Robin

Today I received your first book...it's fantastic! Thanks a lot! Robin

Imho the NBTHK certified tsuba isn't a Hoskawa mon tsuba, but a tsuba with missing inserts. I like yours a lot! Robin

Maybe nice to know...the paper (or what's left of it) on the tsuba, is/was there to get a good tight fit. I guess the tsuba will now rattle a bit. A new piece of paper (acid free) will solve that. Robin

I also think a hachi-ware is the most likely reason. Robin

I checked, but no....mumei. My latest on the other hand has a faint mei. Looks like 2 kanji, but most of it faded. 71mm, 67mm, 3,5mm The sukashi? Please help me out...I have no idea. Thanks, Robin

Thanks Florian. Robin

Wonderful and worth to be published, or to be used in a book on the subject. Not a bad price I think. Robin

Thanks gentlemen! Today I received a tsuba I was looking forward to, simply because I like it a lot. Aoi leaves sukashi (please don't say I got this one wrong also ) 71mm, 3,5mm, iron. Signed 國廣作 Kunihiro Saku. From Matsukaze.Japan on ebay. The tsuba box came as an unexpected surprise with it. Maybe, because my $157,50 winning bid came as an unexpected surprise to the seller. Anyway...I just wanted this, so when it's a bit over the top...no regrets. Feel free to facepalm! And now about this Kunihiro mei. I stumble upon this name really often, both tsuba's and swords. I found 10 Kunihiro sword smiths. Were the tsuba's produced by these smiths or in their workshops, or is this a coincidence? Robin

Gorgeous! Robin

Thank you so much. Do you recommend a book (or several) on the subject? I don't mind making a fool of myself here, but I want to learn how to stand on my own feet. Robin

While I keep my wallet closed for a nihonto until I learned much more...collecting some tsuba's won't do any harm. I like simple sukashi designs most. For now I stick to the more affordable tsuba's not to make expensive mistakes. Like nihonto...I have a lot to learn about tsuba's also. 1. Forged iron. 7,4cm, 6,7cm, 3,9mm. Seems to be folded since it has a crude dasmascus like surface and the mimi shows many layers. The fruit might be loquat (awe 枇杷) or Japanese apricot (ume 梅). It looks a bit small for a katana, so I guess this is a wakizashi tsuba. No idea about how old this is. Tosho school perhaps? I payed 32 euros for it on ebay from a Japanese seller. 2. Copper or copper alloy. 7,8cm, 4,7mm. Crude sukashi blossom (plum?), wagasa umbrellas and a branch. Probably not old(?), but it seems to be a honest used (sekigane made to measure and the "shadows" of used seppa) tsuba. About 55 euros, same seller. Information and comments will be appreciated. Thanks, Robin

FB is shallow. Even with the best intent and effort a FB page or group can't compete with a place like this. Glad I found this forum. Cheers, Robin

Thanks for the kind, informative and / or knowledgeable replies. So it's a carved iron clematis Choshu school (inspired) tsuba, or tsuba shaped object, made between late Edo and yesterday. After the previously posted photo's I noticed there was still a lot of rust and grime left. Boiled it again and spend most of the day with pieces of ivory from an old domino game cleaning the tsuba (or tsuba shaped thing). In between removing the scraped off rust and dirt with Blu-Tac. After a drop of choji oil and a good rub...this is the result: It's original choclate brown patina wasn't damaged and no more red rust. Before and after... Thanks, Robin

Thank you so much. I think the realistic (lotus flowers?) design is what made me worry, the lack of sekigane and tagane ato didn't help either. I presume this is a cast tsuba? Since it was covered with old wax, oil or god knows what I boiled it in water. It's clean now and the rust seems superficial only, but I better leave it as it is I guess. Thanks again, Robin

Hello guys, This was my first tsuba and I'm not sure about it. 77mm, 71mm, 4mm. Iron. I hope it's at least Japanese rust. When it is...any information about it will be appreciated. When it isn't it's a newbie lesson learned. Thanks, Robin

Thanks for the warm welcome gentlemen! I'm not sure the tsuba I got is kosher, when it's a fake it's a lesson learned. I'll ask about it where it belongs. Robin

Hello all, The short version: Robin, the Hague The Netherlands, 57 years old and I like Japanese history, culture and food since...forever. The somewhat longer version: At the start of the summer I decided it was time to start moving again. Overweight, not fit, not happy. Daily long walks, healthy food and without giving it much thought I joined an iaido dojo. Iaido and the purchase of an iaito triggered me to search for more information about swords and fittings. A month ago in Paris I stumbled upon an antique shop... My wife bought me a tsuba....and that's how things start. More tsuba's, more books and now I'm here with a nihonto wish. Not in a hurry to buy...a lot more knowledge first. Oh...and I lost 15 kilo in six months, I feel fit and I'm still a terrible, but passionate iaido puppy. Robin

I'm green as grass, so forgive me when I'm wrong, but the mei doesn't look like Kunihiro imho. 國 廣 作 By the way...I do have a question about Kunihiro. I found several swordsmiths with this name...were the tsuba's made by these smiths...or in their workshops. Or is Kunihiro just a very common name in Japan? Thanks, Robin