Alex A

A few Mino Munenaga listed around Kanbun. Nakago condition matches the age, to me. If you look around you will find Kanbun wakizashi with O-kissaki.

Hi again Darius, this is an excellent starting point for new folk, lots of info http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/12646-advices-for-newbies-buyers-rules-of-thumb/?hl=%2Brules+%2Bthumb In your new photos, looks to be grain (hada), be good to hear what the guys down there think. Mumei (unsigned) Shinto blades are not as accepted as mumei koto, although there are some that say you should not buy mumei full stop and others like me (not so fussy). Yours may have the mei cut off when shortened = more guessing games. Its good that you are able to send back if not happy, I sent my first purchase back, after reading a few books, it opened my eyes. That book was "the samurai sword, a hand book". Its cheap, many other good starter books out there too. The less guess work with a sword purchase, the better. Good luck with the sword.

Not 7 (one handed katateuchigatana), I was thinking suriage (cut down) kanbun shape (9), or even kanbun being made to look like koto, then changed my mind, looks wide at the kissaki, but I could be wrong lol Defo not Nanbokucho Remember, there are always exceptions to the rules. Getting late here, a lot to this hobby, as you can see

And another http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/sugata/shape.htm

Its difficult from pictures Darius, this may be of use, give you bit more of an idea http://www.yamakawadojo.com/the%20japanese%20sword%20historical%20changes%20in%20shape.pdf

Hello, as long as there are no Hagire (cracks), I think you done well, I like the blade. One point though, better to know what its worth BEFORE buying in future. Be careful on Ebay.

Hard to get a grasp of the sori from pictures, but from what I can see, I'm guessing Momoyama/early Edo. Just to add, better buying swords in good polish, swords are expensive to have polished. You could ask a qualified polisher to polish out a window, and get his opinion.

No pics? I can see why you would be tempted by the wakizashi, signed with papers, a good start. (would prefer a recent polish), need pics! I can see why you would be tempted by the Katana. We need more info on it, Measurements, Pics including nakago, bare blade, everything the seller can tell you about it, and pics! Blade quality and condition obviously a major factor. I couldn't say without more info, sorry about that.

Kurt, being honest, I would get my money back, For $300 you could get a decent handmade tsuba. Sometimes when chasing a theme it can take you in all directions, look for decent quality, dont rush. If you dont know what decent quality is then learn, dont guess. If you put a koshirae together using low quality fittings, I guarantee that one day you will look at it and think what an expensive pile of ---- Sorry to be blunt, just dont want to see you wasting your money

NMB, such a wake up slap for newbies LOL

Looks like a bad attempt at a mei.

Good advice, cheers

In light of Gordons post with the documentary that describes stealing off the battlefield. Maybe a reason for some mumei blades is that some Samurai simply liked to keep a low profile with regards to the sword they owned, hence asking for them not to be signed, just a thought.

Thanks Gordon, some interesting points in that documentary. One of which was the thieving off the battlefield, maybe another reason to leave a sword mumei. Cheers.

Thanks Gents. Paul, you hit the nail on the head with the word "mediocre", something I want to avoid. I'm looking to maybe own several nice examples, not go to mad. I like Ko-Katchushi/ Ko-Tosho so might start with one of those. Looking through the "high class Tosugu thread", there were many nicely carved tsuba, I would like something along those lines too. Kevin, of course your right about books. I bought some a while ago but always got side tracked with the swords, be good to get back into those as a start for some knowledge building. Look forward to it, hopefully wont end up with 10,000 Cheers.

I seem to be getting more interested in tsuba these days, but a bit wary. It starts with one, then two or three, then before you know it you have a dozen, then maybe dozens or more. There are so many to choose from, from Tosho to Kinko to Yagyu to Kanayama etc etc. So what do you guys do?, maybe move one on when you buy one? (not easy when you get attached sometimes) or do you just keep going? As with swords, maybe there is a quality over quantity approach which eventually kicks in. Read about the guy with 10,000 swords a while ago, must be tsuba collectors out there who don't know when to draw the line. What sensible advice would you give to a new collector of tsuba who wants to buy/choose wisely?

Noooooo! i like rabbits lol Bamboo it is then

Hi Grey, not as much fun (ive sobered up now lol) but i was thinking along the lines of bamboo yesterday, the two circles possibly being a cut section of bamboo. Not too sure about the leaves being a good representation of bamboo leaves though. Tricky one, but more like those big floppy ears you see on Kinko rabbit menuki bamboo leaves

Haha thanks very much Pete. peski wabbit, an appropriate ending, thats all folks lol

Cheers Pete, is that what is? Wabbit theme haha

One last effort of photography to try and show this tsuba as it should be, hopefully shows an all over dark patina with tiny bits of oxidation. Photography not a strong point. Cheers.

Thanks Richard, appreciated.

As interesting as all this is, would anyone dare a stab at any particular school?, anything?. The tsuba i did not purchase so whether or not its fire damaged, has no consequence. But i suppose if folk want to talk fire damage, may as well let it run its course. I did notice yesterday that Ford had a like with what Grey said, so i take it he agrees with Grey. For what its worth (not much again lol), i dont think its fire damaged either. Thanks

Hi Bazza, I did notice the patina on this tsuba was on the dark side, I have added a macro pic to compare to another tsuba. Difficult to take pics at my home, bit on the shady side. In hand, the tsuba surface is a bit on the rough side compared to others, the macro pics blow this up to another level The tsuba looks better in hand, but maybe there is a reason the tsuba looks dark, the rough surface does not help. Maybe your right, maybe remnant lacquer?, difficult to tell, even had the eye glass on it yesterday.

I lean towards nihonto with a dodgy polish. Is that oil residue on the blade?. Koshirae makes me suspicious.