Mike

Hi, the design, sukashi walls, seppa dai shape and even hitsu ana shape indicate mid-edo period akasaka tsuba. What bothers me is rim, which is not typical to akasaka and looks to me oddly put. So I am a bit confused, maybe akasaka with late addition of the rim? BTW the design is a temple under a moon at the upper side, and flock of geese down side. Mike

Yes, my guess was Higo as well. The hole is probably part of the design, usually it comes for either the sun, moon or a star, sometimes it come for a water drop. I have seen that before. Mike

Hi, AFAIK the burnishing stage involve powdered horn paste which is being used to clean the shinogi ji, and then it is dried using ibota powder. At this stage the togi-shi starts burnishing using his burnishing tools. I hope it gives you some help. Mike

This is an excellent subject, I as well, had been trying to find hard evidence of Japanese war axes, without any success. I am sure there was use of axes as axe theme is found on tosho and ko-thosho tsuba, such as this one below. Mike

Agree, Shoami as John said. Nice Theme. Mike

Hi, I will explain myself better, I am not saying that tsuba hadn't been resized, all I am saying is that I don't think it is an old tsuba (ie not Murumachi or earlier). Mike

Yes, Heianjo zogan tsuba. Sometimes the addition of fukurin indicates resizing the tsuba, this is more common on older tduba, which IMHO is not the case in yours. Mike

Hi, very nice tsuba and great cleaning job. I have a shoami tsuba with wheel and Cherry design which has similar waves although almost brass dots are missing, IMHO yours is shoami as well, about mid-edo. Mike

Hi, How can you tell it looks like later addition? it is later tsuba anyhow. I would be interested to hear what lead you to your opinion. Personally I don't like this tsuba nor its design. And no, not all tsuba on ebay are crap, but most of them are. Mike

Not so common. I have seen one on Meiji period tourist tanto that has better silver work on the tsuka than its blade. However, yours looks better than the one I have seen. Mike

I am trying to concentrate on blades and tsuba preferably koto period, I have sold most of my other tosogu. Mike

Sorry Milt, that was me @#..%74 I have noticed you are trying to take my baby m....m. It looks nice and interesting tsuba, and in a VERY low price. BTW I didn't use the sniper, just good old fashion bidding. I will let you all know when it arrives, if it was a good deal. He is very nice person and he has quiet attractive stuff in a low price, so I admit it looks suspicious, so I will wait and see. Mike

Hi, Whatever the method will be, I am willing to donate money as well as those 2 catalogues I had offered including shipping anywhere. Personally I think that first we have to finish the monetary donation, and then lets say a month later, to conduct some kind raffle. Mike

It is hard to tell the differences between Bushu and Chosu sukashi tsuba due the influence of Bushu style on Chosu tsubako. IMHO this is Bushu tsuba, I can not put my finger exactly why, but I have seen some very similar Bushu tsuba, and maybe because the differences in the design on each side of this tsuba, while Choshu sukashi tsuba tend to have similar design on each side. Mike

I am with Mark and Brian, IMHO it looks like it was shortened just to move the flaw, seeh in pic 1, to the nakago area. Possibly late koto Wak. Mike

I think a good start will a book published by NCJSC called "Tsuba an Aesthetic Study" a good start for the novice collector. Maybe you can see on their web site if and how you can purchase this book. Mike

Hello All, I agre that the sugata is not what you would expect from Heian period tachi, the kissaki is too long as well. I think that that the hi should have been deeper on the nakago if thw sword is realy o-o-suriage as the seller says, nodachi could have 90 cm blade and up, do IMHO it might be older sword but not Heian. Mike

Hello All, I believe this is mid to late Edo period tsuba. as said before old tsuba tends to be a lot thinner and a larger in diameter, also IMHO the quality of the iron of Poe tsuba is lesser than what you might expect from older tsuba. Another point is the tsuchime which is very dull comparing to Ko tsuba. Last point is the hitsu-ana, old tsuba had been made without hitsu-ana, and it was usually added later, because of that there is difference between the condition of the hitsu ana and the sukashi, in this tsuba they are the same condition and looks crisp. Mike

Matt, your tsuba was once gold plated, all these fine marks indicate of plating. Mike

Hi, interesting thread on the same toic on other forum http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/forum/ ... php?id=366 Mike

Since you asked for price, I had saya restored 6-7 years ago in Europe and it cost me about 500 euro, the restoration was mainly re lacquering. That of course gives you rough estimation only. Hope it gives you some help. Mike

Hi, I can donate 2 catalogues of Barry Davies Oriental Art London. One contain 20 chrome pages of sword, kodugo and armour, the second is similar 24 pages. Mike

Here is some visual, good swords with hagire. Mike

Google does not show anything under nejike oil. I also suspect it is manufacturer name. Any pure mineral oil will be fine, such as silicon oil. Mike

The seller never wrote that the tsuba are antique, though the price is little high for table plates for coffee cups Mike