Alex A

Hi Grev, aye, i was looking into San Diego tsuba, write-ups like this, https://tsubakansho.com/2019/04/18/san-diego-tsuba/ Mine is similar, but copper of some sorts, Suaka/yamagane, not sure to be honest. Difficult to age, the design seems a bit more complex (as in depth of carving) than those described as "San Diego". Nakago-ana looks to have some age. I dunno, may be later,. Lovely patina, would look nice mounted, Saw it in the sales section here a while ago, cant believe no one bought it at the price that was being asked. Anyways, like it, cute haha

Thank you

Looks like one i just bought. What age would you give it Grev?

Some good learning in this thread about hada Id leave it open Maybe if folk could just leave it to hada

Let us know what they said

Think we need a swordsmith on the board to give us the run down now and again Someone must know one Very curious about this swords construction At the minute feels like too many customers guessing what is in their curry lol If i was to speculate, would say same ko-itame process as usual but then throw in a few more folds at the end to create these "whirlpools" or what ever you want to call them. But what do i know, just guessing.

Understand what your saying Jacques. Entitled to your point of view, i guess folk can refer to it how they interpret it. Ps, think there is only so far we can go with discussion on some subjects, you would need years of working along side a smith to get your head around certain aspects. All fun discussion though, no harm having a bash, being wrong or right, who cares. Cheers

Jacques, you cant deny there is a pattern in that jigane ?, whether not mokume in your opinion, its there . If it was the norm in Ko-itame, we would see it in all blades, which we dont. see below, any burls ?

Think Jacques will stick to his guns, as there is not tiny burls everywhere mixed in with the ko-itame. That dont change the fact the smith manipulated the steel (ko-itame) to add a larger burl pattern. Hence why someone mentioned a kantei point on a few occasions. Pity we dont have a time machine to go back and ask him how he did manipulate/fold the steel to create that large pattern in the blade, and others like Daniels blade. Maybe in a book somewhere.

Its whatever you want it to be

The "go to" guy for good quality polish within the UK, was recommended a lot over the years by those that knew him. I only spoke to him on a few occasions, seemed a real gent and was very helpful Sad to hear. Condolences to his family and friends.

Good thread this Funny too.

You have it in hand, many clues to narrow down age To help us Full length with image? Pic of jigane, Itame, masame? mokume?, dark? , rough? light? etc Nakago image? showing jiri. Looks to hikagi yasurime Slightly shortened machi-okuri Narrowing it down to one name man though, very doubtful Maybe length and sugata and the fact its maybe machi okuri will lead you to nearer You need look at the full picture, including the ana Difficult by what is available Lots of info online and in books to assist

Just looking at this page with some documented swords of the 47 Ronin. 6 out of 33 with matching names to their 2 swords. (if i count correctly) http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/ronin.htm

Hello, compare the work to that of Kaga Letsugu Just an observation but the nakago dont look real old, there was a Letsugu working in 1865. Its difficult just using the images Maybe some clear images of the blade and nakago-jiri may help folk come up with something.

Might be wrong and mistaken, but memory reminds me Mariusz was maybe selling something like this a few months ago. Not as flash as the one above though,

Maybe just tell them to keep the tsunagi, if it becomes a weirder issue that is

Some may find this interesting too, same site. http://www.ksky.ne.jp./~sumie99/effectofyakiire.html

Ridiculous predicament yet again Hope its sorted soon.

Some good info on this site. Good when info comes from folk that really know blades, they make and polish them, whatever. Not like some folk that just regurgitate what is written in books over and over again and try and fit everything into convenient boxes [...} Good site, cheers.

Small world. The sword Ray presented i used to own. Seen some polishing, but was a good blade when made.

Some dealers only sell items without papers, take the Lanes Armoury in the UK as an example. Rarely you see a papered blade. Nothing wrong with that as long as the write-up does not mislead. As in Talking about a blade being genuine when its obviously not. In Ebay, always be wary, even with papered blades. Also, assume non papered blades on Ebay, from Japan especially, to have failed Shinsa. Still, not every blade needs papers. Hope that helps.

Just took another look over this blade, think its Mino Without spending too long on it, think it maybe one of the schools from the early Edo Jigane reminds me Sue Seki, Itame, and wouldn't be surprised to find Masame towards the Mune. Nakago Ha-agari Kuri-Juri..............Used by Mino smiths Yasurime Katte-Sagari ............." Gunome mix .........." Mekugi ana looks to be drilled. Quick look at the Index and there were a few Tadayoshi (non hizen)that signed a 2 character mei, one actually came from Mino, maybe worth looking more into it before having anything removed. Cheers,

Could be a fun exercise this Brian, First impressions of the nakago remind me of Bizen The Mei reminds me of tourist swords and im thinking its added later. It dont look Shinshinto to me. Lots of wear at Hamachi. When i get time wouldnt mind a bash, as plenty on blade to have a look at. Cheers

Another mention on this example, again Bizen. Aoi state "The distinctive feature of the Jigane is its spiral pattern." They describe this jigane as Ko itame with Mokume. On this particular example i do see small burl (although i need glasses lol) and a similar rather large whirlpool pattern (near nakago on right shot of blade) Interesting thread, cheers. https://sword-auction.com/en/product/4389/af18273-脇差-造大慶直胤（花押）-天保十一年仲秋/