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Hi, It's a Seki stamp. The mei says Nishibe Munenaga (西部 宗命).

Turtles and catfish tsuba

関松山嘉則 – Seki, Matsuyama Yoshinori

Do Chickens count as "Wild things"? I like this little guard because the hen manages to disappear on the ura side.

Well you could well be right. Even so I had an absolute blast and got to see the entire collection of 60 blades of which 40 I removed from their shirasaya and inspected. The overall condition I have to say was a little upsetting. The blades have been languishing in a storage room since Anton Petermandl donated them to the museum in the late 19th century. The curator was more than gracious and allowed me to remove the tsuka and inspect the nakago of the 40 blades. I spent 3 hours in the room with the swords that were stored in 4 pull out drawers and could have enjoyed 3 days. When people say old polish that would have described these blades, probably rarely out of their saya in over 100 years. There were 2 Heian era blades and a total of 4 or 5 blades that had signatures. Then we can judge if Albrecht von Roretz had been taken for a ride. The Masamune is in desperate need for a polish. So much Ware and uchiko like scratch patterns it was almost impossible to see the finer detail hiding underneath. At first blush it looked like a good blade, whether it is up to the standard of the top Soshu master is yet to be determined. The motohaba was approx 2.9cm. I will post the photos I took of the sayagaki for the 30 or so blades that had attributions and the Mei on the Nakago. Maybe those more knowledgeable will be able to say who wrote the sayagaki. My first cursory inspection suggested there were maybe 5 blades that could benefit and justify the post of a proper polish. One Bizen blade and what might be a Go seemed especially worthy. Here's a teaser. I was a little perturbed a Masamune would have a copper habaki though.

Tokyo Dai Token Ichi Additional Events For 2024 This is an invitation for overseas visitors who will visit Japan to attend the Dai Token Ichi 1) Sword Study Session at Cinq on Thursday, October 31st.. (Organized by Seikodo and Keichodo) On Thursday, October 31st, there will be a sword study and dinner party again in Ginza at the Italian Restaurant Cinq (same venue as previous years). Location is quite convenient. Participant fee is yen 5,000 (for the venue) and the dinner party will be sponsored by Mr. Hisashi Saito of Seikodo. Pay participant fee on arrival at the venue. Once again, the date will be Thursday, Oct. 31st! Arrival time will be from 5:30 p.m. for the sword study. Discussion of swords at 6:30 and the dinner party will follow the sword study at around 7:15 ... Attendance by advance reservation only! Contact: Robert Hughes at keichodo@yahoo.com Cinq - Access For the Thursday study session, it is very easy to find the venue "Cinq" from inside the Metro System (subway). You go to Ginza Station (on the Ginza line), then go up one level from the platform to the underground concourse and find the B-6 exit. The restaurant/club is called Cinq and it is half way up the exit stairwell. So, you don't even have to exit onto street level, it is right inside the metro underground network. It is very convenient....no long walk or need for a taxi. The actual street address for Cinq is Ginza 5-4-3 Taikakukan B1 which is the building with the B6 subway entrance, so go down the first flight of subway entrance stairs and you will find Cinq at the first stair landing. Cinq address: 東京都中央区銀座 5-4-3 対鶴館 B1 〒104-0061 Taikakukan B1, 5-4-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 2) Saturday, Nov. 2nd Yakatabune Tokyo Bay Cruise Dinner Party with plenty to eat and all you can drink..... (organized by Keichodo) Arrangements: This event is being planned for Saturday, November 2nd! As in the past, participants can leave from in front of Dai Token Ichi (Tokyo Bijitsu Club) at 6:30 p.m. Cruise to start from 7:00 p.m. Participation by advance reservation only. Contact: Robert Hughes at keichodo@yahoo.com... Your reservation must be confirmed by October 31st. Notification to attend is also a commitment to pay if event is held (weather permitting)... Cost is yen 12,000 per participant (tax included) to be paid by noon on November 2nd at the Keichodo stall at the DTI. If you plan on going directly to the venue to board the mighty vessel without riding the bus, please notify in advance as a head count is conducted prior to the bus departure. Again, participation will be by advance reservation only. Reservations need to be finalized/confirmed 48 hours prior to the event. No cancellations after reservation commitment please… Notification to attend is also a commitment to pay. Cost yen 12,000 per participant (including sales tax) to be paid by 12:00 noon at the DTI.

Interesting photos of the official Japanese surrender of the weapons in Batavia on 15 May 1946. The allied representative is Major P.A.A. Haining of the Allied H.Q. The Japanese representative is Major-General Nishimura. .

