Kozuka mei (once again)

[Kurikata]

Dear NMB experts,

 

I need once again your help to decypher this kozuka mei.

Thank you for your help.

Bruno

[Kurikata]

[YourBabyBjornBorg]

Hi! This is hard......

 

On the left is signature 雞谷一閑人, “a person of leisure in the valley of chicken”, perhaps a 雅号/Gago ("elegant/artistic pen name").

 

閑人 is indeed very elegant in traditional Chinese and Japanese culture, like someone with cranes flying around them, and has pine trees around their hut.

 

Edited:

 

次(or 以)宗近正真慰模之

 

Imitated with accuracy next to the genuine Munechika for consolation (?), when 次 here means second in line or quality,

 

or imitated when next to a genuine Munechika for consolation, when 次 here means physically next to something,

 

or imitated using a genuine Munechika for consolation, when it's 以 instead of 次.

 

宗近 is Munechika, 正真 is genuine,

 

慰 is "for (oneself's) consolation", an tranditional and elegant way of saying things befitting a person of leisure,

 

模之 is "imitating (or replicating) this",

 

 

[Kurikata]

Thank you  Babie Joe for you efforts.

 

As you mention some doubts regarding these kanji ans their meaning, I requested some help from meta AI which states:

 

Here’s what the inscription says, read top to bottom, right to left:

*次宗近正真模之*  
*雞谷一閑人*

Translation
*_"Copied from a genuine work by Tsugumunechika.  
Made by a leisurely person of Keikoku."__

Breakdown
- *次宗近* `Tsugu Munechika`: Refers to a swordsmith copying the style of *Munechika* 宗近. Munechika was a legendary Japanese swordsmith from Kyoto during the Heian period ∼10th century, part of the Sanjo school. "次" often means "the next" or "second generation".
- *正真模之* `seishin mo kore`: "Faithfully copied from a genuine/original"
- *雞谷一閑人* `Keikoku ikkanjin`: "A leisurely/idle person of Keikoku". 
    - *雞谷* Keikoku is likely a place name or studio name
    - *一閑人* ikkanjin = a common self-effacing signature used by artisans meaning "a person with spare time"