YourBabyBjornBorg

Hi, I would like to answer this if I may. This Mei reads 越前住明珍勝治作(Echizen-Jyu Myouchin Katsuharu Saku). the 珍 is written in an old way so it's kind of hard to read. Haru and Ji are both how the character 治 is pronounced. According to Seiyudo San, (sometimes?, maybe from Kamakura) before Edo, the family of Myouchin was making both Katchu and Tsuba, so their Tsubas were the rare and old Katchushi style. Of the many places they practiced Kanagu making, the Echizen Myouchin was the Kakaekou, smiths work only for one family, of the Echizen Matsudaira family for ten generations from 1664 to 1863. I am completely ignorant about Kanagu, so I'm afraid I can't help you with the motif. Thank you for your time reading my long and impolite reply. I hope you have a very pleasant day.

Hi, sorry for my abrupt comment, but this looks a little weird. Both the mid to high-class Handachi Koshirae (it that Nanako-Ji on it? Couldn't see the pictures clearly) and the gilded double Habaki (Kinnkise Habaki) indicate a good sword. But the real sword is nothing like that, just not a very good sword over all. Nakago looks mid-Edo, of course, but Hamon is most often seen in mid to late Muromachi, on low-end Osafune swords. (Looks kind of like the Sanbonsugi of Mino-Den, but not really, I think. ) Combined with the almost outrageous Sugata, this sword was probably once with a strong Koshi-Zori, then went through a very rough Suriage in Edo just to fit into this pretty good Koshirae. Although the Kengata Nakago-Jiri usually means the Suriage process was done very carefully and well, so that's where it throws me off. Because, that Sugata! I mean... If this is indeed Edo, not a Suriage-ed late Muromachi Osafune, then it's most likely a Shinto Seki. I do strongly believe this is Suriage-ed, though. Whatever this might be, the ideal price of this whole package should be around 15k Yens on Yahuoku, mostly due to its poor polishing state and less than ideally made (is this even a right expression?) sword itself. I have no idea how much it should be in the States, though, but it shouldn't be very off. Thank you for your time reading this impolite nonsense reply, please have a good day.