nihonto with limited information

[Malvolio]

Hello!

 

I wonder if anyone can help to identify or verify some facts about this sword. It has no papers. The owner believes it to be made at the end of the Bunsei period, so around 1829 or 1830. I read the mei as "藤原兼先" so Fujiwara Kanesaki, but that doesn't tell me which Fujiwara Kanesaki.

 

Unfortunately I can't currently get any better pictures. I may be able to after some upcoming travel.

 

What do you think of this, based on what little I've got?

 

Thank you!

 

[nulldevice]

The first 2 characters are 妙一 or "Myoitsu"

 

There was an Inshu smith Kanesaki that would also sign with Myoitsu but a quick search only turned up results that included more full mei (Inshu ju Fujiwara Kaneaski) 
Inshu Kanesaki (Some of the kanji look a bit different but this isn't my specialty)

[oli]

from Markus Sesko's book:

KANESAKI (兼先), 9th gen., Bunsei (文政, 1818-1830), Inaba –

“Inshū-jū Kanesaki” (因州住兼先), “Inaba Fujiwara

Kanesaki saku” (因幡藤原兼先作), “Myōichi Fujiwara Kanesaki” (妙一藤原兼先), “Myōichi Hōsetsu Nyūdō

Kanesaki” (妙一峯雪入道兼先), real name Heki Yasaburō (日置矢三郎), student of Minryūshi Toshizane

 

[Malvolio]

Thank you both!

 

That's useful and appreciated.

 

 

[Malvolio]

Reviving this thread as I am now in the same place as this blade again!

 

I now have photos of it that are better, including both sides of the tang so I think there is a date along with the mei.

(I can upload higher quality ones to another location, or take different ones, if anyone is interested)

 

 

 

[Mark]

Bunsei 12 1829

[Malvolio]

Thanks! Given the era-style dates I wasn't sure if that was 1829 or 1830.