Spartancrest

As Dan has said this one is a cast copy. There are many getting about. The cast in "tagane-ato" punch marks around the nakago-ana are a giveaway in this design. Two sizes, the smaller has different punch marks The second one [which is upside down] is snow flakes on Wagasa [umbrellas] This one only has the one umbrella The three plain guards may be standard types that were often sent out to be embellished by other craftsmen like this one: Signature: 国廣 (Kunihiro) Is there a signature on the squarish middle one - other side?

Yes sometimes described as a Chidori, or any number of other birds. I wonder if there is any significance to which way the head of the bird points? The "Chidori" and the last bird here would face to the right when mounted, whereas the doves/pigeon etc point to the left in the examples previously shown.

A common Miochin school design, often with an inscription/poem to Hachiman around the nakago-ana [Hachiman is the deity of war or warriors - his "messangers" were doves] Sometimes seen as a sparrow or even a hawk. The small dents at the top of the tang hole [nakago-ana] are called tagane-ato and are a sign that the guard has been fitted to a blade in the past [good sign] The design of the wings is a little unusual but there are others like it. I agree with Mauro that the first is very likely Shoami the mix of inlays with incised carving is typical. The guard looks like it may have been in a fire, the rough surface I am sure was not intended. I doubt the signature can be read it is too far gone. Welcome Tristan to NMB - and Merry Christmas

Yes the nakago-ana and both hitsu are badly done - - not something I would fall for unless I needed a paperweight [of which I already have plenty! ]

Compare it to this [cast?] iron example https://www.jauce.com/auction/c1212973939

Just throwing this Namban tsuba in this thread - Namban not Hizen, you can plainly see the hitsu have been cut in after the guard was made. Someone has not looked after the poor thing! Lissenden would not be pleased. Interesting to see the indented/recessed "seppa-dai" on the ura. https://www.jauce.com/auction/v1212875887

A scientific way to "clone" more!

About 800 in these books!

Buckle or Obidome?

If you want a real Silver tsuba it will have hallmarks on it https://www.jauce.com/auction/o1211899326

Thanks Dan. I have checked some of Lissenden's images and managed to track some down - unfortunately either the Museums he used as references have changed their item identification numbers or Mr Lissenden transcribed them incorrectly. most of the images from the V&A have the wrong code - there is a full stop mark needed after the M which Lissenden has missed in most cases. Plate 6. page 159 says M194-1931 but should in fact be M.194-1916 The example plate 7 page 160, I could not access in the museum mentioned but an almost identical one can be seen in the V&A M.1147-1926 Plate 8 page 161 also has the wrong accession number 684.'30 [It can be found in Greville Cooke's book page 68] 1930M684 Plate 16 page 169 has the wrong accession number [TWCMS J10370] it should be TWCMS J10320 For anyone interested, I have most of the images used in the treatise [enhanced] including the ura views [or the side not illustrated therein] https://collectionssearch.northeastmuseums.org.uk/#view=list&id=7d1f&modules=ecatalogue&keywords=tsuba&ColObjectStatus=Current has access to the tsuba illustrated from the Laing Art Gallery. Unfortunately a great many tsuba in this collection have no images.

This one looks like a "negative" version to Dan's, the raised areas have been cut away in this one. I can't help thinking of a horse shoe when I look at it.

Love the Rain Dragons!

The major difference would seem to be that the piercings are squared on older Higo guards - a bit easier to drill round holes? https://www.instagram.com/p/CmODF4Dvb4E/ + https://www.instagram.com/p/DQDgniMCX62/ Kaku-nine-star Openwork Swirl Design [Nine Star? - I count either eight or with the hitsu - Ten ] Tsuba Inscription: Rakuju, Master Rakuju was a metalworker from Higo Province during the Edo period. He is the third generation of the Kamiyoshi school . His grandfather, Juhei, the first , was ordered by the Higo Domain to study the Hayashi family techniques .

I don't like some "museum quality tsuba" Museum of Vancouver DB 403 The Rijksmuseum [Amsterdam] has an authentic frog tsuba and one of the cast fakes. AK-MAK-1077 & AK-MAK-1063 Ashmolean Museum [Oxford] EA1956.2093 Maidstone Museum Plus there is another in the V&A M.1933-1931 and they have this thing listed as well!!! M.740-1931 Museum QUALITY??

Watch out for "the backyard blacksmith" as well https://www.jauce.com/user/CAWaKufXrxBdNGAA4UXmvfeWjVRf he likes putting big copper sekigane on brand new oily black patina fakes. He could do with changing his background image as well!

Let's not forget that the seller can also bid themselves up - as far as I know there is nothing to stop the seller doing this. Also the last second cancellation can be used which is also a big scam. Why don't these people just establish a minimum reserve? Would that mean they would get no bids or have to settle for a more realistic price? I have kept track of several items on Jauce now for uowards of seven years and the same item is still listed for the same stupid price today as it was seven years ago - you would think they would get the message by now!

Stephen King sent me this link to a nice Kozuka https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/157520149090

https://www.adams.ie/7068-lot-372-A-MUMEI-SAMURAI-SWORD-OF-WAKIZASHI-TYPE-Japan-the-blade-dating-to Auction estimate is in a pay grade beyond me! This guard is almost identical but not the same piece = Two the same, possible daisho? Or a popular pattern. Three makes me suspicious but they still look hand finished. They do make a modern fake version - of course! https://jp.mercari.com/item/m33685510648 $28 US. is a stupid price !!!

Yes sorry it is a cast "replica" - they do make good handles as long as you don't jag your clothes on them! Still a freebie bonus can't be a bad thing - do you do any deep sea fishing? Would make a great heavy sinker!

It is a type of tsuba that does not need a Katana Kake - [sword stand] as the flat base will allow the sword to lay blade up without rolling on any flat surface. It also has udenuki-ana but probably just as a form of adornment. Nice piece - beyond my pay grade! The Yahoo advert says it is "unique" but that is far from the truth. Nothing about it is "Ninja"

https://www.jauce.com/auction/l1144246914 https://www.jauce.com/auction/l675304642 https://www.jauce.com/auction/m1183155298 https://www.jauce.com/auction/u1205692100 A very expensive design if the auction asking prices are anything to go by!