Further memo's and orders regarding swords. 7th Division HQ memo regarding swords: The below relate to Makassar Force (MAKFORCE) HQ, based in the Celebes. Kendari force orders: Summary of equipment: Results: Appendix F, noting approx. 3950 swords:

Dear Bruce, I do own that wakazashi. Reading the nakago is as follows : - Omote : RYUSAISHI (Ryu-sai-shi), MASASHIGE with KAO. Answer to a request by Suuyo (present Tokuyama city) Tsumori (surname) Yoshikiyo. Made by using excellent water of seventh well (place name ?) at KO-REY (Suo, present Yamaguchi-city). - Ura : My ancestor had lost a MASAMUNE sword in a fire in the Eiroku era (1558-1569), since then a long time has passed. I was sad about this past fact. Now, fortunately, Ryusaishi forged this sword instead of the sword lost in the fire. This sword was delivered by using all his techniques. Yoshikiyo with KAO (orderer) Bunka ninen ni gatsu hi (Feb, 1805). Masashige was a swordsmith in the Suishinshi Masahide kado. Hope it helps.

I have a very similar theme, although your eagle and mine are hunting different prey

AKAO TSUBA with TSURU (cranes)

Adding Karigane 雁

Wild geese (or are they swans?) are well known motifs on TSUBA:

Its not often an opportunity presents itself to handle a blade by arguably the most famous Japanese swordsmith, Masamune. The owner was Albrecht Von Roretz and he brought this blade along with 60 others from Japan in the late 1800's, after several years spent establishing a modern Western health system during the Meiji period. He had a keen interest in Nihonto which makes this particular Masamune worthy of a hands on viewing. Markus Sesko was supposed to inspect the collection but left for the USA before getting the chance. There are certainly some questions as to whether this is a genuine blade by the Master but given Dr Von Roretz's status, knowledge around the subject etc, its worth giving it a careful look. I will ask if I can take some photos and if possible, view the Nakago.

Lesser Cuckoo

A modest contibution of mine, a coastal scene with plovers. Shibuichi with details in shakudo, copper and gold. Probably late Edo. Florian

@spellsword and @Bruce Pennington sword in by Gifu smith Yoshikane (義兼) real name Mishina Yuichi (三品由一) born Taisho 3 (1914) July 3 living at 加茂郡, Kamo-gun, Saka-mura. This town is on the Kiso River and around 10 km SE of Seki. He registered as a Seki tosho Showa 16 (1941) January 21 (age 26). Looks like his older brother is Yoshiaki (義明) Mishina Naoichi (三品直市), born Meiji 42 (1909) July 27 at same Kamo-gun address, and registered in Showa 14 (1939) October 25 (age 30). Yoshiaki died at end of Showa (1989) February 5 (age 79). He was ranked in 1942 Banzuke as ryōkō no retsu (6/7). Oshigata below (Fuller & Gregory, 1985): 1. Mishina Yoshikane (Seki stamp?). 2. Noshu Mishina Yoshikane (sakura/Sho stamp). 3. Mishina Yoshiaki (Seki stamp). 4 & 5. Yoshiaki (Seki stamp). "2601 years of Japanese Empire" (1941). Blade also has horimono of dragon chasing pearl, and other side Buddhist bonji . 6. Yoshiaki (Sakura/Sho stamp)

永田祐則 - Nagata Sukenori

Crane and turtle-

Probably Meiji?

Big Bakumatsu piece…school of Konkan

Robin, trying to imagine those with Shakudo finish intact. What could they be? Strips of konbu with biwa fruit, tied as an offering??? Wasp menuki

Fish and Kingfisher….

Turtles all the way down...

I forgot all about this tsuba I bought as part of a job lot from the Albert Newall (artist and antique dealer) collection a few years ago. I think that I have posted it before, but.. At first glance the tsuba appears to be from a European rapier, but the nakago ana shows its Japanese origin. The Japanese had a craze for Portuguese and Spanish armour in the late 16th C (Momoyama) and perhaps this tsuba dates from then. The iron on the inside has become delaminated, which again makes me believe that this tsuba was made from Japanese folded iron. The inside is coated with red lacquer and I think it would be interesting to have this carbon-14 dated. The tsuba is a thin steel wan-gata (tea bowl) shape and has a large inome (boar’s eye) cut into the top. Usually, Japanese tsuba have four inome and the large single one on this tsuba makes me believe it is a European heart shape; the Heart of Jesus being a powerful symbol of the catholic faith. The tsuba is also decorated with gold and silver highlighted engravings, including three phoenixes in gold (sorry about the photo which does not make them clear). The phoenix is a bird that rises from the ashes, i.e. is resurrected, and the Christian panoply of gods is made up of the trio Father, Son and Holy Ghost. So, is this a Christian tsuba? Best regards, John

No way do I know even 10% Hizen for sure. Well 90% Check the outline of the seppa-dai - pretty close style. At first sight that Kappa and Oni has a lot of Jakushi influence to it. The way the gold nunome looks like a rubbed wash. but Jakushi don't have such an extensive range of colour inlay and the seppa-dai are not "highlighted" or raised as far as I know? Perhaps the image Jake has is a little harder to make out the details.

