Wakizashi signature ...
 

Hello.
I bought it some years ago from a friend and it came with its Japanese sword registration card.
Hacho 55 cm
Kasane 0,67 cm
Haba 2,8 cm.

Can somebody traduce the signature on the tang and give the school & an idea of datation?

Thank you for your help.
Louis

hi louis,
i read in these letters "kiyo mitsu". there was nearby 100 swordsmith with the name kiyomitsu. i think your sword is from the shinto time( 1537-1867) but i think it is not to old. the patina at the tang is not so dark may be it is from the early edo time. in with scool it was work you can see when it is in an good polish. you must see the steelpattern( hada) and the coomplete pattern from the hamon. it is difficult to see enough at your sword.
but your sword shows nice , complete and health it is good so.
regards,stefan

some more informations about kiyomitsu
 

kouis,
here is a list from some smith with the name kiyomitsu. all these smith sign theire blades in the 2 character signature.
-kiyomitsu from the 6 th. generation - 10.th generation 1704-1804 province echigo,
-kiyomitsu lived 1681 prov. etchu lived in fukuyama,
-kiyomitsu lived 1684 prov. etchu lived in sakagori,
-kiyomitsu lived 1573 prov. kaga also in etchu
-kiyomitsu lived 1596 prov. osumi ( naminohira group)
-kiyomitsu lived 1716 prov. satsuma ( a good smith)
stefan

Hi, Stefan and Thanks a lot for your care.
I find Mitsu easily , but more difficult for Kiyo with 8 ways to form the character.

The blade has a Shinogi-zukuri shape.
The temper line is very clear, but very difficult to photography. I did a scan. Maybe it can help...

Best regards
Louis

the same with more contrast and less light..
Louis

i would like say it is not satsuma.
the hamon show like an shoji hamon and it is an indicate for an bizen blade. also echizen maybe kaga.
stefan

Hello,
i suppose you mean choji hamon (i did not find shoji except for shoji-mei).

Some more informations:
Nakago & jiri: seems bizen type.
Sori : for a total length (tip-to-tip) of 67,5 cm., Sori is 1,6 cm. at 36 cm. of Jiri

Thanks to you as i see clearer with this blade. I retain that Kiyomitsu is the maker working in school of Bizen or Echizen or its neighbour Kaga in the early Edo time, maybe 1650-1700.

Best regards.
Louis

hi louis,
jes i would like say choij hamon. i must say your sword to say more. it is so difficult so say more without an direct view at the blade. yes i think it is an bizen sword ore maybe kaga. i think also that is made around 1700. the shape is in these pattern. the mounting shows also so. late edo time ( my opinion)
sorry that i can´t say more.
stefan