Tsuba cleaning - mei starting to show - ideas?

[Mark S.]

So a new Tsuba arrived and I am gently just starting active rust removal, and low and behold a mei started to emerge. I know some parts of the mei are still obscured, but does anyone have any early opinions on a translation?

Thanks for any help,

Mark S.

[Ganko]

Looks like Choshu ju Tomotsugu to me.

[Stephen]

Looking forward to finished product.

[Mark S.]

Ganko... thank you for the help with the mei!

Stephen... thank you for the moral support! Going to be a long slow process I can tell.

[george trotter]

The tsuba book TOSO KINKO JITEN by Wakayama p.584 shows info (no pics) for four makers who signed Choshu ju Tomotsugu (some with additional kanji as well).

1st  ... family name Kawaji, died 16 Aug 1711 aged 44 years.

2nd ... family name Okamoto, died 29 April 1754.

3rd ... family name Nakai, just says 'late Edo'.

4th ... family name Kaneko, again 'late Edo'

 

So you have a tsuba that ranges in makers dates from 1700-1850...I don't have pics in the book so can't check your signature style...you will have to do some research...members here probably have very good koshirae libraries, so may be able to help.

Regards,

[Mark S.]

George,

Thank you so much for the additional info.  My knowledge of tsuba is VERY limited, so the help is VERY welcome.

Mark S.