Strider

I see a lot of tsuba listed on ebay and some of them seem nice but my question is this. Are these pieces in the nice wooden boxes fakes? It seems like there would not be a never ending supply of these things showing up on the market, and I wonder if they are not being created to fill a void. Thanks for any input Scott E.

Does anyone out there know anything about Takayama swords. I am wondering if they were made at Takayama shrine like the Yasukuni-to or if they were made at Takayame prison like Emura or Nagamitsu made swords. I am trying to research a smith named Ujinaga that was on a mei that was translated on another post. Any help would be great. Scott Enloe

Thank you Mr. Moriyama, I have been wondering about this for years. I have not yet determined the monetary value of this sword but it has great sentimental value because it was a gift from an older friend that taught me a great deal about hard work and self reliance. Because I was so young when it was given to me, I did some things that have damaged the appearance of the piece, although the steel itself is incredibly hard and tough. I have not found anything on-line about Takayama prison forge other than a passing reference on another mei. Does anyone out there know if this was a shrine like Yasukuni or a prison like the Emura-made blades?

This has been a great help to me but like all answers it has led to more questions. If this blade was made during WWII, why would it be in a converted civilian saya? If the blade is oil quenched stainless, why would the koshira be civilian and not kyu-gunto? Why is the tsuka stepped down not straight? Is there ever any definite answers? Scott Enloe

Thanks guys, I have been wondering about this for years I posted some more information in a post labeled newbie. I will try to find out more information about Takayama forge or Takayama prison as I have seen a similar tsuka on another site

Hello all and happy new year, the translation help that Stephen requested was for a sword that I own. I want to thank him very much for helping to get the photo to this board so that the other members can help. Here is the history of this since I have owned it, sword was given to me as a gift back in 1980/81 by a WWII veteran that served in the pacific theater in the supply division; when I recieved it , the saya was black lacquer that had been wrapped with several layers of gauze and then sewn into a leather combat cover,I think that it was a civilian saya because there is a wooden filler where the belt stop[can't recall the name] used to be. The tsuka ito was a blue/green color but was deteriorated, the tsuka itself has an unusual stepped down shape and the menuki were on opposite sides than most of the ones I've seen in photos.The same is in two panels, not the preferred full wrap and the fuchi/kashira/menuki are stamped[?] brass with what I would call a pine bough motif. Being young and stupid, I did some cleaning and polishing that I now know to be wrong. I would very much like to have some restoration work done but need to find out just how much it warrents. The blade does not appear to be traditionally made but there is a temper line that shows up as clear rather than white and the yasurime and unusual habaki make me think that this sword is something out of the ordinary. Sorry to be so long winded but any help on any subject would be appreciated Scott Enloe

Has anyone had any dealings with an ebay seller Komonjo? They seem to offer a lot of rusty blades that thay call project pieces. It seems that all the pictures have the same color of rust and discoloration and that "the blade does not justify professional restoration " Are these fakes? Thanks, Scott