Thanks very much for responding. This concerned a knife I had seen advertised online. As it turned out, I later contacted the seller about the kanji and received a helpful, detailed reply. Very responsible seller (in Japan). FYI, here's the response:
Thanks for asking, and you can ask me anything. I'll answer as far as I know.
I think that this Ittosai (一刀斎
is not the Ittosai that you know. I think the knife you think is Ittosai Kotetsu (一刀斎虎徹) that is expensive and famous in a foreign country.
The signature "Ittosai" isn't on the blade of this knife I am selling. You can see the half of signature "一刀斎之作 on the handle.
The signatures on the blade are 土佐 特製 青鋼入, which means specially/well made in Tosa, and the steel is blue paper. These signatures are a kind of advertising signatures, not the blacksmith or brand's name.
The origin of the name Ittosai "一刀斎" came from the samurai named Ito Ittosai who mastered a Japanese swordsmanship and who started his original Japanese swordmanship.
Some blacksmiths named their brand after his name. So there are several brand names that have a "Ittosai".
I should have note that on the listing page in order to avoid a trouble.