GeorgeLuucas

A real test would be nice. So far this is all just been pictures, ideas, and theories. If you find a tsuba you speculate is cast, how do you then determine it was made in the edo period? More speculation? It’s fine to speculate, but 16 pages of it without anything deeper to back it up… for what? Is this all just for your Amazon book?

That oil that Stephen recommended is what I use. It also comes in a spray-bottle. Which I prefer, because it's easier to use a minimal amount. The bottle should last a really long time. I don't like the smell of clove, and gun oil smells too... industrial? for my liking. Just my two cents. Cheers, -Sam

Admittedly, I am one of those likes on John’s post. I liked his comment because I respect his opinion and insights. He’s far more experienced than I am, and I often learn from his contributions here. I still agree with my first comment though, because my initial reaction was a fondness for your tsuba - regardless of its age. All the best, -Sam

Hi Dee, I cannot help with era or school, but I do like your Tsuba! It appears to have nice color, and fine AMIDA YASURI (radiating lines); and I like the rectangular Hitsu Ana. Those copper punch spots look interesting, I wonder why they are there. Congrats, looks like theres a lot to enjoy there! I am surprised more members haven't weighed in. Happy Holidays and new year, -Sam

AI also supports that iron and steel will flake, especially after corrosion. Seems like the most logical conclusion All the best, -Sam

Hi Jeff, thank you for all the photos. I think many of us are a little confused too. I'm inclined to agree with @2devnul on this one. I think it looks real, but really messed with... hard to say. The nakago and hamachi + munemachi are what concerns me too. They have the appearance of being altered by an untrained craftsman (if its not a forgery). If you bought it on eBay, was the seller "komonjo"? He's notorious for selling stuff similar to this. If he's the seller; that would explain a lot. To my novice eye, it looks like an 'untrained someone' moved the hamachi and munemachi up, giving the nakago and it's profile a wrong look. I also suspect the nakago has some artificial patination to look older. Tough one, and sorry for all the bad news... For what it's worth, I think most of us on this board have been burned at least once; I know I have. Just my two cents, and I could be wrong too. All the best, -Sam

Thank Brian! It's no museum level piece, but I am quite fond of it. It's the first Akasaka tsuba in my collection. Great color, thickness, and weight - but there's still quite a bit of red rust scattered around. I couldn't buy a sword for myself this holiday, so I think this is a good compromise (checks wife's expression) . Cheers and hope you're feeling better, -Sam

This is really a killer deal, and I am amazed it has not yet sold. Someone better buy this before my willpower subsides Really nice looking sword, -Sam

After seeing this Tsuba shared in another thread, I knew I had to have it. I consider it a holiday gift to myself Sukakashi Tsuba, Akasaka school with Myoga motif. Unusual “S” shape, that was proposed may be an S hook for a kettle. Anyway, this is a permanent addition to my collection because I like it so much. Sharing just for show-and-tell. Cheers, -Sam

It almost looks designed to sit perfectly on that plastic display stand

It looks like someone took a likely broken sword, and turned it into a "bowie knife", by grinding a new tip and clip-point. I've seen a few nihonto modified in similar ways. Definitely not original, and probably done more recently and outside of Japan. I agree with what's been said above. Best of luck, -Sam

That makes sense, thank you @Tsuku I was thinking it looked penned on, rather than inset. But looking at the nakago ana, now I’m thinking it is inset like you say. At any rate, I’d love to see some more pictures of it All the best, -Sam

You can see the yasurime when you zoom in. It looks like an exterior ink over an otherwise mumei nakago. Kind of like kinpun mei but… Ginpun mei? Interesting! I don’t think the koshirae is any kind of ww2 gunto. Looking forward to others observations. Cheers, -Sam

Hello and welcome to the forum! To answer some of your questions, we’ll definitely need more photos. Especially of the tang (nakago), even if there’s no markings on it. Your wakizashi blade appears to be in poor condition. That being said, everything looks genuine to my eye - pending more photos. Here’s a guide that shows some of the photos we’ll need. Always best against a dark background. Best of luck! -Sam

Haha, you guys crack me up! Usually when an item speaks to me, it’s more subtle than this Im thinking it means a Christmas present for myself I couldn’t ask for a more trustworthy seller. Cheers! -Sam

Hi Dale, Sorry to steer this a bit off topic, but do you know the significance or meaning behind the “S” shape on this tsuba? Im intrigued and interested because the double S is my initials Cheers, -Sam S

Hi Steve, Cool swords! I didn’t see if you answered Dee’s question. Did you weigh the swords with or without their fittings? At any rate, if you’re using a bathroom scale, they have a pretty big margin of error - and sometime aren’t precise within a few pounds of difference. Before drawing any conclusions, I would try using a gram scale and weighing the swords without their fittings, and by themselves. If they still weigh identical - I like John C’s answers best of luck, -Sam

For the love of the KIRI

Posting here for anyone interested. Feel free to move or delete @Brian, if this is redundant info. Free for anyone to use/share/send/save. Cheers, -Sam

Hi Jeff, I am looking forward to more photos. Even if the signature is gimei, the blade still appears to be genuine. Your post inspired me to create this little photo guide. I hope @ROKUJURO approves . I’m open to feedback. Be sure to take photos well lit against a dark background. Ideally centered overhead with the tip north and nakago south. You’ve already covered a couple of these, but here’s my guide that I hope helps. Best of luck, -Sam

Here’s the one that’s been in my collection for a while Cheers, -Sam

Could it be an O-suriage tachi? Early Yamato den tachi can have a shallow sori toward the kissaki, and when suriage they can look pretty straight and slender. Here’s your sword over a couple ko-senjuin blades I found online. Not my photos and I scaled to the best of my ability. I am not saying anything for certain, just proposing an Idea for food for thought. -Sam

Is the blade in question suriage?

My first thought was acid etched

I've got a question for ya'll. Maybe it's been covered before... At what point does Juyo attribution reach critical mass? Will there come a day, someday, when all the "Juyo level and above" swords have been papered? Are we witnessing a decline in awarded Juyo blades, simply because there are fewer out there, of juyo+ quality, after so many Shinsa sessions? Curious if this has been discussed, and what the more knowledgable think. -Sam