Mark C

Hi Koichi, Thanks for that, it now makes sense. Any ideas on the age? I was thinking Edo but have no idea if it would be early, mid or late. Regards Mark

Hi Stephan, I've known Don for a few years now and he is a freindly, knowledgeable chap with good stuff. Whatever time you have allowed yourself to go and see Don, Treble it :lol: :lol: I agree with Ford, a good pint can be had above. Have a good time in London. Regards Mark

Hi all, Can I please have any thoughts on this tsuba that I picked up today. 72mm Round. Thickness=4mm I think the subject is maybe reeds/grasses, unsure what the brass dots are that seem to be in pairs. The patina is a lot darker in real life as this was taken on an unusually sunny day here in the UK. On the last picture, are these marks made when the tsuba was made? Many thanks for your help Mark

Hi Rich, Thats the answer I was hoping for . For some reason I got myself very worried as my tsuba/kozuka wasn't of a landscape scene. Many thanks for your help. Regards Mark

Hi All, With reference to an earlier post regading A Tsuba and Kozuka signed Someya Tomonobu, I have found that he specialises / is known for his landscape scenes. The tsuba I have is of a tiger in bamboo and the kozuka is of a dragon. Does this make my Tsuba/kozuka likely to be gimei Or did tsuba artists "dabble" in lots of different styles Many thanks for your help Mark

Hi All, Thanks for all your help. I will still have to get my head around that after possible reshaping from a naginata there is an 1" Kaeri Was there shape changes in naginata over the various era's Again, many thanks mark

I was thinking along those lines and edging towards the Nagamaki for the following, probably way off reasons :? the boshi has a turn back of about an inch Would you get this on a naginata naoshi or a nagamaki naoshi after all the reshaping:?: Like i say, probably way off. mark

Hi All, Have just picked up this blade in wakizashi mounts (tsuba posted earlier). can i ask for help on shape identification. is it a, Naginata naoshi, Nagamaki or Nagamaki naoshi Any help greatly appreciated. regards mark

Hi All, Located from where the pics have been copied, so Definately a fraud. http://www.ksky.ne.jp/%7Esumie99/sword10.html Many thanks Mark

Hi Nobody, Rich, Ludolf, Wow, what can I say but thanks. With only one book in my library on tsuba I rely on the www for info, so I would have never got to this stage without your help. I know there is not one book that does all but is there a good starter book on tsuba Again thank you all for your time and effort Regards Mark

Thank you Nobody, I have looked in the only book I have of Tsuba (Japanese swordguard artists) and there is a yoshinobu listed, hamano school, late Edo. I was having a go at the inscription and I have managed to pick out Ichi, Nen, Jyu and Roku but thats about it as I'm way out of my depth here :? . Again many thanks regards Mark

Hi all, I have a nice wakizashi with a soft metal Tsuba (brass?) and a dragon kozuka. I think they are signed the same and as I have only one book on tsuba and can't seem to find it, can anyone please identify them for me. The kogatana is signed sagami (no) kami masatune. Also on the reverse of the tsuba there is a long inscription/mei. Many thanks for your help. regards Mark C

Hi Paul, Thats good news and thanks for the update. Just for interest, an article appeared in todays Sun newspaper, It reads: "Samurai swords , used in more than 80 crimes in four years, are to be banned by the end of this year. Owning, importing or hiring them could mean six months jail and a £5000 fine. Real martial arts experts will be exempt. Home office minister Vernon Coaker said: "Dangerous weapons will be out of circulation" Owning a samurai sword is leagal now as long as it is not brandished in public" Many thanks Regards Mark C

Hi All, Last tsuba for a while, i promise :D The tsuba is 63mm wide, 67mm high and 6mm thick. would the mimi be of rope design Any help of age would be greatly appreciated. many thanks regards mark

Hi all, Another tsuba that I'm having trouble with. It is 72mm high, 70mm wide and 5.5mm thick. I think the mei could be Nobumune. It would seem that I always get the things with part of the mei missing or worn away :lol: Also, Is it normal to have two Kogai hitsu-ana Any help, greatly appreciated many thanks Regards Mark

Hi Eric, This was removed from a metal gunto saya. It is just showing what Simon meant by inscriptions on saya liners. to remove it from a metal saya you should be able to remove the koiguchi by unscrewing it's 2 tiny screws and then you can very carefully remove the wooden liner" Many thanks Mark

Hi Eric, just for interest. here's a pic of a spare saya liner that I pulled out of a knackered gunto saya. I have no idea what it says. regards Mark

Hi Pete and all, Wow, many thanks for all the information, must have been some man to drink 20 litres of wine and be able to get up I did LOL on the other options. Milt - have you the pair of menuki? Any idea what the other side is, there seems to be a smaller version coming from behind the door just below Hankwai. Again many thanks Regards Mark

Hi p-joseph, I have one to, It is signed Kazutoshi, probably WW2. Hope this helps Regards Mark

Hi Sergio, Sencho and Nobody, Sorry about that, I don't know what I was thinking and what makes it worse is that I have one almost identicle to yours At least I got the Masatsune correct. regards Mark

Hi Sergio, I'll have a go with "Bingo Minamoto Masa Tsune" many thanks regards mark

Hi All, After a couple of hours on the net I have came up with the following: The face is Shoki, the Demon Queller. Shoki is usually depicted brandishing a large sword and hunting down Oni. What I cant work out is what he is hunting or hiding from, is it Oni or a lion Also is that a moon or sun set on the other side of the tsuba Am I getting close :? Many thanks regards mark

Hi All, I have just picked up this iron aori gata tsuba. the face is, I think copper and the long strip I think is copper as well. As I know very little about tsuba, a couple of questions if I may. 1 - what are the scenes on both sides depicting? 2 - any ideas of age and maker? many thanks all regards Mark

Hi all, Thanks for your help. Certainly lots of different angles of attack :D I will investigate all the options and if they draw a blank then I think I will put it away until the Shinsa team visit the UK again. Again many thanks Regards Mark

its almost last orders at the bar here. a quick picture of part of the blade. Nagasa = 20 11/16 sori = 10mm, koshi sori regards mark