DirkO

+1 - Paul's very knowledgeable, as is Jean - so it's safe to trust their advice

Some additional resources: In the WL Behrens Catalogue (1966) Volume 3 - Page 112: 2860 Wakizashi, blade 15J ins. long, Bizen Osafune Kunimitsu, mounted in a guri lacquer scabbard and haft, wooden tsuba Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc 1981 Item 39 - Rare Wood Tsuba, 19th Century, heavily carved plate, carved with ato ana, applied with a puff fish in bone, signed ________

Hi Markus, You changed the display text but not the actual URL of the footer

Hi Fleck, try the Mishina school, lots of Yoshimichi there, however your kanji michi seems off....

Couldn't find much:

John and Jussi are right with the kanji "sha" 冩. I have it on one of my pieces as well.

Hi Geraint, Thanks for the info, but I don't think this is a naginata (yes I know, it has a naginata hi) - because it lacks curvature and ends more in a stub? Just goes to show that smiths were very creative, even in form. Just noticed I put in the wrong link on top. http://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/197962597

How would this be correctly identified? Kogarasu maru on a stick? I'm intrigued by these more utilitarian formats you sometimes find, like that Saneo from Tsuruta. They usually seem to resemble farmer tools, which is to be expected. http://page24.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q67341621

For comparison - here is a horimono on a papered Taikei Naotane: And here are some papered mei: I think the conclusion is easy enough to make....

Bought dozens of books from him, a stand up guy! I hope he really is on his Bridge of Dreams now - RIP Craig

http://www.seiyudo.com/tu-030115.htm Also a very similar piece - recently sold seeing it was on my wanted list :-) Did you purchase this one, Michael?

Hmmm looks like Rokkasen - for more info, see here: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/2530-interesting-gassan-sadakazu-with-poetry/?hl=rokkasen&do=findComment&comment=20355

Should be Tango, not Tamba and the signature looks good ...

Chris and Moriyama-san, Thanks for your help! I could puzzle most of it together, but I like my documentation to be correct. It's a pre-Edo Tosho tsuba. Not Edo Tosho, not Ko-Tosho either, but somewhere in between I think.

Hi, I've recently purchased a tsuba, it came with a hakogaki. I think I have most of it figured out, but some things still elude me. Any help would be great! A: 鐡地 - tetsuji (iron based tsuba) B: 無銘 – mumei (unsigned) C: 丸形 – maru gata (round shape) D: 丸耳 – maru mimi (round edge) E: 輪違 小透 – wachi-gai ko-sukashi (double interlocked rings small openwork) F: 径貮寸六分五厘 – kei 2 sun 6 bu 5 rin (diameter 7,95 cm) G: 右刀匠鉄xxx – migi tosho tetsu x x x (authenticated as Tosho steel x x x) H: 昭和四十五年六月吉日 – Showa yon-ju go nen roku gatsu kichijitsu (a lucky day in June of Showa 45th year (1970)) I: 在耶 - Saro + kao (pre-Edo “2nd class” Kao)

I'm with Guido on this - 1st year it's 220 euro - after that it's only 120 yearly: http://www.nbthk.net/NBTHKe/Membership.html The level of tsuba that was presented last time was astonishing (8 tsuba from the NBTHK book Markus is selling), also every time Juyo or better quality blades to look at. And Herr Hagenbusch is very forthcoming and always willing to help explain the finer points and differences. I've only been there 3-4 times now, but my learning and understanding has taken leaps forward.

From the connoiseur book with some explanation.

real pity I can`t make, spending my day off in hospital in stead (nothing overly serious) - would be very thankfull if some of the French membership can post some pictures maybe?

I for one hope he has a speedy recovery so he can continue to drive the nihonto community and appreciation forward in his own inimitable way!

Whoops, mixed up our 2 top translators - sry Koichi-san! All credit to you reading the name and coming up with kanji

Morita-san, it was a team effort, because without your kanji, I never would've found it. It looked like a fuda, so I suspected a Hon'ami link and checked Markus' book

Could this be a kanteisho by polisher Sugimoto Shigeaki (杉本薫秋) who studied under Honami Tenrai (天籟)?

Ron, Fujishiro's says that Naotsugu refers to Mishina Naomichi - this is in fact Naomichi Mishina (1716) where it is stated that he was called Naotsugu. This is the nidai Naomichi and not Kanemichi who signed Naomichi early in his career. The 1681 on this unfamiliar origami seems to be ok if the general working time was 1716 and he signed Naotsugu in his (very) early career. Kanemichi shodai, who also signed Naomichi in his early days, is list 1648 which is too early to be your Tenwa guy. Also see nihontocraft.com: Naomichi, 3rd generation, 1716, Settsu, Settsu ju Naomichi 摂州住直道, Oite Banshu Mishina Tango (no) Kami Fujiwara Naomichi 於播州 三品 丹後守藤原直道. Son of the nidai Tango (no) Kami Kanemichi, early name Naotsugu 直次. Lived in Osaka of Setsu and moved to Banshu. Worked in similar styles as his father.

Fascinated by the “wild highland bird” quote – I did a bit of looking and the raichou (雷鳥) comes in view, more so seeing it shares a kanji with the name 山鳥毛 Maybe a clever wordplay? (or more likely - my imagination! ) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Ptarmigan