers (or other information about "Kinmichi saku") would I be very grateful for any information and a photo of the signature/tang for comparison.
Best wishes from Denmark
Kasper