vajo

Dale there is differnce between a patinated sekigane and hot oiled or painted copper. I think that collectors know and see the difference.

Are you sure that the right one is a new tsuba reworked? There are much different spots in the right tsuba. Those iato tsuba are made from zinc alloy. It is not an easy task to make such a sukashi after the modling. And the sekigane is patinated on the right one. When it is reworked someone spent a lot of hours of work on it.

Very nice George.

Rank looks like So-Cho (Sergeant Major) would fit to the tassel.

My wife use the kurubara tsubaki for cosmetics. So fill it in such a small bottle and add choji. That small bottle lasts a very long time. You need only some drops on your blade and whip it without additives cleanex or a microfiber, whatever.

put it in a smaller bottle. Like this . Buy a better choji but not one from the pharmacy! Medical choji is not good for metalworks. When you buy sword choji it is mixed ready with other refained oil for fine mechanics. You can mix it with tsubaki 5/1 or 10/1 what you like. If you like the smell make more inside or less what you like.

You can fill a little bottle with tsubaki and put some splashes choji oil in it (more liquid and typical smell). Pure tsubaki (camelia) is very thick. A german manufactur offers a mixed camelia oil with some more liquidity (Dictum company). When using pure camellia oil, it tends to dry on the blade if you don't check on it for a while. Btw tsubaki is the best choice for kitchen knifes. That oil is food safe. You can use it for your hair, lipps, and dry skin. Tsuruta san says tsubaki is salad oil.

Our Richard George? The man with the best knowledge about photographing tsuba? I chattet with him last. He sold me a a nice tsuba. Oh dear. I didn't think he was that old. In my mind he was in 50s. He often post on facebook too. That is very very sad. My condolences.

one of the nicest boshi i've seen so far.

Before starting. There are a lots of fingerprints on the blade. Remove them with isopropanol. And oil the blade. Not the nakago!(Tang). Your sword will rust in hours with that fingerprints. Its not stainless - its carbon steel. Rust and scratches will reduce its value.

what is that?

Good question Jean The blade has plenty of decorative ha-kobore and kirikomi to prove that it is ancient and has been used.

See the signature as an addition. Its an old warrior sword. Its very old.

I like this sword. Nice itame hada and beautiful gunome midare hamon. This sword needs a good polish to see its beauty. I belive its late muromachi. Kissaki was slightly reshaped but nothing to fear off.

Unfortunately, it was 2:00 AM here. It's hard to keep track of when you have to be at work in the morning. Congratulations to Justin – that's a very good prize. Thanks also to Sam for the great show.