raven2

This is very interesting. I think you are hitting on some very good points.

Very nice Dave, I also got a kinko tsuba (suaka) as well as a very nice kogai (shakudo) (which I will post later as soon as I get pictures).

A lot of tsubas in this style are damned similar. That is the problem, people get tricked very easily because they look so close. You need to be able to look at the style and also the "feel" of the tsuba and by feel I mean both the quality of the iron and the impression you get from seeing it. Although the design of this tsuba is similar to Owari, it doesn't have the robustness or the "flow" that a true Owari would have. Try the suggested books, they will help you a lot. Also look on the websites in the links section here and look at the pictures and descriptions of the tsubas there.

Just goes to show you that a good libation can do wonders for your attitude and constitution, Dave. :D (BTW , that is my favorite libation)

Hi Andi, I would agree with your assessment. This tsuba has not had any bad rust damage but was manufactured that way. You can always feel the surface and see if the patination is the same over the whole plate. That would indicate that it has aged at the same rate. Not what would happen if it were damaged by rust. I have a couple of tsuba that are very uneven like yours but the metal is smooth as butter when you feel them.

I had a good time at the show. Picked up a couple of nice tsuba at good prices and also a nice kogai as well as a few other things. Seemed to be more people than last year and the auction, although small was a lot of fun. Good auctioneer. Lots of interesting material displayed and moved.

Me too :D

Congrats Dave. Kind of makes your day, doesn't it I'll be around tomorrow if you are. Usually can be found at Kit Mcnabb's booth. BTW everyone, Grey and Mark bought about 80% of Fred Geyer's tsubas so they have a number of nice new ones

Not going too badly Stephen, Attendance today was pretty good, It seems that some people are buying. Prices are pretty good. I got a nice kinko tsuba and a nice kogai for some good prices today.

Sorry to hear that. They way the weather has been it is a wonder that anyone is getting anywhere. I was lucky enough to come down yesterday. right in the middle of all the mess.

Hi Paul, You are right about continuing to let the sword deteriorate but I really don't think it is as big a problem as you think. It really isn't worth restoring but that doesn't mean you can't prevent the deterioration. Keep it oiled to prevent the rust from continuing any more damage. A light coating is enough.

Very nice Choshu tsuba. A good purchase for your first one.

beautiful piece, Gilles.

I think the new site is much better Dave. The galleries make it very easy to see the tsuba now. Good job.

Hi Tom, I am going to agree with Brain and Mariuszk here. The hamon does not look right to me (I think seki is a good bet) and the nakago has all kinds of problems. Why not try looking in the for sale area down below or try some of the dealers in the links section above. All of my blades have been acquired this way and I can say I have never been disapointed. Here are a couple of links to blades in the same price range: http://www.nihonto.us/MUMEI%20WAKIZASHI%20MP.htm http://yakiba.com/Wak_Echizen-Seki.htm -still an o-suriage shinto blade, but papered and in good shape with nice koshirae.

Here is a nice non-papered Owari for you, Christian.

Definitely Namban.

So Kevin, I hope this means that when you get enough information you will be showing us your wonderful interpretation of this

It certainly would be interesting and entertaining.

Very nice tsuba, Antti. You did a nice job on the pics with your new camera. It just goes to show you that if you take enough pictures, sooner or later you will get some good ones. :D In all seriousness, a tripod would help a lot.

Add me to Jean and Stephen's comments :D I am not much of a Namban fan but I do like this one. I think because it is not a too complicated and busy design.

I have now looked at it very, very carefully in as good a lighting conditions as I can get. Mariusz appears to be correct. The kaeri is quite long though hard to see towards the muni. The polisher has done a good job and the oshigata appears to be in error but it is not that easy to see. I can see how the person drawing the oshigata could have made an error in this case since I was also confused until I turned the intensity of the bulb down. It became more clear with less reflection on the blade. I think it is also important to remember that this is a Mihara blade and the boshi are very distinctive usually being either taki-no-otoshi (waterfall boshi) or tora-ano-o (tiger tail boshi) and so the kaeri should be quite long. So I don't think this is a case of a fallen boshi.

After taking some very close looks, it would appear that the oshigata are correct and the boshi do not extend quite as far down.

Good job, Antti. I like it very much.

You are right about that, George. I will take another look tonight when I get home and see if there is a difference.