Mark

I think Sukenao? (Tsuda) student for Sukehiro

thank you. I appreciate the confirmation

Thanks again for the help, I tried to increase the size, I think it is 甲 does it look like that to you?

Morita san Thank you

I can read Tempo 8 3rd month (march 1837 I think). But I can not make out the meaning of the kanji between "8" and "year", maybe it is a zodiac date? any help appreciated

I vote Masayuki

I am at the show they are having now. It is NOT in KY and is a smaller show they have twice a year in Ohio. I will be at the SOS in KY in Feb 2014. Contact me if I you have any questions.

I set up at the SOS and so do several Japanese sword dealers. You will also find swords on other tables. It is well worth coming. Stop by my table and say Hi.

katana looks fake, the wakizashi looks real but low end and maybe put together

Thank you Kunitaro-san. I should have thought of tsune, I was fixated on Nao. I appreciate the help with the other inscription.

I have a tanto, I can read Chikushu Ju Nobukuni Minamoto Masa???? I thought Nao but it is a bit different. The other side I could use some help with I included a picture of the blade, There is enough boshi to repair the tip but it is unfortunate damage. Thanks!

says the blade is SUKESADA not Kiyomitsu, says Bizen Osafune Sukesada. so maybe the saya has been switched or something else is wrong?

could your delivery address have an error so they are not able to deliver it to you so they return it?

they used this set up before WWII so can not assume the blade is WWII just because it has two

thanks Jim The writing is on the spot where the polisher sometimes leaves a set of lines as shown in the thread mentioned. The kanji may be scratched or put there with a burnishing rod, hard to tell but they are not written as wee (or clearly) as some in the other thread.

Denis Thanks, can you post a link? I tried searching but did not find the thread

Thank you, it is interesting to imagine where these have been

I have a mumei katana, I noticed kanji scratched on the blade under the habaki. I am thinking maybe information put there by the polisher? Or maybe owner info? One side is looks like a number, it was hard to photograph so I took 3 shots any help appreciated Thanks

sword looks to say Tadayuki but it seems very poorly written

modern copies, I see them sell for $20 each.

hope I am not getting off topic. I went to the exhibition at the MET in NY a while back that showed some great swords. National Treasures, JuBi etc. Many of them attained these levels based on their historical importance not based on their inherent qualities. While all the swords were interesting, most were fantastic, but a few did not excite me as I had expected. Maybe I have an untrained eye but I commented to a friend that a few of them I would have passed by if I saw them (just the blade with no information laying on a table) at a show priced at $5k. I think some of the swords were prized more for the history than the actual blade. My opinion is that if I am selling a blade I want a shoshin "big name" as it will bring the highest price, but if I am going to own it long term and enjoy its beauty and workmanship I want a great work by any smith, even low ranking, not a tired mediocre blade by a "big name" smith.

I must be blind........... do not see anything???????

looked Shinshinto to me

looks correct. 10th month 1944. from what I see the blade is machine made

Wes where are you located? maybe one of us are near by or maybe there is a club in your area, if so we could help you hands on