Blade and Tsuba help

[Blitz676]

I bought this sword off of a craigslist add here locally in Sacramento. I was wondering if anyone could tell me about the Tsuba or translate the signature? The blade is 27 inches overall length and from what little I know appears to be hand made. Not in the best shape, but the price was right and it appeared to be an older blade to me. The Tsuba is iron.

Brad

[GHP]

Writing is upside down. Let's see the full tang. So far, what I read is:

佑定
Sukesada

--Guy

[Brian Robinson]

One of the many, many Sukesadas that made late period Koto.
The better Sukesada smiths used longer signatures. It probably dates to the late 1500's during the time of mass production of swords for wartime use.
No real way to get more info on the smith, since there were so many of this name and line.

Brian

[Blitz676]

sword

AWESOME, thanks for the info!. I'll post the picture right side up.

Brad

[Blitz676]

blade

1

[Blitz676]

2

again!

[Blitz676]

tang

full tang

[Bob Coleman]

The whole nakago picture is also upside down. The tsuba is a lower mid quality piece of little merit as an art piece. As previously mentioned, there are many Sukesada signatures which were applied both by students and professional signers.
The nakago is the proper shape for a Bizen sword. What is the cutting edge length? Can you give us a complete overall image of the blade?
The Sukesada linw worked from the late Muromachi Period up until the banning on sword production in the Meiji Period(early 16th century until 1871). Many of the 16th century blades were massed produced and of little merit. Custom order swords, which would be of far greater quality are smith signed with his complete name.