Mark

looks like a nice sword with interesting mei. it should do well

after standing on my head for a few minutes i would guess Sukemune. The blade looks like it is toast

i thought Yasusada but jiri is wrong so i guess Yasutsugu

it is very rare but i have twice come across swords where the sarute' barrel nut goes through a second hole in at the base of the tang, doubt it is the case here but just mentioning

looks like kaneyoshi

$225 -- thanks for the fun and help for NMB so i will support it

not sure i understand. do you own this sword? Do you have it in your possession, in Canada? I thought i bid on it this afternoon at an auction in Texas?? https://bid.igavelauctions.com/Bidding.taf?_function=detail&auction_uid1=6109661

a person i know, said hey Mark i hear there is a collection of swords available for sale, call this guy he has them I call the person, he says yes he had bought a collection, but found out they had been stolen, so gave them to a friend of Larry's. I don't know the details of how he found out I contact Chris B and he verified that the swords are returned and accounted for Since it was mentioned here i figured i would let the group know they were recovered. probably could have been clearer

Good News!!!!!!!! (at least about the swords -- still sad to lose Larry) I heard of a large number of swords for sale in WI. i contacted the seller, they were Larry's swords, he had returned them to the family so after communicating With Chris B i understand all are accounted for

this one? https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b1009-tsuba-kansho-jiten-sato-%26-wakayama

don't think it means a number... think it is "Lucky" day meaning a good day in that month

8th month of Showa 18 i cant see the kanji before day

looks like a fukure that has opened up

date looks like Eisho 1504-1521........... signature looks like Yokoyama Kozuke Daijo Sukesada saku

not sure about BiShu being older form, my understanding is BiShu is the shortened form or less formal form of Bizen (and other provinces). I thought it was like saying "Mich" instead of Michigan, or OH instead of Ohio. Osafune is a town but also became, or was, a School or group. so bishu or Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju is a place description -- i am from Osafune Bizen, Bizen Kuni Ju Osafune more of i am from Bizen Prov and the Osafune group or school just my understanding, happy to be corrected and learn

maybe Higo (no) Kami Kuni ______ you might look up makers with that title with first kanji of name Kuni

i thought you had to be a member to submit for Juyo??? I am more familiar with swords than fittings but maybe applies to both? Here is Bob Benson's info https://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/nbthk-shinsa-submission.html NBTHK Shinsa Fees: See NBTHK's shinsa fees at http://www.touken.or.jp/english/shinsa_fees.html - If you are a member we will need your NBTHK membership number. - If non-member the NBTHK charges 2,000 yen extra on each item submitted to shinsa for Hozon and Tokubetsu Hozon. ( i.e: If your piece passes both Hozon and T. Hozon you will be charged an additional 4,000 yen on top of their shinsa fees.) -For a Juyo Token shinsa submission you will have to become a NBTHK member. -You can join the American Branch of the NBTHK at www.nbthk-ab.org

BiShu Osafune ju Yokoyama Sukesada saku 60th generation not sure the next but usually Tomonari Keio 3rd year August (1867)

looks like Bizen Kuni Ju Norimitsu

happy to help.....if it helped and saved you $200 (if you bought it ) you could always throw Brian a biscuit

Bizen Kuni Ju Osafune Sukesada saku....... made by Sukesada from Bizen provice, from the town of Osafune or from Osafune group or school i would pass

if this were mine and i was trying to figure it out i would start thinking this is a name (the swords name) as Ray said. The english meaning of Aki will have little or no help you need someone who recognizes the kanji and know the meaning in the proper sword context. My guess it it is a name that means something about "cuts like through warm butter" or similar. You will need to be patient and someone will know and reply. Thanks for changing the pictures, standing on my head to see the kanji was a challenge

first year of Showa was 1926 so 20th is 1945 add 20 to 25 (26-1)

yoshihide may 1945

i mailed 2 swords and 3 tsuba to a customer here in the U.S. Priority insured marked "fragile" took 3 weeks instead of 3 days and when it arrived the box was smashed and torn open and the tsuba gone. i guess they could not get the swords in their pockets. It was a nightmare