The Kozuka is a copper base with gold wash the design a dragon. The tsuba is a fairly well shaped iron mokko quite plain. the fuchi and kashira are iron in the Higo style. The menuki are quite interesting in that they are simple thin iron disks devoid of any embelishment.
The original seppa (1) was copper badly fitted (hammer marks) one side was abbreviated in order for the kozuka to clear, however there is no kozuka-ana in the tsuba. In making new seppa for the piece I chose to make them out of brass, and made them slightly (1/16) oversize to bring more of a gold tone to the surface for the patina on the tuba and the fuchi to realy stand out, each with their own subtile colortions. The surface of the seppa is fine linear scratches and the bevel on the rim burnished to a high shine. The itomaki is in the orginal style, and in time I will redo it again. It is the first time I have worked with a leather itomaki, and I chose vegetable tanned kangaroo for its very dense grain. The original tsuka was missing several chunks under the same so was replaced by rock maple for strength.
My best guess so far is:
Hachi-X-Nin-X-X-Shu-Kuni-Un which makes no sense, unless it is some sort of request for protection, or some other form of luck/charm/prayer.
The lines going across the blade are from the multiple photos being assembled, they are not present on the blade..