raven2

You should make sure that you get any red (active) rust off of the piece. As long as it is not active, you should be OK.

Very nice tsuba btw, Jason. :D

Yes Thierry, Thanks, I just downloaded it also. It seems to work very well.

I agree with Brian. Number two is better but if it were me, I would pass on both of them.

Very nice, Paul. Beautiful hada. if the hamon is as nice, I am truly impressed.

I may be wrong but I believe that this lister is the same one who offers very badly deteriorated tsuba at very high prices on Ebay.

Custom brading, huh? I guess he uses a nail gun and brads to attach it to the tsuka.

I would have to go with Umetada also.

Absolutely beautiful work!

Here is the same piece or an exact copy: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Samura ... 2a385685b9

Interesting stuff. Certainly not cheap knockoffs, but I have to agree with Christian. I will stay with Ford and Kevin for modern pieces.

Thanks for the info Dave. I am still thinking Choshu.

I am not very good at mei but I believe it could be Kawaji. If so, it would make it Choshu. The workmanship certainly looks like Choshu to me. The color is a little light and that would probably make it late Edo.

I would go with Ko-Goto also although I do not have much experience here either. I do love the pieces however. Really nice.

Very nice :D

I would say Higo.

OK Ford, Now that is just wonderful. An amazing example of recycling. It reminds me of your comment on impermanence in my thread below. The repatination of my tosho tsuba being replaced, In this case, by the total transformation of the old nails.

Hi Dave, Yes, I looked at that one a few times, it appeals to me quite a bit. The metal is quite good.

A very nice piece, Dave. I saw it at the show and was impressed.

Well, this has been a good education and at least it hasn't been an expensive one. Thanks for all the info, Ford. I can see how people could confuse this, esp in the ko-tosho and ko-katchushi tsuba. A lot of them do seem to have that surface. The good thing to me is that I still like the tsuba, repatinated or not. It really is great to be able to get information and clarification from such a great source of knowledge.

Hi Jean, Thanks about the kogai. It is very nice and well made. I was very happy to be able to get it. The kinko is made of copper and I really don't think it is a repro although I think it is probably late edo/meiji. The seppa dai does have some faint marks on it and has wear marks on its high points so I do believe it has been mounted at some time even though it may not have been for long. Measurements ar 7.2 x 6.7 cm., 4.0 mm at the mimi and the nakago ana. The Tosho surface is definitely not a product of unintended corrosion. I showed it to Skip Holbrook at the show and he said the surface was worked and as Dave said very likely ishime-ji. If it had suffered that much corrosion, the sukashi would not have been in as good shape. I was having trouble deciding whether or not the "hot stamp" was actually stamped or chiseled. The more I look at it the more I think chiseling is the correct call. Measurements ar 7.1 x 6.9 cm., 3.0 mm at the mimi and 3.6 mm at the nakago ana.

Wow , you really did have a good show. I look forward to seeing the others. I was trying to reduce my numbers a bit, but it didn't happen. Sold two and bought two, as well as the kogai and a few other non nihonto stuff for my wife. I thought I was going to reduce the number until Sunday morning when I ran into the iron tsuba. the price was definitely a Sunday specia, so I picked it up.

Actually, that is the stand that I have. It is very graceful and still very Japanese.

Here are the new pieces I picked up at the show. I am really at sea about the kinko. If anyone has any ideas on it, I would be glad to hear them. At first glance, the iron tsuba is nothing special, but the surface has been nicely worked with hammer and punch, the hitsu ana has been lined, the omote has what I believe is a hot stamp at about 2:00 and the kiku has fine carving and is still in good shape. The kogai is my first one, but I love the ho ho birds and I think it is pretty well done.

I will try to get some up later today. I think mine is probably late Edo/ Meiji. I also usually just get iron tsuba but I really liked this one and so I deviated from my usual buying patterns. Andy usually does a pretty good job of IDing his pieces and I wouldn't have too many doubts but you never know until you research it.