What do I have here? Translation request please!

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Interested in translation and any info pertaining to this sword thanks for your help!

[SteveM]

会津住重寿

Aizu-jū Shigetoshi

 

Mid 1800s. Aizu is the location (north of Tokyo). Shigetoshi is the smith's name. 

 

 

[bullettproof]

1 hour ago, SteveM said:

会津住重寿

Aizu-jū Shigetoshi

 

Mid 1800s. Aizu is the location (north of Tokyo). Shigetoshi is the smith's name. 

 

 

Thanks for the information. What should I look at to find more information about this swordsmith? Is there a first name for this smith? Information regarding his life? Thanks for your help!

 

[SteveM]

I recommend Markus Sesko's Index of Swordsmiths for basic (and sometimes not-so-basic) information on swordsmiths. Bear in mind that many of these guys only left us their names and their approximate dates of activity. There isn't always a complete biography on the vast majority of smiths. Regarding your guy:

 

Real name is Sugai Usaku from Aizu domain (present-day Fukushima Prefecture).

As a swordsmith he used a few other names.
Kaneshige
Shigefusa
Shitetoshi

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

I don't have my refernce books with me at the moment, but the only mid-1800s Shigetoshi using that kanji in Sesko's book is:

 

SHIGETOSHI (重寿), Kōka (弘化, 1844-1848), Ōshū – “Aizu-jū Shigetoshi” (会津住重寿)

[bullettproof]

16 minutes ago, SteveM said:

I recommend Markus Sesko's Index of Swordsmiths for basic (and sometimes not-so-basic) information on swordsmiths. Bear in mind that many of these guys only left us their names and their approximate dates of activity. There isn't always a complete biography on the vast majority of smiths. Regarding your guy:

 

Real name is Sugai Usaku from Aizu domain (present-day Fukushima Prefecture).

As a swordsmith he used a few other names.
Kaneshige
Shigefusa
Shitetoshi

 

 

 I guess these sword-smiths were kinda like todays book authors who wrote under different names. Interesting information, greatly appreciated.