Echizen Smith, But Who?

[Ron STL]

Guys and gals, this mei has defeated me although it looks simple enough. Who is this smith? Says Echizen ju on the other side of nakago. Blade is totally neglected. Thanks.

Ron STL 

[Peter Bleed]

Ron,

Well, gee, Ron. This doesn't look like a "mei" but I can't read it one way or another.

Peter

[Ray Singer]

Hirotaka (汎隆)

 

If authentic, Jo saku (Fujishiro, Shinto Hen, p. 449)

 

http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/H15531_W7001_PUP.html

http://www.kandatoukodo.com/nihontou/katana25.html

[Ron STL]

Hirotaka...how about that. I even came up with the name but couldn't convince myself I was correct. Thanks Ray. I had lunch with a fellow retiree today. He found this bare blade in a junk place, laying with some old tools and stuff. As bad as the surface condition is for the blade, there are no big chips or from what I could see, deep rust. He said to take it home but I was happy with the photo. Will study it more to see if there seems to be any hope in the mei being correct. If so, I'll see about rescuing it from total destruction. Ron STL

[John A Stuart]

Good read. 汎隆 John