Sword Identification

[Nikkel]

Hi to All!
Can somebody identify the inscription from it and tell the maker To what period can the blade of the sword belong?
Also, please decipher the signature on the sword.

I will be truly grateful for the help.

Thanks in advance Nikkel

[ghp95134]

伊豆国末光作之
Izu no Kuni Suemitsu Saku Kore
This was Made by Suemitsu of Izu County
-----
天文
Tenbun
Hmmmmm .... no actual year in Tenbun era is mentioned. Tenbun 1532-1555


Old blade, but I have no clue as to its actual age since only "Tenbun" is engraved. I cannot find him in Markus Sesko's Japanese Swordsmiths (my only reference) nor in a Google search. There are some Suemitsu smiths, but none is from Izu. Hopefully one of the serious collectors can find him for you.

-- Guy

[Nikkel]

Hi Guy many thanks

[Bruce Pennington]

Can you post some pics of the tsuka (handle) and tsuba (handguard)?

[Nikkel]

Hello Bruce,
Here are some photos, How can I clean up the tsuba or should I leave it as is,
Greetings Nikkel

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks for the added photos, Nikkel. One of the standard methods of fitting out an old blade for the war, leaving the civil tsuba but replacing the other metal parts with military fittings.

I'm not expert on tsuba, so I don't know how to advise you on cleaning it. To be safe, I'd simply rub it down with a lightly oiled cloth. You could ask for advice on the NMB forum for fittings: Tosogu - Nihonto Message Board
There are a lot of guys there that could help you out.