Steve Waszak

Offered here is a tanto I am helping a friend find a new home for, papered to Ujifusa by the NBTHK (2014 shinsa). The blade is mumei, with two mekugi-ana. The paper does not specify a generation in the Ujifusa attribution. The blade is iorimune, and features a notareba hamon and itame grain in the ji. The steel is in fine condition, with no rust or notable damage. The tanto comes not in shirasaya, but in a polished black saya with a same-covered tsuka. The condition of the saya is not ideal, as there are small scuffs and one fairly significant "dent" present. Were I keeping this tanto, I would want to have shirasaya done for it. The friend I am assisting with the sale of this blade prefers to find a buyer in the U.S. because of potential issues with shipping out of the U.S. $1,250.00, plus shipping (PayPal friends and family preferred).

Looking forward to seeing your site grow, Curran. It also gives me a ready place to "visit" that superb Nidai Yamakichibei tsuba.

Email sent.

Tsuba are SOLD, pending funds.

These tsuba are the final four from my friend's collection I'll be posting here. I will offer these pieces through the weekend; after that, any that are unsold will be returned to my friend, so, if anything appeals to you, this weekend will be the time. Tsuba #1: This is a small (5.5 cm x 4.8 cm x 3mm) irregularly-shaped kinko tsuba with a pleasing motif of plovers over waves. I believe the material is yamagane, with gold accents applied to various degrees in the plovers. The rim is gently upturned here and there, suggesting of some Umetada and Kaneie rim treatments, though this piece is, of course not of those traditions. Seppazuri is strongly present on both sides of the tsuba. The sword guard presents with deep color and is in very good condition. $140.00 plus shipping. Tsuba #2: Here is another kinko tsuba, one whose material is a little challenging (for me) to identify with confidence. It seems like lower-quality shakudo, but very well may be of some other metal or alloy. As with the previous tsuba, this one features gold or gold-colored accents in the kiri mon motif elements. This piece also three very crisply-done kiku sukashi elements. The overall presentation of this tsuba, with its very small kogai-ana, suggests latest-Edo to me (seppazuri hints at this being a late-Edo work rather than 20th-century, but honestly, I think the tsuba does come across as being of such recent vintage. It measures 7.1 cm x 6.6 cm x 4mm. $75.00, plus shipping. Tsuba #3: This is a mokko kinko work that may date to pre-Edo, and is almost certainly no later than early-Edo. It features numerous inlaid brass dots, some of which are missing, together with subtly carved mon elements amidst a field of small circular spots. I believe the material is yamagane, plus the brass dots. It measures 6.7 cm x 6.1 cm x 3mm. $125.00, plus shipping. Finally, a tsuba I had offered some time ago, and am now re-offering at a significantly reduced rate. The form and motif elements of this piece usually result in an attribution to (ko-)katchushi, with the larger motif elements identified as stylized snowflakes. This tsuba features a strongly-hammered plate and a nakago-ana indicative of the guard being fitted to a fairly broad blade, measuring at 3.1 cm. The tsuba itself is a good size: 8.1 cm x 2.5mm. I would locate this sword guard in the early-Edo Period. $100.00, plus shipping. If a buyer would like all four tsuba, I would reduce the price from $440.00 to $300.00, plus shipping. I will leave this post up through the weekend, as I say, after which I will be returning any unsold pieces to the owner.

Superb. Thanks so much for sharing this. A real treat to see.

Tsuba #2 reduced to $125.00, plus shipping.