Old Japanese Sword Translation

[clestuff]

I'm hoping somebody can help with blade translation and age of sword. Cutting edge of sword approx 22 1/2" long. It appears to be missing parts. Came out of an estate of WWII vet. I really know very little about these swords so any info would help. Tsuba is over 3".
Thanks in advance, Cliff

[clestuff]

2

[clestuff]

3

[GHP]

祐定
Sukesada


Don't know which one used just two kanji. Here are three pages of Sukesada. Start with SUK779


Pronounced Soo'kay-sahdah. The "oo" sound is truncated so it can sound like "S'kay-sahdah".


-- Guy

[clestuff]

祐定
Sukesada


Don't know which one used just two kanji. Here are three pages of Sukesada. Start with SUK779


Pronounced Soo'kay-sahdah. The "oo" sound is truncated so it can sound like "S'kay-sahdah".


-- Guy

Thank you Guy,
So this could be a 500-600 year old blade?? It does look like it has serious age. Perhaps pre-edo? It seems the ones with short names are as early as the 1100s to the late 1300s. Perhaps 8 or 9 hundred years old???WOW! Could be VERY old!

[BruceP]

Might be worth polishing. They charge by the inch, so around $2,200. But the blade looks to be in good enough shape.

Other guys more experienced with that may have a thought on it.

[Mr. Scratch]

Really love this tsuba. Wind and lightning.

A similar theme can be found on this illustration of a kimono from the mid 19th Century.