Alex A

Congrats to you and the new owner. Proof good pics can help sell a sword, your last 4 pics cleared it up for me.

Something about this tsuba, would describe it as cute. It would look amazing mounted on a tanto with fittings of the same excellent patina that it has acquired over many years. Feels heavy for its size, i guess its made of yamagane/copper. Wouldn't be surprised if it was something like Bronze. Difficult to date for me, seen similar tsuba with dates around 1600. The nakago-ana has the aged look where it appears to have been altered a few times. The carving of the 24 petals is deep and the design really stands out. Size approximately 57mm x 54mm x 4mm thick, feels chunky for its size. Weight 74g Plenty of threads and info about Kiku tsuba. The only reason im selling is i have a tanto to pay for in September, though if it dont sell il be happy to keep. Pictures taken outside in daylight Tanto tsuba can make good purchases, imagine the price this would be if it was large. £95 Shipping, ask.

One mentioned here, Russ. Smith having a go at one, though will be a mix by the looks of it https://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/ns2.html

I could have listed it better, Piers. Took the lazy route. Live and learn.

Never heard them called that before, but i get it SOLD, thanks

On hold.

Will make a significant discount which is well under what i paid. It seems we used to have a lot more folks interested in such tsuba than we do now. So £150 No offers, will pull it from the sales list soon.

Great smith, good deal. Reckon a picture in sunlight may help with the sale.

Weak spot on a blade, they break in that spot Sukenaga good though

Thinking about that, i cant imagine quenching an half inch thick blade and expecting much sori. It also makes me start to think about how the hamon is so defined. Its more defined than that of high quality smiths working on typical thickness blades. That would be one hell of a blade to create, you would think the smith would be proud enough to finish off with a neat yasurime and a mei. Anyways, it is interesting and i will genuinely be glad for those that called it right, should it be right. To me its an oddball Some of us always err on the side of caution and look at items with suspicion, that's a natural process with antiques, i find.

Its getting into Kubutowari type territory, really unusual. Interesting though, thanks

Thanks Tony for the extra picture. To me, the nakago looks odd. As in not too old, a lack of natural patina is the best way to describe it. Also, ive never heard of a sword so thick, which is also odd.

Maybe in hand, the nakago will look better Though what i see here in this image does not strike me as a typical 160 year old sword,

Cant remember ever a situation here where im looking at a saya to verify the age of a sword Thanks for adding the koshirae, must admit, the saya makes it more convincing but thats not enough. The tsuka has been rewrapped and the same is not original either, perhaps a later tsuka. The tsuba looks awkward on this koshirae. Anyways, its not easy judging swords from images, but do you ever get that feeling when you see a blade and something just feels off. Mainly the nakago for me, dont like the kissaki and as Jean points out above. odd.

Ian, there are so many oddball swords out there that don't fit in boxes. Not convinced that sword is 19th century.