Splidge

Thanks Piers, very quick of the mark I had got the Kashu Ju but the rest just looked a right muddle :? Again many thanks. Frank

Gentlemen, I am having difficulty translating this mei, any help would be most gratefuly accepted. Kind regards Frank

Gentlemen all, Thanks for you help, not what I expected at all, but you learn something new each time you vist :D many thanks again Frank

Hi all, I am in need of your assistance in translating this saya gaki that is written on a yari shirasaya that I have, any and all help would be most appreciated. regards Frank

Thanks Ed, I cant say I've seen one like that either, but i'll keep my eyes open! regards Frank

Hello all. I sent an e-mail to roningallery the web site in the first link to find out if as Chis thought that tsuba was indeed iron, well I have an answer and Chris was correct, In the e-mail I recieved from roningallery he also pointed me in the direction of another tsuba, if you click on the link then on tsuba at the top of the page then scroll down almost to the bottom you will find tsuba TS172 and youve guessed it, yes it's a brass Toshimasa dragon. Regards Frank

Hi Ed, that sounds interesting any chance you could scan that picture, for those of us who do not have that book. Thats another book to add on to my list regards Frank

Ok last one honest Well may be regards Frank

4 of mine regards Frank

Hi Lee, Yes they are similar: Unsigned = 6.4 by 5.5 and 30g Masanao = 6.5 by 5.5 and 39g Toshimasa = 6.0 by 5.0 and 26g Toshimasa = 6.8 by 5.6 and 33g Toshimasa = 5.9 by 4.8 and 49g This the description with the 3rd Toshimasa “Tsuba Size:59mm x 48mm x 4mm, 49g Nakago Size: 23mm x 7mm Material: Yellow copper Signature: Kofu jyu Toshimasa Technique: Migakiji Aishishibori Sukashi Decoration: Uryu zu (dragon)” Sorry thought I’d miss counted I have 5 of this style. Are they cast? I’ll have to be honest and say I don’t know. When you have them all in front of you, you can see that there are differences between each one. Ed, saw your brass dragon an age ago and just saved it as a favourite so when I clicked on it, it just popped up hence the link to it, never had any problems with spam or phishing from your site though. Regards Frank

Hi thanks for your input, I have a couple of this type of tsuba well ok I have 4; the first one I bought had this to say about it: “A Bushu-Ito School sentoku tsuba in the shape of a stylized dragon. The signature reads: Bushu ju Masanao. According to Susuma Kashima’s ‘Nihon Soken Kinko Nenpyo’, this Masanao was a student of Masayoshi, the 4th generation master of the Bushu-Ito school from Edo). The condition of this well made tsuba from an old Dutch private collection is good, with minor scratching and an old patina. The tsuba measures 6,5 cm in height and 5,5 cm in width and has a thickness of 5 mm. 19th century. 1800-1849 “ This particular piece came from the Glerum Auctioneers in Amsterdam and was part of a lot that had three tsuba contained in it. The other three, well one is not signed and the other two are signed by Toshimasa none of these are made from Iron and all were bought from reputable dealers. Another piece of information I have found says that you should find a similar example in the book H L Joly Nauton page 89 N 1212 but this I cannot confirm as I do not have the said book. Regards Frank

Thanks Chris, I understand the "different artist's but different materials? I see that one has a darker patina, sorry to seem a bit thick but how do you tell? regards Frank

Hi all First of all let me say I have nothing to do with either site nor am I intending to buy these items. http://www.japancollection.com/Japanese ... =3&ppp=100 http://yakiba.com/tsuba_brassdragon.htm I know very little about tsuba but looking at these two items the only difference I can see is the Mei, so why the difference in price? Or is that just it the Mei makes the price so different when aesthetically they look exactly the same. Kind regards Frank

John sorry to hear of your folly with the reproductions, I hope you do get it resolved. It seems that every once in a while any body can be caught out, at least in my case I have been in contact with the seller and she is going to make a full refund, a lesson learned me thinks any one have a good book for beginners about tsuba's? Many thanks for your advice gentlemen. Kind regards Frank

Hi gents. Need some advice about this peice I bought recently, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWNX:IT I have to say I bought it because I liked it Tonight I was looking through evilbay again as one does and I came across this peice http://cgi.ebay.com/Traditional-Copper- ... 483eafc9f0 what are the chances of that happening My question is do I have the right to return the piece I bought in good faith in that the seller had good feed back and I guess I took her decription to be honest. Thanks in advance for your sympathy and mocking words of wisdom Frank

Thank you very much for the info David I dont have the Haynes book so cant look at that info but Hawley's only lists 1 Tsunenao. I will get some photo's done and post the tsuba for comments as soon as I have some time, again many thanks. Frank

Thanks for quick response Chris, I was closeish thoug,fancy reading it the wrong way up

Hi gents, I have just recieved this tsuba today, have I got the mei correct as Naotsune? Many thanks in advance Frank

Hi all, really interesting thread, had never heard of Namban steel before reading this, this link might be of interest, a PDF by The JSSUS Oct 2009. Namban Steel and Hizen swords: A provocative Hypotheses. http://www.naippe.fm.usp.br/hobby/Namba ... t_fina.pdf regards Frank.

Hi loiner1965 Try this link. http://www.samurai-archives.com/crest1.html Kind regards Frank

Good luck and all the very best to you Henry on the new venture. Kind regards Frank

Hi all, with regards to the import of swords into the UK, would there be any foreseen problems with a Naginata size approximatley 16 - 1/4 inches / 42cm's from tip to notch, coming through customs from the States. Regards Frank

Well, not a bad Chinese fake price, £295.50, come on know own up who bought it

Kyle I take it that its this one ? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/handmade-signed-j ... 240%3A1318 Good write up, although I doubt if any or all of it is true, If you have bid well lets hope you get out bid regards Frank

Hi Thanks Reinhard and Jacques for the comparisons but even to my untrained, and uneducated eye they seem completely different in style and context, and of course the different layout of the kanji, this would lead me to the conclusion that they are different smiths. Unknown smith it is then. Unless, some one knows different of course? Regards Frank