Kanji question on Asano Kanezane Signed Shin-Gunto blade

[tbonesullivan]

This is my first time looking at a sword by Asano Kanezane, and it definitely appears that there are many different ways these blades can be signed. I checked out the on the Japanese sword index, and this sword seems to use signature pattern "C" C. Noshu ju Asano Kanesane saku kore , with the Kokuin and the Showa Stamp. http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanezane.htm

 

I guess my question is regarding the second kanji in the mei. Is Noshu written 濃州 or  濃刕  in this case?   I am assuming the entire mei is 濃州住浅野兼眞作之, but the Kanji for Shu doesn't look much like 州.  For the hamon I'm going to go with Choji Midare.

 

Thanks for any help you can give! It's a nice sword!

[ROKUJURO]

David,

it is certainly a SHU  (州), written very fluently.

[tbonesullivan]

16 minutes ago, ROKUJURO said:

David,

it is certainly a SHU  (州), written very fluently.

Thanks!!! I'm still not used to the script way of writing. I actually was watching a Japanese series yesterday, and someone wrote a note in Japanese script, and none of the younger people could read it.

[SteveM]

As David says, 州 in grass script