ROKUJURO

I apologize, I simply have no knowledge on these military blades! How are the blades fixed securely in the TSUKA?

Dan, you should show the entire "naked" blade without HABAKI and, separately, the NAKAGO, but I don't see a MEKUGI. Photos always with dark, non-reflecting background, and blade vertically tip-upwards.

Uncommon to me as well, but I have not seen everything that exists.

Copper (or brass) TSUBA are always made from a pre-cast blank, even when they are hand-finished afterwards. The above one certainly looks like an amateur attempt. With modern casting trechnology, making soft-metal TSUBA in a one-step process is possible in a die mold.

That is the famous Swiss TSUBA design:

John, referring a bit late to your post of December 1st, when you posted an altered TSUBA with ITOMAKI design. I had a look in my collection on these calm days and found perhaps what you were thinking of:

Grev, in your SUKASHI TSUBA I think I can see 'overlapping circles' called WACHIGAI. A common feature in TSUBA.

Roy, no. 4 is made in HEIANJO style, but I believe your other TSUBA do not show specific details which would allow to assign them to a tradition or school. In my opinion this even applies to the TSUBA with KUNIHIRO signature. Among other factors like rarity, the value of a TSUBA depends on the basic quality and the preservation condition, which results in a higher or lower desirability to collectors. In this case, it is very difficult to guess a "market value" as there are also collectors who buy TSUBA outside of these criteria if they are cheap enough. Keeping my personal scale out of the game, your TSUBA may sell between $ 100.-- and $ 20.-- each IF you find a buyer.

Roy, no. 6 is still upside-down and will get dizzy in that position! All that was said above is correct and fitting, but I want to add that these simple TSUBA mainly suffer from their corroded condition. They were probably never high-end, but looking much better (except no. 5) before they were neglected . There is not much you can do for them unless you get very well informed about the restoration of iron TSUBA. No fast and easy work!

ChatGPT should be a member here and study the subject!

Perhaps not all TSUBA makers were 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"?