Rich T

Hi Al, it's not a stupid answer, but it's not correct. Rich

Hi all, well it's tapered off a little with replies, and thanks for all the comments so far, so I will add a bit more. Most now have the time right, but still no joy on the school. It's a Bakamatsu period piece, and it is from what I believe, quite rare that is it mumei. I could give a couple off big clues here but I will try not to let too much out of the bag. So, you'll find the group these 2 guys come from or are associated with on the Tokaido Road Cheers Rich

Hi Mark, I never Ever use any waxes or other substances on my tsuba. This is the natural state of the iron. This extra images may help in the dating a litltle. Barry's post was pertinent. Cheers Rich

Not Ko Kinko Mark, as I noted in the description, this is tetsu, so iron, not soft metal. Rich

Hi all, I think this tsuba is signed Kofu no Ju Akao Yoshiharu saku and may well just be an unlisted student or maker. It's a nice enough looking piece with both Akasaka and Higo traits but it lacks the originality that the very best of the Akoa tsuba are famous for. Well in my opinion anyway. cheers Richard

Just for fun, here's a little kantei I ran elsewhere recently, and thought I would share it with you all. For those that know, please do not spoil it. Type: Ita Tsuba. Ji: Iron. Treatment: There are no tekkotsu in the mimi or is there any form of tsuchime. The iron is smooth. The patina is very dark (black) and rich. Signature: Mumei. (NBTHK Tokubetsu kicho attribution ) The dimmensions are 76mm x 69mm x 2mm (nagago ana) and 5mm (mimi) Special Features: Kan mimi kaku ko niku. Please provide the following answers if possible. Age: School: Artist: Here is a tsuba with beautiful iron, almost like silk. The Amida Yasuri design is wonderfully executed and the lines are so fine, they are almost undetectable with the touch. The mimi is a strong clue in this kantei. It looks like a fukurin but is masterfully carved from the iron. The Yasuri run all the way up to it. Good luck Richard

Andre, if you happen to be able to look in "The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists" you will be dumb struck by the amount of Masanori's out there. As Koichi san noted, they both read Masanori, though the one you listed usually signs in Soshou so it is probably a different guy anyway. Cheers Richard

I am sure it (Ebay) rates you on the amount of items you list as well (i.e make money for Ebay) In regards to the tsuba, they all fake junk. If you want some good cheap tsuba, go here. http://www.finesword.co.jp/sale/kodougu/kodougu(1-300).htm Genuine items, great communications and trustworthy as they are a sub group of Ginza Choshuya. This is my 1st recomendation for people on strict budgets. When in doubt, stay clear of Ebay. Broken record 33.3, study, learn, look, handle, then buy off Ebay, not the other way around. Cheers Rich

Thanks Koichi san, top work as usual. Cheers Rich

曲線文象嵌菊花刻印鍔 I get "kyokusen bun zougan kikka kokuin tsuba" but I am not sure about that reading, and it's meaning. Maybe "curved (letter? statement?) zougan chrysanthemum carved seal design tsuba. Cheers Rich

Interesting to note that the document was provided by a Martial Arts group by the looks, and it has no image of the sword at all on it, so does it relate to the sword as in being an authentic item ? Just curious Rich

Hi Lorenzo, well stars were very common as a tsuba theme, and they would have known the moon and sun obviously (Sankou refers to this, as in the 3 heavenly lights) and I wonder what the Europeans would have bought in regards to knowledge of the stars ? Of course it may just be abstract shapes. Thanks for your thoughts Rich

Any idea's ? even serious ones ????? I think planets/stars or something similar. The elliptical non hitsu shape is interesting. I believe this is a Momoyama period piece, it is Shinchu and the patina is very nice. Looking forward to any thoughts. Cheers Rich

