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I think the plant design is a little ambiguous. I can see the resemblance to a Maple leaf plant motif but it also has characteristics of Kiri? The example below from the Varshavsky collection is not a million miles away from your tsuba design, the Kiri motif is just "pulled" further out of the rim and has the usual central top of the leaf which is missing on the one you have. [I have no idea why] " The Kiri (桐) pattern is generally composed of three standing straight inflorescences and three leaves." https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/episode-5-design-plant②/ https://varshavskyco...collection/tsu-0259/ “Gosan no Kiri” once was used by royal families or leaders for their emblems, and it’s being used even ordinary people today as their family crests. Arabesque designs are put between “Gosan no Kiri” patterns and engraved by openwork. Arabesque pattern represents prosperity and longevity. Maples would tend to have more tips to the leaves [depends on each species]

Sam, I would love to hold your TSUBA in hand, but just looking at the photos, I think it is a legit OWARI TSUBA. The "irregularities" on the MIMI are either TEKKOTSU, but more likely old corrosion remains. Signs of casting would look completely different.

I think you meant to say “with no respect”? why do you think it’s good advice to tell someone to “take a hammer to it” when you haven’t got a clue what it is?

No casting there imho.

So, newbies in the USA (Dan and Sam S.) now say Owari Tsuba are "cast". I would love to see and feel this tsuba in hand. I don't see anything as such from the limited number of photos provided. What I do see looks to be rust and corrosion damage to the plate surface. There are several iron bones along the rim typical of Owari Sukashi tsuba. If this form lacks high quality examples in excellent conditions to study, I have a few that I can offer to discuss that were once or us still in my collection.

Japan auction. Type95 with registration paper. We see some Type95 over the time in Japanese auctions. But this is the first one i see with a new registration paper. Did something changed in the law?

There’s no raining on this parade . It’s no problem at all - I’m here to learn. Hopefully I’ll get some more opinions that help confirm or deny that if it’s cast. Here’s some more photos where I focused on some of the areas you circled. I appreciate the help! It’s always a learning experience (last photo of one of the more smooth sides) All the best, -Sam

The thing that amazes me Colin, is the skill with which the armourers of old managed to make such compound shapes, which today, while difficult enough to do in the traditional manner, are cosiderably easier given the homogenous state of modern smelted and rolled metals, ie. no slag inclusions. Some recent studies in armour metalurgy, have shown some armour ranges from almost pure iron to high carbon steel in just a few centimetres. This must have made forging plates extremely difficult, and the hardening process, where used, perhaps even more so. A true tour de force, made in 1543 by Filipo Negroli of Milan. This is all one piece of metal! Such superb mastery of his material is simply breathtaking. Perhaps the nearest in Japanese metalworking was Myochin Muneakira, who is known to have made somen in one piece! He was extremely adept at repousé.

With all respect to the OP - but this is a cast tsuba. The surface of the tsuba is showing small pitting, the lines and carving are far too evenly soft. But the thing that convinces me the most is the seppa-dai area and how it was worked. The tagane-ato punchmarks are not well-defined and too soft. Please compare this to other papered and known examples, they will not show these features.

If I had extra money for it, I would buy it in a heartbeat. I really like that one.

Thank you. The old ones get en-vogue for a while, but currently seem out of vogue. I thought it would sell fast at that price, but only not too serious tire-kickers. Things like Shingen tsuba, which you couldn't give away 5 years ago, currently seem to be very en-vogue.

My apologies, you are right. It's not necessary for me to get defensive. I sincerely am just trying to understand what I have, because I don't know. I only meant to ask questions. This thread really took a left turn, and i'm sorry for my part in that. I am, 100%, without a doubt, out of my depth with fittings. Again, my apologies to anyone I offended, I respect everyones advice, knowledge, and input to this community. -Sam

Cherry picking words is poor form - Sam and Colin. I don't mind admitting I often find myself out of my depth in the rather murky waters of tosogu. I will even say I don't know it all - does anyone? "Floundering" is as good a word as any, would "treading deep waters" make people feel better? JMO

No need to forgive - you brought me a little joy finding an unknown connection with Dad.

