Toryu2020

Thank you Morita San.

It is a "Gyotaku" of a little tanto blade - it also includes an oshigata - I will post pictures later. I am also curious about the line "Ike no naka" - was it found in a pond? -t

Very impressive Steve, I expected to wait a few days for someone to even notice - thank you! -t Ditto Brian.

Here’s one - I know this is from the Sasafuku-jinja dated 1995 - I know the subject is a tanto by Kunitomo but cannot understand more than that. I thought about emailing the jinja but thought I would try here first. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, -t

I would agree just the look of the photographs - look at the first picture it looks fine. -t

I have to say the opaque ones look even better...

Apologies if this was posted before - could this be the elusive "Masamune forging" ⭐️月山雲龍子源貞一模之彫同作　相模國住人五郎入道正宗　元享二年八月日　二尺四寸三分　元幅四センチ超相州伝豪壮刀⭐️ - 美術*刀剣*専門*オークション！WINNERS(ウィナーズ) (winners-auction.jp)

Gilles - As it happens I collect zaimei Toko tsuba and used to think it would be difficult and expensive. However I have found that many swordsmiths made at least one or two tsuba and they can be had at reasonable prices. Keep checking the Japanese websites as they come up often. For Yagyu I have always liked this one - this seller has had a few good ones come and go, good Yagyu pieces do pop up, good luck with your search... A VERY NICE KODAI YAGYU TSUBA #110209 - NIHONTO -tch

Kevin Adams

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Decembers’ theme was Boxing Day! Year of the Rabbit is up next!

Tsuba and a slice of billet by Francis Boyd…

Earlier designs were just cut outs in the shape of a namako, the whole being much thicker, it then became much airier as in the examples by Musashi. Here we see thickeer versions, one with actual hitsu-ana, a more photo~realistic Higo version and an actual pair of namako... -t

Bruce - Kiku Ichimonji refers to the retired emperor Gotoba, not a Shogun. It has come to mean "A-Number One". So Seki Ichimonji may mean the artist made works in the Bizen style and are meant to be "the Best". I am sure this points to a particular smith and a short search would turn up who that is... -t

Generally takes about six months - that being said they are working thru them now and I am being told end of January they will be mailing me. I then have to sort, address and mail them out from here... -t

Sorry to say this signature does not compare well to known examples…

this last is fine - thank you

Can we please see better pictures of the Nakago? Oriented north/south in the center of a single photo? You have the right reading... -t

Jeremy et al The rules are well understood though maybe not well documented in English. Banzashi, what you wore in official duty was set by the Shogunate, even so there was lots of flexibility in how you met those rules. (within certain constraints) The length of Daito was proscribed so we see lots of 2.3.5 Shaku swords. Red Saya were reserved for certain groups - white tsukaito was reserved for certain groups. Hizen retainers were encouraged to copy the Kassen koshirae worn by their lord in every detail excepting the menuki which could NOT be catfish like that of Sansai. Satsuma swordsmen made a point to sport swords longer that the proscribed length and garish red Saya in direct contravention of the rules. There are concrete examples, it is not all speculation. What you wore to work was prescribed what you wore on your own time could be just about anything you wanted albeit operating in a highly fashion conscious and strictly stratified society... -t

Simon - keep in mind, in those days the bloke that could adjust your seppa was just around the corner and his work was dirt cheap! -t

Int the Sengoku-jidai you maybe had one sword - issued by your lord and carried whatever he gave you. In the Edo period it all depended on your income - you might have four tsuba, one for each season - or four koshirae with different tsuba for work, play, practice and combat. The more money you had the more you were able to show off your money with your accoutrement. By the Bakumatsu people shared tsuba as gifts and collected and traded them much as we do today. IMO the tsuba does little for the balance of a blade unless the weight is significant - a practiced swordsman can adjust to most any blade... -t