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The closest reading, I guess, John!

It’s “光重” (Mitsushige + kao), Marius. The kao seems very similar to the 3. Kikuoka generation, late Edo…(picture is a bit blurry, so no warranty in terms of the kao).

Or 地? Guess you are right with the sales tag assumption, Piers.

Well, a quick search brought up not much about this family... Interestingly they shared another mon with the Ôi (大井). The Ôi clan in turn suppostly erected Uchiyama castle (内山城). So you probably have to search in this environment?! On the other hand, there is also a Bukeyashiki (Samurai residence) in Ôno (Echizen provinze) called Uchiyama-bukeyashiki (内山武家屋敷). It was inhabited by Uchiyama Ryôkyû during the Bakumatsu period. Refer: https://www.jcastle....w/Uchiyama_Residence Maybe another point to start?

No, Jinbô is diffrent! Here is what I found for Uchiyama (内山): Not exactly the mon on the fukigaeshi, but quite close....

Kind of momonari-shape, IMHO!

I think it can be called “亀甲の内竪三つ引き” (Kikkō no nai tate mitsubiki) or three standing bars in a tortoise shell… Couldn’t find a perfect match, but two very similar ones are related to “Uchiyama” family!

Indeed, it’s an important (iron) rule, “never clean the tang (nakago) of a Japanese sword”!!! A untouched tang can tell you a lot about a sword in question. These informations are lost, or at least obscured, if the tang is altered/cleaned/polished….. The two kanji you posted are made in kin-zōgan (gold inlay) and are most likely an attribution. I’m still not sure about the first (maybe 兼 = Kane), but the second is “元” (moto). Waiting for the pics….

Two tests by two different testers, I assume. Okada were retainers of the Aizu fief (probably around mid 19th century). ニツ胴 - means cut through two bodies

Well, late at home today, so not much progress. But a first guess for both: "金象嵌" (kin-zôgan) 二ッ胴入土壇村井三丞長止(kao)試焉 (Futatsu-dô dotan-iri Murai Misuke Naga ? "kao" tame ?) "銀象嵌" (gin-zôgan) 下口テスエ落岡田十郎兵衛重長(kao)試焉 (Shita ? otoshi Okada Jûrobei Shigenaga "kao" tame ?) I'm not really happy (or convinced) and will follow up with this.....

Left both sides referring to a cutting test, Bruce (...it was late yesterday 🥱). “二ッ胴入土壇村井三丞長止(kao)試焉” If no one chimes in, I’ll give it a try this evening…now off for work!

Yes it’s Kikyō, “桔梗” (Chinese bellflower). Was carried for example by the families of Akechi, Uemura, Toki and Wakizaka….

Nice find as a pair 👍 The mon are most probably related to a family, but it will be hard to figure the right one out….

Hi Dimitri, both pieces are “looking old”, but that means not much. Kura were made over a long timespan almost unchanged. Hence judging age is very difficult and needs a lot of experience. Mid/ late Edo period specimens tend to come very adorned with elaborate maki-e, mother of pearl…etc. Some are dated and (or) signed at the underside. The signatures are mostly done in black ink or engraved. Do you have a picture? No clue about the horagai, sry. These saddles fetching quite high prices from time to time (depending on quality, condition and age). So it seems not overpriced at a glance.

The descriptions range from simply wrong over irritating to ridiculous….but that’s life. Buyer beware!!!