No offense Dan, but I was simply asking for the opinions of people more knowledgable than me. Originally I just wanted to know about the motif - maple or kiri. Your post history and past arguments are irrelevant to me. I got this Tsuba originally because I liked it. Simple as that. Floundering? Maybe, but that's my prerogative and $$$. I got it from someone I trust. You even admitted that you could be wrong, but then downvoted ROKUJURO? I just don't understand that logic. Sincerely, -Sam

The closest reading, I guess, John!

Here is an old picture from 1980 with Robert Benson and Kareem Abdul-jabaar in Hawaii. Kareem is displaying his 29 inch Morimitsu dated Oei 2 1395 with beautiful Handachi Koshirae. At the time Kareem was an avid collector.

I agree with Jean Collin. I don't see any signs of casting on the tsuba. Nice one! Robert S

Coincidentally, the same sword was posted on reddit a couple of days ago (including pictures of the blade and koshirae and a note from the person who purchased it): https://www.reddit.c...vv/inherited_katana/

Actually Colin, they had power happers back in the day, this was one of the reasons that certain workshops were situated where they were, fast flowing rivers to power hammers. An abundance of trees for charcoal and of course iron was also usually required if possible. Nes jernverk in Tvedestrand in Norway still have trip hammers that date back to the 1600's, and these are still used every year in demonstrations.

This one was first registered in 1957, and then re-registered in 1989, it even had the ser# written on the paper.

Rewrite 戸石合戦 (Toishi kassen) - The battle of Toishi - [村上義清 (Murakami Yoshikiyo) vs. 武田信玄 (Takeda Shingen), ca. 1550] 内藤 (Naito) - family name? 人馬トモ切落 (Jinba tomo (ni) kiri-otosu) - Cut off both man and horse. 光元 (Mitsumoto) Note; Imformation from morita san included

@Matsunoki Sorry if this is a bit off topic mods, but this was the sort of thing that I used to do..... Rough and clumsy compared to Colins exquisite handiwork, but great fun to do nevertheless! Basically, if I can hit it, I can possibly make it! A Roman helmet type C made for Harlow Museum, unfortunately the picture was taken after two school classes had handled it! A copy of the saxon 'Pioneer' helmet. Made from a sketch in the Independant newspaper, but which proved to be surprisingly accurate! When I was living in England I repaired quite a few antiques of various types for dealers, including repairing items of Japanese armour from time to time.

Hi, I am the proud owner of the Kanetomo , I had been after it for over 14 years , from its original owner who put it into Halls auction. It changed hands from Colin to our mutual friend Kevin. I did a deal with Kevin earlier this year and it is now polished . I’m very pleased to say it has turned out perfect not a blemish.

That's not what I collected at all from the article posted above. There is one mei example which contains Bizen and is suspected to be a work of a student. Even the 2 vs 3 stroke "naga" kanji could have been a student emulating the work of Ichihara under the master's guidance. The most important part of the article is: "Therefore each blade must be judged on its own merits and not simply on its signature." Nothing else really matters until the quality of the blade is determined and if it reflects that of the master (Ichihara) or one of his students.

Ichihara Nagamitsu was the wartime Gendaito smith, average to good quality wartime swords. https://www.japanese...rdindex.com/naga.htm Whether he added the Bizen location to his mei or not, doesn't really change anything really. Maybe...just maybe....it indicates one made by him instead of his students, but that isn't 100% foolproof. I guess the longer mei are a bit more sought after. But each sword would be judged on its own merits, quality varies.

Agreed! Always a big help, and much appreciated. Thank you @Soshin and @Spartancrest; thanks to people like you, I learn a little more every day. I hope nobody thinks I was asserting that this Tsuba is cast. It was meant to be a question and not a statement of fact. My apologies. Curran, that old tsuba you have for sale is really stunning! Cheers, -Sam

+1 to David Styles and Tasmanian Dale Thank you guys.

Guess it's a return to militaria fairs for buying/selling swords in the UK.

Thank you for your input. I am very happy to hear that it’s not cast. I originally did not think it was cast at all. I’ve enjoyed it in my collection for about a year, and never even considered it being cast. Dan made the cast suggestion, and I admittedly am too new to argue it. So I added the question to the topic for confirmation from the more experienced like yourself, Jean, Brian and Dale. Im glad I did, because y’all have helped confirm it’s not cast. I enjoy admiring it, and have developed a liking to Owari in the process. Thank you for your input and help, All the best, -Sam

Fascinating - thanks The reasoning behind this style is well portrayed and to see how styles showed status. From the beginning to the current day Sumo

We have discussed WWII gunto getting registration papers before. Still looking for a good link. Here's one from a while back: Working from memory, it has to do with the fact that they are letting people register WWII gunto that have "been discovered" in their homes lately. Shops and antique dealers have some sort of legal right to register swords, too.