Hi all, well as a few you know, I recently picked up this excellent Ko Tosho tsuba last week and as I have it now in my hot little hands, a question arose from reading Jim Gilberts thought's on the guard. http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/oldiron.htm Jim brings forward the idea that, while it is widely considered that tsuba of this age were free of any hitsu at the time of their creation, and that any kozuka or kogai hitsu ana seen on very old tsuba are a later addition. While this is most likely true in many cases, there are some that believe, and I am one of them, that there must have been some tsuba with hitsu ana. Kozuka for example are well documented in the Kamakura period and perhaps even before this time, as are kogai. Surely there must have been some tsuba then that were able to accommodate these accessories. The book Ko Kogai features for example the following item, and it is attributed to the early Kamakura period. Sasano and Torigoye both suggest that Ko Tosho works may date as early as the Heian period, and were certainly about in the Kamakura period. I have also seen example of Kamakura period kozuka. If then, we have tsuba, kogai and kozuka all existing at the same time, is it not possible then that at some point, they must have at least come together in one form or another (tsuba/kozuka or tsuba/kogai) ? or were these types of Uchigatana koshirae for foot soldiers only, and they were either not wealthy enough, or of too low a status to wear such finery. I wonder if there are any documented koshirae earlier than the mid Muromachi period in Japan, or in shrines that may lend more light to this. I look forward to others opinions on this matter. Cheers Rich

LOL, too big a clue. Echizen ju Akao. As to who ? I know not. Rich

What a fantastic tsuba. I love this. My first thought for use is a Yari or Naginata. The nakago ana however make it obvious it's been mounted on a sword. The slot is a tad intruiging. As to the theme, is my guess of Big Ears out of the question ????? Seriously though. I am wondering if these are drawer handles and key's. Something along the lines of this. I have a feeling of Momoyama period, or there about. And the iron looks to be reminiscent of Ko Shoami, or Owari. Dark, rich and glossy. Well that's my initial take. A great little puzzle. Rich

I am going to have to do a bit of deeper digging, but I am tempted to offer up Chôshu. I have seen something similar to this recently and I am busting my brain trying to remember where. Cheers Rich

Hi all, this is a private massage I sent Nick in response to him asking me a question about this tsuba (did I believe Ford's critique of modern and cast) The points I was trying to make to Nick were, It may be cast, it may be not. It is hard to really tell without decent photo's or the thing in hand. I suggested Nick look for tell tail file marks on the seppa dai, cast seams in the sukashi etc but I didn't get a reply like that . As to it's age, I can only guess, and whatever that's worth, I may as well be wrong also. Seriously, when are you guys going to learn that a $1, a $20 or even a $100 tsuba is all it will ever be, an that is, 99% of the time, junk. Stop buying (god we all sound like broken records here) 10 cheap tsuba and buy 1 good tsuba, or whatever it is you collect. Once you go forward, you never go back. I know, I did this when I started. Alternativley, you could all go start a "Collectors who pay less than 10 Bucks" Forum Have some patience. Sit on your hands. Wait. that's all from me on this one. Rich

Hi, the signature reads Yamashiro no Kuni Nishijin jû on the Omote (front) and Umetada on the Ura (back) thought it is not a very convincing mei. These are similar to the Echizen Kinai tsuba in that they were mass produced and only ever of average or below average quality. Hope that helps Cheers Rich

The Akasaka group had mei that ran on both sides of the tsuba, generally with something like Bushu Ju Akasaka on the omote and whoever's name on the ura. This was very common with both Tadashige and the Tadatoki group. Cheers Richard

well it's all gone a bit quiet on this, are you going to let us in on the scoop soon Ford ????? Rich

Hahahahahahah, wrong on so many levels, but maybe more apt. Sorry, back to regular viewing Rich

by the title of this thread Shan, the question should be answered as such. Stop buying this stuff (= less quantity) and start buying good stuff (= more quality) I hope that answers your question. Rich

and remember that not all cast tsuba are bad, it's a bit of a stigma like Shoami or Bungo. There were many early soft metal tsuba that were cast that are pretty cool. Like this for example. Kagami-shi, mid Muromachi period. cheers Rich

Hello (morning, afternoon (here) evening) all. Ok, well I am sure Ken won't mind, here is Mike's wish. I was going to make an animated gif, but someone put a bottle of red on my desk and that ended that idea LOL. One last thought, Mike noted This group, besides the very best of the mainline took a serious nose dive at the end off their reign, and in fact, I think the first Tosa Myochin Muneyoshi (I might be wrong there, flying by the seat of my pants) who was the top student of the 9th Akasaka master was considered a much better artist. Higo took over as the bee's knee's of this style of work and a lot of the late Akasaka stuff is fairly poor quality. Happy days cheers Rich