hizen balde?...can you help

I think this reads hizen kuni yoshimasa.....is this correct and how can I look up this smith....cant find any info so far .. and would be greatfull for any help I can get...joe.....I can add more pics if needed

According to Hizento Hikkei - Yoshimasa was the son of Yoshinaga (who was the son of the horimono carver Munenaga and student of 1st gen Tadayoshi)

Circa Tenna 1681

Hope that helps

was he a good smith,cause this blade looks hi quality....im polishing a window now,would you like some pics of the blade ? i found it at an antique store for a great price I hope.....all opinions are welcome

Joe,

Like most Hizen smiths his blades were above the average of the time. Unless you are properly trained please do not polish a window or do anything else. This shouldnt be done on any sword other than by a qualified polisher and hizen blades have especially thin skins so the potential to do irrepairable damage is considerable

regards

paul

im not a sword polisher,and what I ment was clean a small area with a super fine uchagamori powder nugui.my sword teacher said it was ok as long as I don't start removing any metal...so fine that it just removes dirt so to speak...I respect these objects and my motto is first do no harm.....and thank you for the info it is very helpful....my teacher is going to do the tsukamaki,and wen I can afford ill have it polished by a good polisher.....its a long wakazashi 21 inch cutting edge,and has a very nice shape to it