Curran

Here are code references: https://www.unisco.com/hts/97061000 and https://hts.usitc.gov/search?query=9706.10.00.40 I thought that antiques were now subject to such tariffs, but the one site claims to be updated as of Nov 25th, 2025. Is that accurate, or stale information. @cluckdaddy76 do let us know if you get a tariff bill after the fact. Otherwise, I guess I am using Harmonized Tariff Codes again.

This is new to me. It dares give me hope.

SOLD . Thank you NMB. Please leave this up a few days and I will add a contribution to the NMB pot. -Curran

more pics

KANAYAMA for Sale $1000 . Dark, sandy, Owari, quite the strong yakite. Straight out of Sengoku Warring States period. Efficient at 6.9cm x 6.6cm and stout at 5.25mm (5.5mm at a few tekkotsu). It is slightly bowl shaped down to about 4.95-5mm at the seppa dai. This one has strong yakite close to melting point. Partially from that, I would date to around 1590-1600 in my opinion. From one angle, it is glossy bright. From the other angle, it is pitch Owari river iron uranium grey-blue-black. Color totally depend on the angle of the light hitting. If interested, please PM or email to cur@irontsuba.com www.irontsuba.com

Higo-lite? It resembles the earlier works of this design, but has a crudeness that makes me think later or much later. A member here has one, but I cannot share the photo without his permission. I believe this design is also documented and published in Ito-san's texts. Probably in Shimizu-Jingo volume, though it might be in Hayashi as well.

That is unique in my long memory. Seppa dai is wow. Good clean signature too. Akasaka is known for experimenting with some interesting designs, but this one also plays heavily with the texture and flow. Ah, those boxes are so difficult and expensive to get now.

It looks that way. Very different from the tsuba signatures.

Eh, magari. You have no idea how much my Italian has declined in the last 35 years. Even then, if my Italian or Japanese were ever as good as your English??? Non ci credo.

Man.... some serious collectors came at me fast on that one. Me'thinks I underpriced it. Thanks all. Maybe a Kanayama up in a few days. Curran cur@irontsuba.com

And SOLD.... in less than 30 minutes. Unfortunately, not on NMB.

And ON HOLD....

We have Goto Kenjo and others going up from Edo over to visit the Maeda. We also have abumi workers form there sort of teaching the reverse technique to fittings makers. Quite the artistic commune back in the day. My thoughts were more... what artists hitched a ride to the art commune back in the day? Colin's tsuba has the feel of someone familiar with Chinese painting style or screenwork, and the placement and zogan from Kaga works starting sometime in the 1600s. My thought is that there is at least a year or two there where he must have been up near Kanazawa and learned a trick, ... or five... Just it feels like a lot of Kaga influence in this. Given the supposed production period of the artist, gotta think something is missing from his bio.

Mega sized Ono of Tokugawa Crest. 17 sizeable tekkotsu, and weighs in at 161 grams. 6.5 to 6.7mm thick x 7.65cm x 7.5cm $1250 This is my favorite Ono and has everything that defines Ono as the steroided cousin to Kanayama. Comes with fitted box. Take my best as I build funds for another Juyo tsuba. (Cur) Chris Campbell irontsuba.com

Thanks Steve. I didn't see this post until now. I had my head turned by a Hoan the other day. We'll see if I end up on target in April, or coming back with something else. I have to halt this listing, as the -sho just papered in Japan. Got to get the -sho back, and consider listing as a Dai-sho set. The Dai- came from Ito-san. The Sho- came from a pre WW2 collection in Massachussets. How do we know they were a Dai-sho.... well, not 100% confirmed, but looks like they are recorded back in the 1800s Kamiyoshi Ehon records of Hayashi tsuba. Off to post the Mega-sized Tokugawa Ono next.

Wow! That is earlier than I would have thought for some of the techniques used on the tsuba. Kinda like seeing a Boeing Jet and thinking it is 1969, only to learn the image is from 1869.... I am aware of some Kaga area Abumi artisans transferring some of their style of workmanship to tsuba around the 1650-1700 era, But I have to admit that I would have dated this tsuba closer to 1800.

This was RKG : https://www.rkgphotos.com/about.htm I believe he was in his late 50s. Has there been an obit for him? @Grey Doffin how did you hear this? I'd hoped he would get through his surgeries.

Last sword I bought was a few years ago. Double mukansa blade (from province D) that was made for the head of the LDP (also from province D). Blade, habaki, and shirasaya were made in 2002. I admit part of the appeal was the price included a double gold habaki. In hindsight, it looks like I bought a habaki with a sword attached to it.

The last time we spoke, he was undergoing fairly complex invasive stem cell therapy. This had been the sci-fiction goal back in my university research days, and fast forwarding to Richard's situation- I was surprised by the high mortality rate. A long time ago RKG and I were good friends. We would have a bit of a falling out in 2008. Yet I mourn his passing. His photography became his passion, and he advanced tosogu photography significantly. He shouldered a lot of responsibility for his family. I hope his soul finally gets some rest.

Well- 1500s iron, signed. If that doesn't happen, there is a very short list of other candidates. If any of them pop up, then one of them. They are rarer than 1500s signed iron. Got to hit them whenever those unicorns appear. Anyway you slice it, a tsuba probably in the low to mid 5 figures. I'd probably balk at anything costing more than the car I currently drive. On the flipside, most every tsuba I own was worth more than the car I drove up until April 2025...

Given: [1] the height of the birds, the bridge, the treasure bag design elements on the front, [2] the high sheen polish on all the design highpoints [3] lack of evidence of any carving other that that achieved by the madman using the punch for the nanako [4] the details on the birds, the bridge, the treasure bag, etc... were all finely done into the high sheen polish, probably at the end of production My opinion was: cast into a mold, endured some sort of super polishing, and the finishing details added by hand. Yet... I've never seen another like it. So either it proved too labor intensive to do it this way, OR it is a one off by some ko-kinko worker. I would add that the nanako puncher feels like a different person's work than whomever added the fine details to the birds, bridges, etc. Much gentler work.

Well, I hope to show it in April 2026. Consolidating up to Juyo level iron takes sacrifice.

Hozon Hayashi Shigemitsu for $4750 https://irontsuba.com/shop Not Higo, not Hayashi. Direct Hozon to Hayashi Shigemitsu. Theme is Yoshinogawa [Sakura in the River Nets]. Ex-Ito-san. More pictures to follow. Please contact via email at my site. Nidai Yamakicihibei, Kanayama, Tokugawa Ono, and my favorite Kyo-Sukashi to follow later.

I've been sending from phone to a computer and using a photoeditor to trim them down. Then saved them. So, it isn't that unless it is the photoeditor. I can try a different photoeditor.