Alex A

Tadatsuna2 Ps, not a copycat

That's what I thought Peter, Mino. Shortened.

Hi Martin, it was on a Japanese site back around last August, didn't last long before it sold. He had a lot to live up to by way of his father, a good sword though, in ko chogi-midare. Ive had a quick look, not there, but there are a few other examples.

Sometimes they can make sense, an example. I recently came across a papered ubu mumei Shinshinto Naokatsu 2nd katana, the work was just like Naokatsu 1st. Signed papered Naokatsu 1st katana = £6500 ++ If I remember correctly, the unsigned Naokatsu 2nd, I could have got for £2800, if id have had spare cash at that time I would have bought it. All about the money, sometimes need to make exceptions. Good signed Koto are out of my league financially, I am now looking at Shinshinto and even Shinsakuto, so much more info. Something about a date on a sword, adds something special, always been partial to decent signed and dated Sue Bizen in the past. As for Ubu mumei, lots of theories, my latest of which is that some are not signed, simply because they didn't need to be, simples. Two man job, busy forge, can see it being a proper chore.

I stumbled across some pics I saved from the NMB a good while ago, I cant see the OP,s tsuba being sat on any of them, too nice, but who knows. I cant seem to find the thread where these pics came from, but here they are anyway. If I remember correctly they came by way of Eric T, not sure which book it is though.

Looks an interesting book, so ordered myself one, cheers for that Peter. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kendo-Culture-Sword-Alexander-Bennett/dp/0520284372

I like Peters idea on a change in the way a tsuba is mounted, must explain a few with this odd shape. Interesting thread.

Always the odd exception to a rule, maybe. I have a tsuba here from the Muromachi period, still to this day I'm not sure what it had been sat on before it went back to use on a regular sword, measures 8.7cm. Possibly used on a thick naginata or a type of armour smasher, a bit like a regular sword, but shorter, straighter, with a thick nakago.I forget the name. Rare. We can but speculate.

Hard to judge from that photo Sergei, whats the inside of the nakago-ana like ? From that pic, still looks crisp, as though it was adjusted more recently then I first thought. Some patina loss too, around that area.

I can only speculate Sergei, but perhaps your tsuba was fitted to an armour smashing type of weapon at some time. Someone else may have a better idea than me.

Especially Ebayers

Thanks for pointing that out, it explains a recent cock up whilst returning a sword to Japan.

Hi James, will never know for sure but can speculate, perhaps sword owner ?, will never know. Its a good sword by a Ryo Wazamono smith.

This sword has testers name, as mentioned above, he worked around Genroku I get what what your saying about inscriptions from nobodies.

This the sword https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-yamato-daijyo-fujiwara-masanori-cutting-test Page 275 of Tameshigiri, by Markus. Sword tester by the name of Hattori Kan, emon. Its my understanding that NBTHK wont give a sword Hozen if they think a cutting test is fake, but what do I know. I looked at this sword a while ago, got the impression the gold was gone and someone had splashed in some gold colour, but that's something you would need to confirm with the Aoi. Not the end of the world in my humble opinion, if you want a Katana with a cutting test with all the bells and whistles, they don't come cheap. Main thing is the sword though, obviously.

I think this is the reason I jumped to the conclusion, I was looking into late shinshinto Gassan the other day and noticed your name in one of the threads, so ASSUMED you was buying along those later lines. ASSUMPTION being the mother of all. Nice blade.

Have you got any more pictures Robert?, full blade, nakago?

I kinda jumped in there with both feet with the Gassan, when I saw the Hada that was my first thought, although first thoughts are often wrong. Looks good, I bet you cant wait to see it in hand.

Very nice, which Gassan ?

I hope Mr Jones found what he was looking for, RIP,

Its a risk, especially whats under that rope handle? For all we know, someone may have welded a diamond shape steel tang on it, big risk.

I like this one better.

No , I was intending to show you that you can get sword hilts/guards or whatever already made, and I'm ASSUMING if you look hard enough you will find them in STEEL or whatever, I didn't look hard enough. The saya could be late Edo, and again when I look at it, it could be 1985, like the one I have upstairs on my Ninja sword. I personally could not spend that much money on the sword, perhaps a polisher bought it, sees some profit. I watched a (potential) Sukesada Katana ending this morning, was half tempted, but as always with Ebay I didn't bother in the end, I find it too risky. I have trouble buying swords with clear pictures and a shinsa result

If not home made Luis, possibly bought somewhere, something along these lines maybe. http://usaknifemaker.com/knife-handle-parts/handle-hardware/pommels-and-guards-c-95-178/guard-small-14-th-x-62-w-x-3-l-slot-measurements-16-w-x-1-10-l.html Ps, looking closer at the saya, don't look so old, or worn.

I think blade is "possibly" genuine Saya genuine Habaki genuine, not sure about shakudo, I think possibly sprayed/lacquered black Everything else home made, including tsuba. I get the impression is was brought back by a vet and messed about by kids or whatever, parts lost, then ended up Mad Max style. Speculation.