Dereks

Hello Dan, There were many different patination methods, each using unique formulas. Additionally, some tsuba were painted with urushi . If you look at the flowers on top, you might notice they are covered with something. This suggests the tsuba was likely rusted, and the surface was coated with paint or urushi to protect it. The flaked-off parts you see are likely a combination of the rusted layer and the paint.

Brainstorming about hundreds of years back is not the right way to prove this. Then I could say "If they couldn't afford a new one, they probably bought second hand..and they added some copper stuff(sorry i don't know it's name) to seppa dai and made it fit to their swords" Maybe some people did try to make cast iron tsuba during the Edo period but found them to be very fragile, so they stopped. And let’s say you came across some of those early experimental pieces—there you have it: an Edo-period cast iron tsuba. So what? Is it really going to change anything? Right now, people with so much more experience than me says they didn't see any cast iron tsuba from the EDO period. If I'm going to contradict them, I need something solid. To do that, I need years of experience. So, as of this moment, who am i to do that. Even if I look at hundreds of tsuba on Google and post some pictures here that appear to be cast iron, they’ll ask me to prove it—and I won’t be able to. And I’m not going to contradict or fight them just because they have a different opinion. If I need to prove this, I’ll need time and access to the required information. And I won’t be finding that information in English books or websites. As I said, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter much(for me). I'd rather spending my time learning what is already available and better. Thanks

Yes, I read the whole thread, and my answer is: I don’t know. I don’t have access to old books in Japanese libraries, and I don’t know Japanese. I believe that’s where the answer lies—not here. However, from what I’ve read, if I were to make a guess, the Edo period was a time of peace, and they didn’t need to make tsuba in bulk as they did in earlier periods. During the Edo period, tsuba became more like jewelry—something to make one stand out. Additionally, tsuba makers had much more time to practice their craft and come up with new ideas. So, I believe tsuba makers invested their time in quality rather than rushing their work. That was probably the best way to attract new customers. If they had made cast iron tsuba, I’m sure clients would have noticed the difference, and none of them would have wanted to lose customers. So, maybe they did, or maybe they didn’t. And quite honestly, it doesn’t matter much.

The papered tsuba in your previous post is in good condition, so it must have been well taken care of and protected. In your last post, first tsuba is in better condition than the second one. Second one is corroded and patina is eaten out.. that's the reason seppa dai looks different.

I've just started learning but I don't think the last tsuba is cast. Also the texture feels normal to my eyes, happens with patination process and with age! So it's probably an older Tsuba. Second one seems late edo, also lacquered on smooth iron but I may be wrong.

Hey Dan, i think those are not the same mon.

How do you even know these were owned and wore as a set by the same person?

Excellent, Okan! Please let me know if you ever want to sell this.

I’m a new collector and am currently fixing to buy my first Tsuba from a Japanese dealer. I’ve been reading the Tsuba section for some time now, and as John stated, my first Tsuba will be a papered one. Not Tokubetsu Hozon, as they are very expensive, but a regular NBTHK Hozon. It is $400. It will be a good piece for learning and studying. This way, as a beginner, I will know exactly what I’m buying. ps: Last month, I used ebay to buy my first tsuba book.

@Dan tsuba "It's quite a harmless addiction, I must say" Just to be clear, it was meant for you.

No, not a dealer, but this very forum. Actually, the idea was given about swords, not tsuba, but I thought the same rule might apply to both. The idea was that instead of buying many $1k–$2k swords, I should buy one really good sword. - It’s quite a harmless addiction, I must say.

This was exactly my point! If I don’t handle some good pieces, how can I differentiate them from lower-level work? Pictures sometimes don’t do them justice, and I can’t zoom in enough to see the details.

@Dan tsuba Thank you for the explanation. I think I’ve got it. But if you buy one tsuba a month, doesn’t that mean you’re addicted?

@Dan tsuba I’m new to this hobby, but I don’t agree with you on that point. If you’re serious about this, I don’t think constantly looking for tsuba you can afford is the best way to learn. What’s wrong with buying a $500 tsuba instead of 2–3 $150 tsuba? Don’t you think you could learn more from better-quality pieces? Ebay, Yahoo, and Jauce are full of lower-level tsuba. A forum member once gave me similar advice regarding swords. He told me that if I was serious about collecting, instead of buying $1k–$2k swords, I should save up and aim for better names or schools. That way, I’d have higher-quality pieces in my collection(maybe not 10 but only 3) and could learn much more from them. I don’t know how many tsuba you currently have, but wouldn’t you rather have only 5 Tokubetsu Hozon papered ones instead of 50 lower-level ones? (I'm not qualified to judge, it's just a question)

I got it! Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you for the insights @Alex A. I don't have the budget to get this blade polished..Do you think using uchiko ball with soft touch would help the blade become less shiny? Or should I avoid it at all costs?

Thank you Kirill! Did you able to see the video of it? Seems like no one watched it. https://streamable.com/8em1wy Explains my "shiny" concern better. Thanks again

Hi guys, I found a Shinto sword today in my local pawnshop, and it had no signature, but it was cheap enough to buy. The seller told me the previous owner got this blade from Japan and that it had been polished(not sure if it's true or not). It looked okay under dim light, but when I looked at it back home, I found it a little too shiny (not sure if that’s the right way to describe it). Do you think it’s a bad polish? I have 3 days to decide and can return it. https://streamable.com/8em1wy Thanks a bunch!

Hey Steven, What type of hada does it have? The pictures are a bit distant. Also, are there visible scratches on the hadori?

Wrong section...again...

Hello, Can you please help me out with translation? Much obliged!

Dan, Why are you throwing the same 2 year old "Tsuba casting molds" thread in every discussion? Are you a child? Stop playing the victim and move on.

Dan, Did you read his thoughts closely? He explains the difference between collecting and hoarding, advises a beginner to learn first and develop his taste before building a collection, and warns against buying everything in sight. He doesn’t label someone with 1,000 tsuba as a hoarder. (Don’t get me wrong, but could it be that it bothers you maybe because you see yourself that way?) He is also a genuinely nice person, with a very nice collection, and patiently helps beginners like me. Sorry to say but no one will ignore his thoughts just because you said so.

Thank you, Okan. I have one more question if you don't mind, why there are no dragonflies on the shakudo based parts but water dragons? Does that mean parts were made by different people in different cities who didn't have the chance to communicate and matched together at the last stage? Hope that makes sense. Thank you

I already have 2 books but they have no info on koshirae, only blades. I will get more and more in the near future. Do you think those yellow flowers on the koshirae are real gold? And the base is darkened bronze? What makes this for the rich samurai only? Thank you!