Item ref: 2843
Private collection, United Kingdom
Signed:
on the blade 九州 肥後国 ** .野介 or Kyushu Higo kuni ** Hirosuke (Hirosuke of Higo province on the island of Kyushu made this)
There is no record of a smith called Hirosuke using these characters in Higo province . If by an unknown swordsmith, the association with the island of Kyushu and Higo province does accord with the kamon or family heraldry on the scabbard of this spear.