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I agree that the 1st one is a beauty and attributed to Ko-Shoami (even though the URL says Myochin) : http://www.shibuiswords.com/EDLmyochin.html As is the 3rd one (Ko-Shoami) : http://www.shibuiswords.com/EDLko-shoami.html The 2nd one I just saw listed on flea bay and it struck me as similar (size and motif though differing in metal quality, perhaps?)

I now have this Tsuba in hand and I noticed what appears to be a cross on the front side of the roof of the building (temple?) Could that be a Christian cross?

Attached are 3 similarly designed Tsubas (1, 2, and 3). Would you say they are from the same school? The middle one does have a small amount of inlay...

Thanks for the tips, but yeah, it does look like that. I noticed an old thread with a similar looking Tsuba and there was some debate between Katchushi vs Umetada on that one : http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/7313-ko-sukashi-tsuba-with-amida-yasuri-what-school/ Also, would a guesstimate of age be early-Edo? Or possibly earlier? Dimensions : - width: approx. 7.6cm (2 63/64in) - thickness: approx. 3.9cm (1 17/32in) - nakago ana: approx. 0.91cm (23/64in) x 3.1cm (1 7/32in) - weight: 104g

Wondering what the yellow stuff is on this one and if it can be removed (using a bone) ? Also, would you say Katchushi school?

I find myself similarly stumped on this one. Any thoughts? It does have some Owari characterisics as well. Though it appears to be almost oval shaped... Diameter 7.1cm × 6.6cm thickness 0.6cm weight 76g

Pete - I agree it is interesting though it does not seem as "airy" in design as many other classic Owari pieces. And maybe that is because it is more modern. The overall chunkiness of the design also hurts it, I think. It just lacks that elegance. When comparing to many other Owari pieces, I feel it to be a rather below average one.

This time with image attached!

Mauro - Interesting point indeed. Arnold - I had a similar feeling that this was an honest and old one. I have not aquired it yet, here is another angle and wondered if I should be concerned about the blacker spot to the north-east of the seppa-dai? What would you make of that?

Few more pics might help... Traces of black in the first pic, maybe traces of old lacquer?

Arnold, Good tips. Though I am not sure how I would tell the difference between am authentic one versus a revival piece. Maybe the character of the metal plate??

Thanks for the info Mauro, your second one which I assume was Tosho looks very similar to the one I posted. Would you think the one I posted is Tosho?

Here is a similar one from Grey Doffin's site. He has it listed as Katchushi. Dimensions : 7.2 x 7.5 cm. 5.5 mm at the rim, 3 mm on the plate

What characteristics of Katchushi's determine it's age? For example, what do you look for that would classify it as Ko-Katshushi vs an Edo period Katchushi. Attached is a Tsuba to use as an example, would you say this is a Ko-Katchushi or a Katchushi? Or neither? Dimensions : Length 7 cm / Width 6.7 cm / Center thickness : 2 mm My initial thought was Ko-Katchushi but the flower shape is a bit different then what I found in Sasano examples, maybe pointing to something more modern? Also, it is smaller than the Sasano examples...

Found a Tsuba with the same type of net-like amida yusiri. Have we figured out what school did this type of work? Diameter 6.4 cm Thickness .3 cm

Thanks Mauro for sharing that. Attached is my Tsuba's signature placed next to the ones from the book.

Yeah, I purchased #2. And then I found a very handsome and I "think" very old Tenpo (I assume?) Muromachi maybe? What do you think of this one? Calling it number 9... Dimensions Height: about 6.9cm Width: about 6.4cm Thickness: about 5mm Curious as a I see maybe 4 stamps on front but no stamps on back...

Uwe - I see what you mean though I can make out the 1st 4 symbols then it is iffy. The 5th symbol might be the 門 ? If you read the thread Jean linked, Steve posted this : Interestingly, the signature of my Tsuba seems similar to the one from that thread. Also, I found a signed Tsuba on another site with that missing symbol. Maybe that was just how he shorthanded it? If anyone else knows where we can get a clear example image of this signature on a Tsuba, it might helkp!

I was orginally thinking Ko-Shoami but the squared rim has me thinking Owari. Not sure on that one either. Figured someone here would know.... Dimensions width length of about 7.0cm × horizontal 7.0cm thickness 0.5cm Weight 85g

BaZZa - I totally missed that...

Jean - Yeah, I can understand that. What drew me to this Tsuba was the carving and scenery, the other features just provide a bit more interest to the piece, IMO (the Toda Hikozaemon Mei and the Amida Yasuri). The Tsuba you linked to is really nice one for sure, I am sure the buyer was very happy to get it.

Jean - Yeah, I noticed the peculiar lines radiating from the center and wondered what the heck they were? Thanks for providing the term so I could look it up. Also, that is an interesting thought that the decoration might be a later addition. That makes it rather unique and gives it a bit of a story. If this were the case, wouldn't the quality of iron show more age and character? Pat

I forgot to include the dimensions of the last 3 tsuba : Tenpo 6 - 8.4 x 7.6 x 0.3 cm Tenpo 7 - 7.7 x 7.15 x 0.5 cm Tenpo 8 - 5.3 x 6 x unknown width

I found a few more I am calling 6,7,8 with dimensions below. 6 and 7 look pretty decent to me. I wonder if either of those are really that much better than say, number 2 from my 1st post. I threw in the last one that I am calling the dark horse. The pic is poor and the stamps a bit faint, but the 2 outer ana shapes are not typical. Not being an expert do those holes signify anything. Also, you can see the folds in the rim though it is a rather ugly-ish looking tsuba. Thoughts?

Attached are images of the front and back. If that helps at all...