Help with signature

[Wooly77]

A recent acquisition in combat cover and would like some help with a translation of this signature please. There also seems to be another kanji on the opposite side. All help wil be gratefully appreciated.

Regards, Paul

[ROKUJURO]

Paul,

too much corrosion on the NAKAGO to read the MEI. It could be something with X...YOSHI. As it is red (active) rust, a part of it could possibly be removed by an expert (using NO tools), making the first KANJI of rhe signature readable. 

Date is August 1943.

[george trotter]

This may be way out of line, but  may I say this sword (with reservations) may be a Yasukunito by Yasuyoshi.

Points in favour...Yasukunitosho always signed above the mekugi ana. 

                            Yasukunito I have seen are always badly rusted  (maybe the iron is more susceptible to SW Pacific humidity than showato?)

                           .2 character signature...same as Yasukunito.

                            General shape/hamon/length (what I can see) fits with Yasukunito.

                            Yasuyoshi nakago jiri was rounded (can't see exactly in pic,) but this too seems rounded.

Points against.... Yasukunito usually had  kiri yasutimei but this one is taka no ha.

                            I'm mostly guessing.

 

I'm no expert on Yasuyoshi / Yasukunito but their work came immediately to mind when I saw the pics. Anyway, hope this helps the discussion a bit (read: doesn't get me into too much trouble).

Regards,

[Peter Bleed]

George makes an interesting point...

Peter

[Wooly77]

Many thanks for the help so far. I am still on a steep learning curve. Regards, Paul

[Ken-Hawaii]

Some of us have been studying for decades, & we're still on a steep learning curve!

[BANGBANGSAN]

昭和十八年八月日

?吉