I absolutely agree Colin. There are exceptional craftsmen, and then there are the truly exceptional craftsmen, those with that little extra, divine gift if you will. The Negroli brothers were certainly amongst the latter. The thing that astounds me,with Japanese craftsmen was their ability to cut extremely fine cuts in metal, Today, we have piercing saw blades that will do it, but what did they use in the 15th and 16th century? What, how? What is so astounding with the Negroli, as evidenced here, is not only their absolute mastery over their tools and materials, but thei exquisite mastery of form. Note the way the muscles of Medusa show at the sides, and the delicate way that the breasts on the upturned figure hang slightly inverted. It is absolutely exquisite workmanship, on all levels.

It's been fully polished with a fake hamon, to be able to get a torokusho. Don't think the Prefectural Education Board cares too much as long as there is plausible deniability.

Morning @The Blacksmith Russ, while you were hammering, and purely for interest, the tusk vases in this link were the type of things I was restoring. I bought these as total wrecks from Paul Peters in Harrogate years ago. They had massive sections of inlay missing…at least 50% of both eagles, large areas of tree trunks, god knows how many leaves and flowers. The stands were in pieces and they were filthy. But they were obviously superb. Using exactly the correct shells etc they took me months to finish. I sold them to Kevin Page in London and since then they have obviously changed hands again prior to this auction. They are probably the pieces I am most proud of. Please note what the auctioneers say about their condition!, Apologies for letting my ego out🙂 https://www.zacke.at...tands/?lot=2676&sd=1

兼綱 - Kanetsuna

Last kanetoshi

Here are some overall shots of the little Satsuma Nami-no-Hira tantō.

Fuzzy, but an interesting shot of 礼射 ‘Reisha’ at our third event this year, up at Susai Castle on 14 April 2024.

Turn up the volume! April 7, 2024 on the bridge at Shinjo Village, where the famous Sakura de Triomphe (Gaisen Sakura) are located. Three ladies start us off with a 'Reisha' or salute. At 14:30 I get knocked off my feet by the 50 Monme hand cannon. The 100 Monme (19:50) towards the end is good!

For Alex, etc. Change of angles in the genkan.

He allowed me to take photos on condition that it was only for personal use, so I never showed them to anyone. Eventually he donated about 2,000 objects to the Meirin Gakusha Museum in Hagi, much of which is on display there. Definitely worth visiting if you are ever in Yamaguchi. Sadly Ogawa San died a couple of years back, but his Japanese matchlock accessories book is still a must-have. PS Memory Lane... he was once the leader of the Choshu matchlock troop, and his wife was a member and used to fire an O-zutsu big gun. She looks great in this one photo that I took a secretive shot of! Sssshhh.... Oh, and I inherited a few things from them!

Talking about collectors for a second, the genkan of one friend was so packed with bits that there was hardly room to take your shoes off, even after he had moved stuff because guests were arriving. Just been looking back thru some old camera memory cards. The front hall.

Aye, I'm coming around a bit now to the notion this nonsense will get sorted...................hopefully Don't take bad collecting news well lol

.... They used sand iron which can sometimes give it a sort of grainy texture to the iron..... Patrick, there is no such thing as 'sand iron' that I am aware of. TAMAHAGANE - the base material of all iron items in the SAMURAI culture - is being made from sand iron ore, and the result does not have a 'sandy' look or structure. It is mainly the non-forging production process (= casting) or a later chemical treatment (= patination) that can produce a grainy surface (e.g. YAGYU TSUBA).

Piers, no fair!! Aaargh...that picture is killing me. Can't I just have 20 or 30? Wow....impressive. Would love a few of those. The simple "real" ones used in battle etc have an appeal. Love that display. At current market prices he has quite a fortune there too.

As you can see, the Setsumei calls them 矢尻 ‘Yajiri’ and the Katchushi Tsuba is said to be early Edo. 3.

Right Jean, thanks for kicking the ball! 1. How about 300 yajiri displayed in someone’s Shoji? Mostly small, unsigned, of standard shapes, with relatively short Nakago.