Marius

Not ko-kinko IMHO. Rather a relatively crude late Edo product.

Gents, I won't go into details about the reasons I am impressed again with Grey, but allow me to say for the umpteenth time: Grey is one of the best guys out there and a true gentleman. I know, everybody knows it, but I had to say it

Interesting opinion on Shizu - in the description of a Sakakura Seki sword. Worth reading. http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/sword5.html

You are not alone, Chris. God save the Queen. It is amazing and sad how this country... I will leave it... and listen to Elgar's March No.1 and weep for Britain. Elgin's March and God save the Queen/King is as mine as Het Wilhelmus, la Marseillaise or the Deutschlandlied... as are all the others. I am European and immensely proud of it. Apologies for getting emotional... These are hard times for Europeans.

Chris, that is a contagious issue. Let us leave it and focus on Bovril... err... excuse me, on nihonto

Don’t you dare forget Marmite and lukewarm ales (which I love, BTW)

I have ordered a big delivery of Bovril, just in case

https://www.facebook.com/Asian-Export-sword-guards-and-Nanban-tsuba-564035753684007/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARDv55918VNmNqkskMb9h2rJ8ROU4hl-6pAZvAdfHW3cV5kwYUYCsp5iuSDseeTGzoxoo6FBBBGfmYk0

Ok, not from eBay, then. Still, the other points apply. The NBTHK are not a secret organisation, you can find them on the internet. Not sure what you want from them, because since the old papers are not being honoured anymore, they will advise you to submit your sword to shinsa. Which is exactly what you should do. If you need an agent, I recommend Paul Martin.

An old NBTHK paper, usually not worth the paper it is written on, a great name, a fresh looking nakago, tachi mei on an uchigatana, bought from eBay. That sums it up.

It is good to talk Owari is quite a broad appellation, so it might be OK

Hmm... This happens very often, unfortunately. People see an iconic motif and make an attribution based solely on that motif.

OK guys, to cut a long story short... Large tsuba are rare and more desirable. Hence, more expensive. Alex's tsuba is a big mean guard, a real badass. One thing to note - the spokes are an integral part of the plate, unlike in many later examples. This is a quality tsuba. This is a great tsuba made for a big sword and made to do its job well. I haven't seen many that big, but since I own two (ko-tosho and ko-katchushi) I can assure you, they are simply awesome in hand. Remember that Ashikaga Takauji painting? He holds a big sword with a big tsuba of this type: https://jref.com/media/ashikaga-takauji.6829/full?d=1462374394

A few pics to give you food for thought...

Uchine yari. A very peculiar weapon.

That's what Steven said. However, he refered to the famous Musashi tsuba, which your tsuba is not (neither is it a Higo tsuba). The maker (and age) of your tsuba can be determined by shinsa. Having said that, I think that you might accept the view that this is an Edo period tsuba, most likely 18th c. And I will add that the iron looks good

Steven, Understood. Spot on, I could not agree more.

@Steven What details and refinement do you mean? And in resepct of which 17th c. tsuba schools?

@Jose Patina looks fine. What you find odd seem to be remnants of black lacquer or some other coating. Also, seppa dai in Higo tsuba have a totally different shape.

Chris, Submit it to shinsa.

Since you have determined it is old, I bow to your superior wisdom and judgment (OK, I am being a troll here). Now have it confirmed by shinsa, and I will take back my slander

Christian, pics please!

Oh, keep in mind that Fujishiro's system is contextual: https://yuhindo.com/ratings.html Where would I be without people like Darcy?

Some Takada school works are underrated. The school worked in so many styles, perhaps that is the reason, lack of "purity". I have seen a Tadayuki blade with wonderful blue steel, utsuri and what have you. A work, that - as a Japanese connoisseur has said - could pass for Rai (I will add: were the signature removed and the sword made to look like o-suriage). Another example of an underrated maker: Sakakura Seki Masayoshi, which could pass for Shizu. http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/sword5.html I wonder how many o-suriage swords are not what the papers say? That said, they are excellent swords.

Come on Chris, that is a kidergarden argument, no? And it reminds me somewhat of those people who come here, ask for an opinion and take offence if the answer is not to their liking. I know, you are not such a case, but your or my liking or not has nothing to do with that topic. I know, you have proudly shown your acquisition and here comes the pooh-pooh gang ripping your tsuba apart. I sympathise, but let us stay on topic, which - to my understanding - is whether this is an old tsuba or not.