Alex A

It was this line below, im just thinking moisture got under the seppa, for some reason, over time. "In your case you need to define if there is the possibility that at the interfaces between the two metals there could be water, maybe condensing humidity or rainy water." To me, it don't look like there is any coating on that tsuba, to me, its maybe plausible there has been some kind of reaction there, especially looking at the surface thats left. Though what do i know lol, its just a proposal for folks more knowledgeable to consider it plausible. I can vaguely remember Ford years ago talking about reactions to steel, though cant remember the details.

Thats it Jean. It was the 2nd picture down, appears to be flaking off in line with where the seppa sat. Maybe its plausible, dont know.

Interesting thread, when reading, for some reason i keep getting cravings for chocolate coated biscuits. Anyways, what i find interesting is where the issue is on the the Tsuba Dan presented at the beginning. Just a thought, could this be down to a reaction between steel and a copper seppa?. Reading online as dont really know what im talking about, folks are saying that when copper and steel are in close contact there can be issues with corrosion under the right circumstances. Though then i wonder why we don't see it more often. Just another thought. Ive pulled this up, perhaps it was sat on a sword in a damp area, dunno Reaction between copper and reinforcing steel - Corrosion engineering | Eng-Tips

Its a pity parts of that dont match, its been re-wrapped etc. For someone wanting a cheap daisho for display only, could be a starting point, though seen a lot better

Its all personal preference . No disrespect to OP, but if you need to ask, and especially on high price items. You should hang on until you know for yourself. Otherwise you might buy something you later regret buying.

Im assuming the cut was probably the last time it was used as a sword. I would certainly put it on the shelf.

Bought a nice big Saotome from Eric many years ago. Did me a very good deal. As mentioned, better contacting him away from ebay. Also worth mentioning that ebay reads your private mails, believe it or not. So a reply you get from a seller may not be the same reply you get through an email off ebay. Known people, me included on 2 occasions to get warnings about trying to do deals off ebay.

I like it Piers, be nice on a little tanto stand. Doubt you would have any trouble selling it. In fact, to me, its the kind of piece that is right for display. One day plan to get a daisho for display purpose only. Im not too bothered about the blades and what to spend as little as possible, but with decent fittings.

Just had time to look into the Kii Ishido and cant really find much about it in comparison to other schools, not even anything about about what the hada looks like in the index of Japanese swordsmiths. A mention of the hamon and midare Utsuri. Looked elsewhere and there is a mention of itame, mokume and masame. Then above from Fred's site, Ko-itame hada mixed with o-hada that is inclined to be masame-hada. Utsuri is seen at times. Its a mixed bag, so to speak. In that respect, its not an easy sword for these games. We are looking at a drawing, i never looked for a drawing to match. The mention of Ko-itame above don't really help when your coming across a mixture of various hada write-ups. If it comes down to looking at a drawing and seeing if i have a drawing to match, this particular type of kantei is not for me. As that was the only way i would have got it. Thanks anyways.

We are not bickering, we are talking. And ive yet to see that this is typical work though wont have time look into it now. Anyone can pull a random sword but hardly fair unless its the usual work of a known smith. Actually, not worth taking part.

I was talking about your kantei Yasuhiro. Not looked into it but got the impression it is not TYPICAL work or is it? Us guys here are not NBTHK and don't have their database In future, before i spend a time doing one of these kantei, the first question i ask will always be "IS THIS KANTEI TYPICAL WORK FOR THE SMITH?" If not, not interested. We all know the smiths we are interested in and that makes it easier. Unknown smiths with non typical work and it becomes a non worth it. Though we all like different stuff, so il leave it there.

Didnt read 238 under 10 minute (within fun and not pain rule) Though according to Freds website above that usually follows the written notes, im not thinking its typical for the school Though late now and just a thought. I am always under the impression that any photographic or like kantei HAS to be the usual type of work for any smith, otherwise its just grey area.

To me, its more Sukehiro than Yasuhiro, so come to the conclusion its gimei

Actually Reading what was written above "Ko-itame hada mixed with o-hada that is inclined to be masame-hada. Utsuri is seen at times." Have you picked a TYPICAL sword Jacques? Sword MUST be Typical, otherwise its just a nonsense exercise and ive wasted 10 minutes plus a bit more

Actually quite interesting. Its only that way when you spend as little time as possible on it, you can look at this stuff for hours on end., I will tell you how i came to the Sukehiro. Knew it was Edo and the mention of "midare" Utsuri stood out. I couldn't remember who exactly was the Edo Utsuri swordsmiths so grabbed Connoisseurs to have a look. Under the heading Midare Utsuri Shinto, Sukehiro was mentioned and thought would take a further look and a lot fit.. Like i said, wasn't spending all day on this and just for fun. Never studied this smith. Blade appears really healthy. Well done to those above in the right department. Oh, and no Jacques, in all the time on here i dont remember you ever talking Ishido, mostly Hizen

Dunno now you add that link Ko-itame hada mixed with o-hada that is inclined to be masame-hada. Utsuri is seen at times.

Im confident that Jussi with his database has the answer, and ive not even looked to check

No experts here, we all guessing. Like i said, just throwing some in without spending all afternoon on it, gave myself 10 mins, now looking again. Check out the slanted yakidashi here, similar to Jacques above but i guess looking closer, not as slanted. Then i just think one of those things, all hand made. Q682. Long Katana by Tsuda Sukehiro, Tokubetsu Hozon - Japanese sword books and tsuba

Maybe Thomas, just looked online and did see oshigata with long Kaeri with hakikake

Giordy, knowing Jacques it wont be Ishido It looks Edo, so taking into account It has Utsuri. Without spending all day and just for fun, something like Munetsugu or Sukehiro.

Anyone seen a tsuba on a tsuba on a tsuba?

Remember Uwe, and from memory someone got it right.

For me, the only Kantei that matters at the end of the day is the "Kantei" you spend your money on ,as in making sure a sword is what it is stated to be, the rest is just a bit of fun. We all know that attempting this type of "kantei" is impossible without books and the internet for 99.9% that come here and unless you have bought a sword from such a school and done the study before hand. Jeez, even NBTHK need lots of references for shinsa. Here, often surprised as many get very close and a few always get it right. Oh, and Jacques. Even with all your collection of books i have seen you way off the mark in "kantei" here, not even in the correct era. So don't talk down to people, you are not the all seeing eye, no one is.

Its the Lanes, where every item has a special story. an item cannot just be an item.

This is why folks shouldn't let friends or anyone else near their collection unsupervised, its the natural sword draw for beginners. Let alone talking all over them, then comes "is it sharp", followed by running a finger down the edge.