MarkB

David, sorry if I wasn't clear. But, if this tsuba were mounted on a sword, then the little nick in the mimi would be consistent with a block from the mune of the blade. not from the ha or the ura or omote sides. (edit: it's only a small detail, and probably isn't very important)

Thanks, Junichi. Well, that's even more to think about. here are a few more pics to hopefully show some details of the metal surface and one showing (maybe) even an "honourable battle scar) . . this would be on the mune side if on a mounted blade.

You guys continue to amaze me. Steve, the pic you posted does look very like mine, indeed. So, the shinchu zogan on mine has most probably (probably definitely) fallen out years ago. One further question. I note that in both Steve's example and in mine, the fine brass inlay follows, to some extent, the outline of the kozuka ana. So, if the kozuka ana is a later addition, does it follow that the fine brass inlay around it is also later? I know its condition is poor, but I'm glad that my tsuba was at least interesting to you. Thanks again to all. I'll see if I can get one or two more shots at an angle and in natural light when possible.

Thanks, Thomas. It's a bit of a puzzle for me, as there still remains some fine lines of brass inlay. I wonder if the cut-outs or shallow depressions were originally filled with some other material?

Thanks, Doug. I don't see those cross-hatched engraved lines used to anchor inlay and I see traces of lacquer? I do like this piece and for me it expresses that falling-apartness quality. Sabi, I think it is called.

Thanks for replying, David. In the last picture, I think I see remnants of black lacquer. Now, would this be on a surface previously occupied by brass inlay? And if so, does this mean the inlay dropped out a very long time ago? I'm intrigued by this tsuba, even in this condition, and would love to know more about it.

Hello, all. I have a tsuba on which I'm seeking the board members' opinions. Specifically, has it lost some large areas of shinchu zogan? Any other comments would be welcomed, of course. It measures 73mm wide X 75mm high and is rather thin at just under 3mm thick. I think I can see traces of black lacquer on the surface and it feels very smooth to the touch.

To me, it looks like a genuine olde tanto which has had its' edge near the handle ground down over time due to polishing. This is a not uncommon feature of older swords (as far as I know). The buffing and therefore the obscuration of features like hamon and hada is also regrettably not uncommon in my experience. Hank, I think it best to take your sword to someone who knows what they are looking at and get an in-hand opinion. Someone at sword shows or Japanese sword clubs would be able to offer a better opinion as it is difficult to make a definitive assessment from photos.

I wonder if any knowledgeable person would care to comment on the differences between RonR's tsuba and my own? I don't see so much kamakura bori style on mine and think it is later.

Hi Ron. Surprise, surprise. I have one which is very similar to yours. Approx 70mm wide and just a little taller. Just thought you might like to see it for comparison. (edit to revise size. it's 70mm, not 60mm as orig. posted. sorry)

I have spoken to quite a few (Australian) war veterans who served in New Guinea and/or in the Pacific and they tell me (quote) "When it was over, we were all lined up and marched past a pile of Japanese swords and we were each told to take two and then go home". While I am not certain, I suspect that most swords captured by the Australian forces were issued to the servicemen as souvenirs or trophies and that very few, if any remain in storage here.

It is a strange thing, but nihonto, designed to be tough and durable things, are in fact rather fragile objects when in full Japanese polish. The smallest fingerprint or scratch can destroy the aesthetics of the item and even the investment spent in polishing them. I live in Australia where even shinsa is not so readily available, let alone anyone qualified to polish. So, I won't have it polished but will probably end up selling it to someone who has more knowledge (and money) than I have and then they can decide to have it polished or not. I confess that I had hoped it was older than 16thc, but them's the breaks. Thank you all for your information.

Thanks, John. Do you know any more about this smith or where I could go to look up more info on him? MarkB

Thanks Veli. Any idea of its' age? Mark B

More pics: Mark B.

Hello all, this is my first post here and I'll start by thanking you all for such a great forum. I'd like to submit this tanto for discussion and hopefully find out who made it and when. So far I think the signature reads Suke mori but I'm not sure of that second character. Overall length in koshirae is 49 cm. Blade length from mune machi to kissaki is 30.5 cm Blade is uchi sori. Hada is unclear due to the state of polish and the hamon appears mainly sugu ha. The tsuba and kodzuka were added after purchase by my father and I think he also made the kodzuka blade. Hoping these pics are good enough for you to form an opinion. Thanks in advance. Mark Bedford