ROKUJURO

Is it magnetic? In the pictures, it looks like copper, so probably not armour, but decoration.

Who would deliberately spoil a nice wall with such a bad imitation? Michael, if you compare to an original, you will find no detail looking remotely Japanese or authentic. The handle wrap was made in a wrong technique (it was easy to remove, wasn't it?), the SAME strip is much too narrow. The HABAKI is just thin sheet-metal, the blade is possibly "iron damascus". The "TSUBA" is a cast mess and not remotely close to authentic ones. Weapons like this are probably produced in India, Bangladesh, or Pakistan in thousands. If the loss of $ 100 do not hurt you, I would like to suggest you buy some good books on Japanese swords. This would give you an idea about the real stuff, and help you buying the next (hopefully authentic) sword!

In the video, it looks as if they have strung the bows on the wrong side and in addition to that, positioned them upside-down.

Are fish merchants known to have carried SUN NOBI TANTO?

I also like that set, but I have no absolute comparison scale for the quality. There is always something better in this world, but this one is in good condition what would matter for me.

Some good photos Peter, but it still remains a tough one! What about 関 永 ? Did a smith exist named MORINAGA? I have no books on swords, unfortunately.

.....I’ve had them in storage for over 20 years and just now pulling them out.... Hi Greg, if you put them back in storage for anther 500 years, they will possibly gain some value!

Richard, you need to focuse clearly, use a dark background for better contrast, and show the TANTO as cut-out so not much of the background is to be seen. Look at the results yourself. This also saves some data volume. You can try to push the HABAKI back with a piece of wood; don't use a metal tool to prevent damaging it. Do you see HAMON or HADA at all? MUROMACHI is not exciting per se, quality and condition is what counts!

If possible, change the title to "New TSUBA by Funada Ikkin"

Richard, welcome to the NMB forum! On the NAKAGO, KANE is quite clear, 義 (Yoshi) is a possibility but the photo is not clear enough. Also, there seems to be slag on the NAKAGO which could be an indication of it having been in a fire. When you make new photos, please take the HABAKI (not Hibaki) off and use a dark, non-reflecting background for better contrast.

Gerry, the confirmation certificate you need for the possession and trade of ivory is not from City, Citizen, or Cities - it is CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). And MEIJI era is not "very old" or "old" in the context of Japanese history, culture and arts, it is recent. You may get information and help from Deutsches Elfenbeinmuseum (https://www.erbach.de/tourismus-freizeit/ausflugsziele/deutsches-elfenbeinmuseum/ )

Melting temperature of iron is 1.538°C, cast iron can be melted as low as 1.150°C.

Tori, that is a very nice TSUBA, and even if not authentic by SHOZUI, it still is a valuable item on the market. Authenticated examples are very expensive! It is absolutely not sure that your grandfather knew about it being possibly not genuine! Would you mind showing us both TSUBA? (no plural "s" added!)

The photo with the signature is upside-down.

In my opinion, this is not an authentic TSUBA but an amateur imitation. The surface seems to show scale, and the punch marks make no sense. The KUKURIZARU are depicted in an unusual way.

Thank you Lewis! still a small kidney for me at the moment!

I could not find a price for it. Hopefully it is not a kidney?

Did I show my MEKUGI-NUKI in TSUBA shape? Forged from old (= 1880) wrought iron.

Although I would need to see the complete NAKAGO, I suspect that this is indeed what came out after an ORIKAESHI technique (折返し). To me, it looks as if a large part of the NAKAGO has been folded back and fire-welded. The YASURI-ME seems rather fresh to me and not KOTO-like. A FUKURE looks differently in my experience (I have produced some unwillingly...) .

Vincent, all photos are upside-down. The NAKAGO photos should always be made without HABAKI so we could see the MACHI. Always use a dark background. All photos need to be nicely focused; the blade picture does not allow to see the surface properly. My first impression is it's not Japanese, but better photos might prove me wrong.

That is roughly the way SASANO-SENSEI used to treat his TSUBA.

Robert, if we do not live this life in a way that fits us, in which life could we do it? I understand what you are saying, but it is probably not for everyone. You need to have a certain sense or sensibility for that. To me, it happens from time to time that I see a place in the forest or a hand-made item with age and use. It is as if there was something like a connection, but nothing you could really grasp. Perhaps it is only a form of mental condition?

I agree Robert. Better quality KIRIBAKO are designed that way.

Robert, what you describe is not the fault of the KIRIBAKO, it is the humidity around.

Easy to spot as fake. - There is no HADA, that is a form of Damascus steel - tha characters are chiseled upside-down in the blade