Brian

Ray, Awesome books. But does need to be noted that there are 2 Japanese volumes making up the set of these books....you are missing the other Japanese photo one. Then there is a rare additional volume with the English explanations, and that you do have there. So half the 2 book set, plus the additional volume. Worth checking out there what's available, as I daresay this will affect value and they are out there complete for considerably less. Sorry, but needed to be mentioned.

Not going to allow this. Dealers are what the name implies. I won't allow vague and unwarranted insinuations based on nothing.

UK members...when you next import a sword, don't forget to ship a protractor and a calculator with it. * Sigh *

Likely does. Would be illegal otherwise, if it wasn't a Nihonto. And although they have issued some Torokusho to Showato, I don't think there are many fake swords slipping through. Nakago has been greatly altered though. Fittings are genuine. Just an oddball.

@Peter D is one of our members, and also has dealer status here and his own dealer section. Being approachable like that, and the fact that dealers don't get listed here or last long if they are not reputable, tells you a lot. Good to check on any dealer you are considering purchasing from. A listing here is always a good sign.

There you go again. Everyone agrees there is nothing cast about this. But you pop up and persist with some idiotic theory in spite of the fact that the only people who made the claim are an ignorant auctioneer. And you wonder why you get hounded. Sit back down. There is nothing cast about this tsuba, and if you knew much about tsuba, you would see it.

A version of Kataochi gunome?

Getting close to the price I pay for a return airfare to Japan Probably easier to fly there, have a decent sushi meal and fly back with it.

I think it's just field made. Could easily be wrong through.

Then we get accused of censoring any potential future "findings" or evidence. Nah, leave it to slowly bury itself.

Thank you Alex, much appreciated.

Nazar, would be very happy to host the files. In fact, maybe I can even set up a section in the downloads section for 3D modelling files that are Nihonto related. Although we all know traditional is preferred, there are still lots of useful tsuba stands, sword stands, other tools etc that are useful in this hobby. Perhaps we can slowly start a library of them.

Didn't want to move it from there completely, as it's a vital part of that section. But I can move threads and leave a "shadow" topic that will redirect to where it has been moved. Was going to get that done in a day or 2.

Well done, looks good to me. A nice outcome. 3D Printing can turn out some very useful products. I'm sure you will get requests if you want to print and sell a few, or share the files

To me, it resembles one of the well known horimono done during wartime, sometimes seen on Gendaito and wartime civilian swords taken to war