Bugyotsuji

While on the subject though, I would like to add this tsuba to the thread. Iron, flat, tōshō 8.5 x 8.3 x 0.25 cm

The cave in Max’s interesting tsuba above (which goes through to the other side) gives me the impression of a clever design feature to suggest for example Mt. Horai, rather than a functional element. (Can we see the other side, Max?) I have one tsuba with a figure hiding inside a 3D cave, but the cave does not have a rear exit!

Just ran a search on the Japanese web but nothing earlier than the Enomoto Meiji blades mentioned above came up.

Some years back Ken & Linda brought a meteorite from their home in Hawaii and gave it to the younger Ando (Hiroyasu). He made several Kozuka and longer blades and even tsuba during his experiments.

No Alex, however you could have listed it, I never look in the for sale section, so... mea culpa. On the other hand I do have a growing appreciation for shinchu tsuba, brought on partly by one of the artisans at Osafune who always shows deep interest in traditional Japanese metals and alloys. This has kind of opened my eyes to see and accept the beauty and the possibilities in other metals, not just iron. This extends to Kozuka and Tsuba for a start.

On the other hand I was assured that this one is recent, i.e. not old. 1.

That’s the one Rohan, especially Natichu (Nathaniel’s linked treatise), many thanks!

Good thread running on Den just yesterday…(?)

Looking good!

Somehow reminds me of this one:

Sheriff, huh? Etymology, ‘shire reeve’, from memory. ‘The authorities’, to Robin Hood, perhaps? Completely missed your original listing Alex! Congratulations Curran.

Fundo and star constellation mixes crop up frequently in the Sendai area. For the Kamon itself try also crescent moon with star: 真向かい三日月に星　家紋 https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hs=BeGq&sca_esv=5fbeaf94ea03b9d5&hl=en-gb&q=三日月+月に星家紋&uds=AJ5uw1_a2D0D09lxm8gpKKOTUn4rTeVlh13PVwUUMwhfNLG9qd3HPJ3jizLVbfitdzTdAw3vWGx3TAZealAG-p-7kyYbGYENWdkmxxppLruhbBLxLUeBK7GqDLf3SS8G4epn7g1BdyZ_aVMCFFdkLaYiTKXYE0FPA-OiW-VPBwd23b8QVzvRUso&udm=2&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjh7bCE29aVAxW9Z0EAHWotH9IQxKsJKAF6BAgNEAE&ictx=0&biw=390&bih=699&dpr=3#sv=CAMSVxoyKhBlLVN0RTE4c2FaWWpqYWdNMg5TdEUxOHNhWllqamFnTToOT1JGbzNzMG8xcHBMZk0gBCoXCgFzEhBlLVN0RTE4c2FaWWpqYWdNGAEwAUoECAEQAhgHIOSU3tQDSggQAhgBIAIoAQ e.g.

There are lots of other differences, but the final 日 seems constantly written with a hook down the right, making it look like a small 月.

Dangggg…!!! PS If Curran pulls out, I’m next in the Q.

OK, just to get the ball rolling, these give me flashes of Hikone mono, Soten-style.

Ah, yes, thank you Okan. That is interesting!

Really interesting tsuba. This is described on the box as Kagamishi, (without the ‘Ko’). Someone recently pulled me up on the difference.

A friend has a Tsuyama armour signed 宗保Muneyasu.

Hi Mike, it is hard to know what to advise you. It seems from your reply that you are attracted to this gun and half inclined to buy it, but the price is putting you off. What specifically appeals to you? Be honest! The dealer must have reasons for that price, including the value of the zōgan inlay along the top of the barrel and the talismanic Buddhist 六手 characters. If it is a 士筒 Shizutsu (larger samurai gun) this will also add value, as too the possible the Ogino School of gunnery aspect. Was the butt rather long and shaped a little like an elephant’s trunk? To offset that, the gun needs a new foresight, and how much would that cost you? In the Schrödinger‘s Cat category is the state of a) the pan, b) the Bisen breech screw, c) the inside of the barrel and d) the shape of the butt. These would be more important to me as a gunner than any fancy inlay, but from those shots I cannot judge. You on the other hand, may be happy with the appearance of this particular gun and not so much with the others he had for sale…(?)(We can see an Osaka gun in the background of one of those shots.) Speaking as a neutral observer, I like what I can see so far, but the price would not suit my wallet. But I am not abreast with antique gun prices in the continental USA.

Here are some Chinese toggles, two adjusted to show the holes. A Side view B Top view

Mike, are you there?

Been collecting data about this gun. Will report shortly! *Pity we can’t see everything, (shape of butt, etc., front sight missing ) but an interesting example. Could be the Ogino-Ryū school of gunnery; the butt shape would tell us. (Later) Small Honda fiefdom in Ōmi called the Zeze Han. Made in 蔓延元年, which is 1860, during the Bakumatsu, towards the end of the Edo period. The smith seems to be 鈴木鉄造 典貞? Suzuki Tetsuzo Norisada(?) Not sure about the very last kanji… 0.69 caliber in Japanese terms puts it at 1.75 cm, close to a 10 Monme Samurai gun or Shizutsu, a bore larger than the standard ashigaru battlefield gun of 1.5 or 1.6 cm.

Pretty sure this is a later work from a Chinese workshop. The signature 玉田Tamada or Gyokuden, is supposed to look Japanese, but actually looks like strongly like a typical Chinese effort at ‘casual Japanese’ from just such a workshop. PS Being ivory today is sadly a minus, not a plus.

These mokumé tsuba were quite fancied.

Here’s a tsuba for reference.