Currently continuing my vacation in Austria and Slovenia but will get to this when I have some time. Its a little more involved than posting a pic. I got video of the Masamune, the Bishu Osafune (#2) and the Sadatsugu (#3). The trouble is that these blades have 100 year oil residue smeared on much of the blades which is now solidified and sticky. They really needed a wipe with isopropanol.

Dear Cornelius. I think Yoon has suggested that the signature may bee Nobumitsu rather than Nobuiye. All the best.

信光? https://www.e-sword.jp/tsuba/1810-6018.htm

1st generation 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 2nd generation 2, 4, 9, 10

Katana/tachi #1 Katana/tachi #2 omote Katana/tachi #2 ura Blade 3 Tanto. This one had some age. My favourite short blade (sorry for the blurriness? \

In my humbled opinion, the best material on the subject in English is the 59 volume set of English Token Bijutsu written by the staff of the NBTHK: https://japaneseswor...ition-all-59-issues/ on my site. While there you can search for many of the other books mentioned here to get an idea what they're like. Cheers, Grey

Looks like: 義兼 (Yoshikane) 三品 由一 Real Name The 3 dots are just punch marks to tighten the hole on the nakago. The two different numbers tell us that at least one of the seppa aren't original to the rig. Whether a replacement during or after the war - no way to know.

Hey, Dave....small world.....my mum's brother was a sapper in the 2nd Field Coy. in the Royal Australian Engineers in the Borneo campaign. He was at the surrender at Labuan and brought back a Type 98 Gunto (gendaito but unsignes and undated). When I was a kid he told me that he had to chase the Japanese soldier 20 miles through the jungle to get that sword....but he told me 20 years later that in fact, the unit held a raffle after the surrender and he was lucky enough to win this sword. My cousins still have it. Regards,

Two more documents from Australian Army HQ: Dutch Borneo: List of surrendered Japanese arms Disposal of surrendered enemy equipment:

And another...

Here's one from my collection... No animal tsuba yet though! Apologies for the amateur mobile phone photography!

I think this one is also WW2 era but the mei seems less refined and much harder to read. I also found stamps and marking on the spacers (seppa?). any help would be greatly appreciated even confirmation of a fake.

For signatures I would guess 1. 兼貞 - Kanesada 2. 備州長船XX / 天正XX年八月日 - Bishū Osafune XX (c.1573-1592), cannot identify smith or year with certainity. 3. 越前国下坂貞次 / 大和大掾藤原正則 - Echizen no Kuni Shimosaka Sadatsugu / Yamato no Daijō Fujiwara Masanori 4. 行平作 / Yukihira Saku

Hi Rob, imo they are tied bundle of some type of foliage with perhaps one flower showing. They look like long thin leaves and in one image you can clearly see some sort of binding strap holding them together. Wonder if they represent some type of Shinto offering? Dunno, but my money is on plant.

Budded cross, Ojimé and tsuba.

My wife surprised the ever living heck out of me with this amazing birthday gift. An exceptionally wide wakizashi made by Motoyasu. Can anyone tell me more about this maker? Another name perhaps?. I can't seem to find anything about him other than the he was possibly a Satsuma smith. Came with some nice fittings and an iron tsuba signed Mototake.

The subject has been well covered in the past but good to see renewed interest. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/34262-edo-period-christian-themed-tsuba/ https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/19732-new-article-about-christian-tsuba/ https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/45516-help-with-christian-tsuba/ Still scratching my head to see this series of guards as "Christian"? https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/13261-beautiful-christian-tsuba/ Secret compartment tsuba with Christian symbol hidden within - just don't rattle the sword!

Greetings Khalid, http://www.jp-sword....s/seki/gendaito.html I've seen lots of wonderful pieces from the top smiths on this list. Best wishes on your search

Ford restored my favorite tsuba (Tomohide minogame) from serious verdigris. He brought back to life a great rabbits kozuka that seemed beat. He worked with me on a custom rabbit tsuba to pair with one I had already that still is my avatar Pic. What can be said? He will be missed.

Wakizashi for a Daimyo O-Suriage sword 58 cm NBTHK TH to Taima school Kamakura , Yamato Den Fittings all matching to Mori clan , Habaki solid gold with Mon I have not seen the papers for the fittings yet This is believed to have belonged to one of the Daimyo from Mori because of the extensive use of their Mon. The fittings are unsigned , when the papers come back it will help date which Daimyo it may have been Many thanks to Mike Yamasaki for selling this to me

Thank you so much for the recommendation about the Berlin museum - I wasn't aware of it before this thread which I read weeks ago, but because of it was able to arrange a visit, and it's definitely worth seeing. The gift shop even sold some relevant books I picked up (not cheap though, but to be expected)

I have been using food grade mineral oil and the outer layer of bamboo, the inner core of the bamboo is too soft. I have found it takes me too long to hone a antler tine down fine enough to get into the tiny areas. David

secret disney admirer! all these tsuba are unsigned!!