Dan tsuba

Hello Simon, Welcome to this great forum. I don’t know much about anything, but I would say your tsuba is cast iron and made fairly recently. There are many good threads on this forum which discuss how to tell a real authentic Edo period tsuba from a fairly newly made fake or reproduction tsuba. I hope you didn’t pay too much for that tsuba. Before you purchase another tsuba, maybe you can post a picture of it on this forum and ask some of the world’s leading experts on tsuba (my opinion) for their thoughts and opinions of the piece. Onward!

Hokke, Well stated. I get it. But I still have hope for my friend. I pray for his health.

My good friend Dale, Obviously, you had many members deeply worried about you. One of your good friends even had a welfare status check done on you. I am surprised that you haven’t gone to a neighbor’s house to use their internet or to a public library to use their internet to let everyone know that you are O.K. after the welfare check. Perhaps you thought it was to intrusive? I miss you, my friend. I hope that you resolve the technical issues with your crappy internet stuff soon. This forum needs you Spartancrest! Helll, I also need you my friend! Onward!

Please my friends, I am super concerned. Although my gut tells me that something unforutnate has occurred. Althiough I pray that he is well. May God answer my prayers for my friend and his well being.

This forum means nothing to me anymore without Spartancrest. His vast knowledge, kindness, and humor is sorely missed. His expertise would certainly shed tons of information on any thread. Where is my friend?

Forum members, and others. I noticed this thread has garnered a lot of views (and therefore interest) within the last couple of days. Thank you all for your interest in this thread. I am still trying to find research on this subject, and will post it if it is relevant. On a side note, I am wondering where my friend Spartancrest is? I pray that he is well. Onward to more research!

Thanks, Peter and Mal, for the great assistance! Yes (Peter) it is a dragon tsuba that I purchased for about 150 U.S. (pictures attached). It looks like it is hand forged (although there are a lot of cast copies out there!). Your translation directed me to another thread on this forum which discusses the tsuba and the school- https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/46711-a-tsuba-with-ryu-design-kinai-school-signed-edo-period-for-your-comment-and-appreciation/ And Mal attached a download with a whole bunch of great information! Thanks guys!

I would like assistance in translating this mei. I have included a couple of pictures of the seppa-dai with the mei to maybe assist in helping to figure it out. Thanks!

Some past sanmai tsuba threads on NMB- https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/11578-kinko-san-mai-tsuba/ https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/29248-stampedcastchiseled-tsuba/ https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/39026-edo-sanmai-tsuba-and-fittings/ https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/48173-show-me-your-sanmai-tsuba/ These threads show many sanmai type tsuba and have a lot of good information.

Where is Spartancrest? I hope and pray that he is O.K.! Without his vast knowledge and scholarly research, it will send this forum back into the Dark Ages! Just my opinion. Needless to say, I am concerned!

John C., The presence of a fukurin on a sanmai tsuba is just my opinion (backed up with the reference that Geriant stated) and the two sanmai tsuba that I have in my collection. But I guess the hate and downvotes will continue for me. I have no idea why, but it is what it is! Onward to more learning and fun!

Jean, There you go again! Sanmai tsuba with fukurin are shown in the link provided by Geraint and referred to below- https://www.Japanese...com/tsuba/sanmai.htm In my collection I also have two sanmai tsuba that have fukurin (and I will include pictures if you so desire). In your post you stated- “Not all SAN MAI TSUBA have a FUKURIN, some are riveted together, some are glued with URUSHI, others can even be brazed together.” Please, can you back up your statements with references or pictures. I will no longer just take your word (or opinions) of what you state (after about 6 years of your opinions regarding my threads ) without backing up your statements with references or pictures. That shouldn’t be so difficult to do.

John, I can't discern if it is a sanmai tsuba. I does not look like one because it has no fukurin on the mimi and it looks to be made of iron. If you could provide better pictures (in focus), maybe then I and other members can help you out. But my initial evaluation is no, it is not sanmai. It does not appear as if it is folded steel. Maybe it is one of those tsuba that has a thin layer of cast iron placed on the surface of the tsuba and then the motif was placed onto the tsuba or molded into the cast iron. Hell, I don't know! It is just my best guess! I brought that up in another thread, but I can't remember which one! Onward!

Geraint, Thanks for the link about sanmai tsuba. Good informatiion!

Hey Dee, Good hearing from you! Maybe the motifs are slightly different on the ura and omote sides (but I can't see it - maybe I need new glasses!). Maybe some of the flowers were not as fully gilded as the others? But, I still think that these are sanmai tsuba. I hope some other members chime in with their opinions (because I am probably wrong, once again!).