Spartancrest

Jesse, I like the Japanese flavors the best!

Thickness sounds about right for that style of guard. What worries me is these large tosho or katchushi guards turn up week after week and when you check the sellers other items there is usually a string of others - Why? Either the seller has a 'huge' collection he is selling off or he has an endless supply of modern made replicas. It is a gamble but if the price is right maybe the gamble will pay off? https://www.jauce.com/user/dj2hmyuc

Mark your example is very close to Richard's and once again the elements have been moved about - it seems the design was never really settled - well we know they are not cast copies that is for sure! A daisho set would be very hard to find again.

Grev, I would love to say it was 'Unique' but as soon as I do, one will turn up!

We may have a major find here! The guard pictured above Signed Fujiwara Kodo (Furumichi) hitsu and sealed in gold Hirochika. Could once have been owned by an Envoy of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria - The same Archduke who's assassination sparked the first World War. The 1923 image is, I will admit a bit grainy but the proportions are exact as shown in the image overlap. Another "Historic" Yasuchika 'Hare' tsuba from 1894

I don't know for sure but shouldn't the nanako also be on the rim edge? I have an all iron guard and the nanako covers all the face and rim except the seppa-dai.

This is way off topic but my searches produce some interesting things. https://www.facebook.com/kirieya/photos/a.1472128026342623/2283753155180102/ Tsuba paper cut-outs, including themes for major Holidays. Who knew?

Another subtle Aoi and screen with extra feature of the wagon wheel. https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1062022558

Jesse there is a thread running now you might find more Rabbits on! Some borrowed images.

Great Glen - sometimes the time zones come into play. I am not sure I like the ura view. The waves look like deformed penises/penii [am I allowed to say that?]

Richard that one has a bit of everything! I really must get a copy of the Elephant book, other people have told me about it but I always get outbid when one comes up for auction. [Funny when you think of it, it has nothing to do with Elephants!]

https://www.artfoxlive.com/product/7143852.html

Sometimes Yasuchika got sick of the rabbit and put a fisherman in instead. http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/object/EAX.10951 This Rabbit/Hare does not count because there is no moon. https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/89649848810553016/

Yasuchika designed Rabbit under the moon - hasn't everyone got one?

I might be picky but there are a couple of 'off' spots - possible damage through use?

I will get this one in before Glen spots it. https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1061970087

By the way Paul 700mm is 2.29 Feet. I am sure you mean 70 mm and the nakago-ana is 30 mm. Unless it is one like this - https://www.jauce.com/auction/m1036014452

I would agree with Kirill the images are not detailed enough, are they auction images?

Signed by Seiryuken Eiju, of the Tetsugendo school. Piers is correct Shippō design. Like this image I have a triple set myself. The signatures can vary a little and the seal can also be by a different maker. [Yours, mine and the three pictured all have the same seal.]

I have been following this 'Tea items ' design for a few weeks and thought I might share it with the members. Glen Cordner has also been on the lookout for this design and has shared his information with me. The basic elements seem to remain but they 'move about' in the design. The thick plate guard on the right may not look like the other sukashi ones, but it too has most of the elements [This particular guard has been 'upgraded' to become a trivet and the ura view is not open enough to find any designs] I would welcome any other images of this type. Many thanks.

I can find examples with the 'pole, ropes and bucket' but from totally different schools - not a help. Roger - which Tote are you betting with? Ladbrokes, Betfair, Neds or 'We break legs'?

Well I should be able to find it in this 'book' NOT!

Well from my window it is dark and ready to pour down - just like my mood! My 'Photographic memory' [which I don't have] does not let me know where things are - only that I have seen them before. Actually there is another current thread Hamano Tsuba and I know for sure I have seen a guard just like it in recent days but now having gone through forty books, twenty museum sites and lots of searches on tsuba types - it is impossible for me to find it again! Plus my eyes are starting to bleed! I need image recognition software that doesn't confuse a tsuba with a badge, buckle or horse brass! [I will have a talk to the Aliens currently scouting our planet and see what they come up with - while they continue their search for intelligent life on this planet]

Still looking - but it is not looking good! One thing is I am finding other utsushi images to add to other threads! All research has its advantages.

One that got away - https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1060869808 a perfect match for Steves87 Posted February 12 Another from a Japanese book I have [please excuse the glare spot from very shiny paper]