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Depends on whether I am alive when I tire of it. Brent

Me thinks - quality and beauty always transcend celebrity! With art in particular, if you don't like it, don't buy it. I will enjoy this piece and when I tire of it, someone else will. Regards, Brent

Sorry, don't know any French idioms, to carry on with. :? Yes that is why I ask. Very nice work, but couldn't find out anything about the artist. One of the many who lives in anonymity. thanks, Brent

Thank you Pete. Does it list what school he is from? Brent

Can someone with access to the Robert Haynes Index of Tsuba artists please tell me what it says about artist "Sadayasu" H07884. Timeframe, school, etc... Thank you, Brent

Does anyone know what year they started producing the english translation companion index for the Dai Token Ichi catalogues? I have from 2009 onwards, but am not sure if they existed prior to that? Also, does anyone have a 2008 catalogue they would like to sell. Regards, Brent

Regards, Brent

I would think it is eisho era. i have attached an image of a NBTHK papered Eisho date from a Sukesada Katana. I have also attached two Signatures from Harumitsu blades, both with NBTHK papers. One is a tanto and the other a katana. There were a few Harumitsu's so it depends on which one yours is. The ones I attached don't have dates associated with them, but are late muromachi. Regards, brent

Thanks Pete, I agree the Zogan discounts it being Hoan. I was leaning towards Nobuiye, either Akasaka or Shoami. The use of the iron and color, as well as the carved hollows, turned up edges and thickness all consistent with the mid Edo era. the Zogan would push me towards Shoami, but it is still unusual for a Nobuiye. Yet another conundrum in Nihonto. Please let me know if these pictures are any better. Mr Stiles - chime in, your an Iron man. Regards, Brent

Does anyone want to take a guess as to what school this tsuba is from. It is iron with gold and silver zogan, and deep carving. (notice the crab coming out of the cave) dimensions 73mm x 70mm x 5.5mm. I assume it is late Edo.

Thanks john.

Does anyone know if there are any sword societies or clubs in sao paulo brasil? I assume there are collectors there. Regards Brent

Thanks everyone, I will take some better pictures and post them. I remember seeing a few different Sue-koto blades with this hamon as well, so it must be more common than I expected. I don't ever buy swords in gunto mounts, but came across someone who wanted to part with one for a reasonable price. It was in Shin gunto mounts that had a nice coronels knot and a ancestral blade in it. The blade was o-suriage and still around 72cm nagasa so I figured it was worth a gamble. Even though it is out of polish, I was drawn to the hada and interesting hamon, so we shall see. It has a couple rust pits, that may be fatal, but overall in excellent condition. I posted a couple of quick pictures I took, but need to do better ones to really see the hada and hamon. thanks for the pointers. Brent

Thank you for your replies. I was specifically talking about a hamon that starts at the hamachi as midare and then switches to suguha as it approaches the yokote. I believe kodai sukesada smiths is probably the answer, however rai is intriguing as well. The blade I have in mind doesn't have utsuri which is what steered me away from bizen. I will have to take pictures of it and post them. Regard Brent

Sorry I may have not been totally clear. I am only referring to the hamon. The hamon starts as straight Chu suguha and then 1/4 to 1/3 down the blade becomes vivid midareba. I don't recall if the blades have utsuri or not? Did yokohama Sukesada blades have this hamon? Regards Brent

Sorry for being lazy, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to pour through all my books looking for the answer and maybe someone would easily remember this. I remember there was a koto smith or school that tempered their blades with a straight suguha in the upper part of the blade (upper 1/4 from the yokote) and then tempered the rest of the blade in midareba or midare. Has anyone seen this before. regards, Brent

Thanks David. i will definitely submit now. At the risk of being controversial, something I know this board tries to avoid :lol:, what are the advantages of getting origami on Fittings? The obvious one is to validate the school/artist in the case of mumei items, which is when I normally submit for Shinsa, but what are the other advantages? Do you think the papers for fittings are as important to western collectors as they are for blades? On another note, here are a couple of pictures of a fine tanto tsuba I have. I am unsure of the school on this. Surprisingly it is iron and not soft metal. Any educated guesses would be appreciated. (I obviously need to send this in for Shinsa) Regards, Brent

I haven't submitted this example. I am always a little nervous about submitting anything with a signature. As you are painfully aware many get rejected as gimei if they aren't spot on with existing examples. If you think this one is worthy of the effort, I may send it in with my next batch of items I send back. Look forward to see your tsubas. Regards Brent

Attached is a similar Umetada Shigeyoshi I have had for a number of year. Beautiful workmanship and great shakudo. Enjoy, Brent

Thanks Paul. Appreciate reply. Regards Brent

Does anyone have access to the November 13-14, 1996 sotheby's London auction catalog. I am looking for information on a Goto Mitsunobu (Bunjo) tsuba sold as lot 583. Description, price and picture would be great. Sorry for the obscure request. Regards Brent

PM me with your email and I will scan it and email it to you. Regards Brent

I now have 2009/2010. Any earlier ones available? Thanks Brent

Does anyone have english translations of the Dai Token Ichi Catalogs prior to 2011? You know the small insert that comes with the catalog that gets lost, thrown away, forgotten about, etc.. I am looking for any from prior to 2011. I would be happy to purchase originals, photocopies, or get them scanned and loaded. Thanks, Brent

In the spirit of keeping the thread going, here are a couple of High Res. pictures of good tight ko-mukome in a Taima blade with Bohi. Juyo Blade from Kamakura era. (Photoshopped the photos together) I have also attached a couple of photos from a Ko-senjuin Juyo blade from Kamakura era. (Not as good as Taima pcitures - different set-up and camera - will do better pictures when time permits.) Enjoy, Brent