ROKUJURO

ChatGPT should be a member here and study the subject!

Perhaps not all TSUBA are strictly following a design system.

A chopstick rest?

Dale, please have a second look at the second TSUBA. To me, the design looks like 'rain hats' ( KASA (傘), not umbrellas.

I am sorry to hear that. Must be a difficult life that way....

Thank you Dale! I knew/hoped you would find one like that!

One single photo would have been largely sufficient to identify this as non-Japanese, and certainly not 80 years old. Sorry.

Colin, of course Piers bought it right away!

Steven, it is GI MEI - false MEI. Should not be too difficult. GI MIE would mean "wrong noodles".

Chris, have you ever seen a DREMEL tool? It is a small rotational tool like a tiny grinder or a dentist's drill. These KANJI are clearly cut with a sharp chisel, not beautifully I have to admit.

Does he except returns or does he accept returns? For better parts, you are not in a hurry. TSUBA are easily fitted to a blade. This was often done in a SAMURAI's life. SAYA is a bit tricky but as often in life, patience helps. We have kind and helpful dealers here on NMB.

Jimmy, age is not important, but quality is. You can find very expensive high-quality blades from 1800, and quite shabby blades fron KOTO era. To make a guess, one should see a blade in hand, but my impression from your good photos is early EDO. But I am more a TSUBA guy so please take my words lightly.

That sounds like a clear indication for a SAYA that had been worked on to fit a 'new' blade. As was said earlier, sellers often put swords together from parts, and the easy part is inventing a good story to push the sale. A MUMEI EDO period WAKIZASHI is not a good investment, a clear GIMEI one is still less so. But whatever we comment, it is a complete and authentic Japanese sword, and if you like it, don't look at value or age! And in the long range, you could always replace TSUBA and FUCHI-GASHIRA with nicer parts, and even try to find a fitting civilian WAKIZASHI SAYA.

TSUBA is probably NAGOYA MONO. FUCHI-GASHIRA have suffered some corrosion, but MENUKI look interesting (but you never know until they come out....). Jimmy, as for TADAYOSHI signatures, just look for certified examples and compare.

I thought of something like this:

Yes, we are all born as newbies! Or did you mean "naivety"?

Barrett, I wonder if the above TSUBA shape would really be called ITOMAKI-GATA. In my imagination, it is more like "4 FUJI SAN" or "4 mountains", but I don't know. Looking forward to hearing the opinions of more knowledgeable members!

Steve, why not post it in the translation section?

We will probably know more if Mike posts better photos.

Justin, the 4th photo cannot be loaded, and the open-air photos are not really good in some parts. Cut-offs are better.

You certainly mean BOHI. But as we soon have Christmas, this can happen. BO HO HO HO!

Quite nice blade Hector! I like the shape! I would not exactly call it HITATSURA, but nevertheless an attractive HAMON with TOBIYAKI and ICHIMAI BOSHI as far as I can see.

Mike, nice KOZUKA, unfortunately the iron front has some rust which should be dealt with competently. You say the back is SHAKUDO (not Sakudo), so a picture of that (dark background please!) would be nice. That's not a mouse but a rat (NEZUMI) on the front, a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, and the start of the Zodiac cycle. The technique of the KOZUKA (the KOGATANA blade is missing?) reminds me of NARA school, but as it seems to be a later EDO item, techniques and motifs were often shared among schools and traditions, so it may well have been made by other artists. The photos are not good enough to see what the rat is eager to eat. Maybe plums hung up on a string for drying? Just a guess.

The signature reads BISHU OSAFUNE JU, but I can't make out the smith in these photos. Try a dark, non-reflecting background, a dark room and spotlights. All photos tip-upwards, especially NAKAGO. Always use cut-outs so very little background is to be seen. The TSUKA (= handle) of the second sword is not Japanese. If you have not seen many authentic Japanese swords in very good condition from close, you will not know what a sword should look like. How then will you polish a blade? Unless you see red rust which should be dealt with, these blades need a competent hand, not just made "shiny". With better photos, we can probably help you to preserve the value of these swords.

Hector, that is not entirely correct. He can produce a certain style of HAMON and HATARAKI by his experience, but not all small details. It can be compared with the outcome of a ceramic glaze on a stoneware CHAWAN in a wood-fired kiln. Potters call this "controlled coincidence". In your SOSHU blade, the HAMON and all activities look controlled and deliberate to me. I wished it was mine!