Shuko

My temple example.

I would recommend the new book to anyone with an interest in collecting tsuba and tsuba history. As my library is relatively new I also bought the other 2 books and have many months of reading ahead of me.

Ok, so how to pay you ? thx

Dale How much in OZ pesos for all three paperback copies plus the combined postage to Sydney ? e.g. when the 3rd book is published thx ps: your retirement display didn't have anything on bras and what the different sizes mean in posture, weight and handling efforts................

Around 1963 I was quite young (11) and my father had been buying random swords at auction in Sydney, including some Japanese which I still have. We were frequent visitors to the Blue Mountains and there was an antique dealer in a small shop at Blackheath next to the railway. He had a superb looking katana in full polish in a simple black saya, can't recall the koshirae. Anyway I fell in love with this katana which was ten guineas (e.g. pre-decimal) but with my modest savings I was about three guineas short. So I tried to get aa advance on my allowance but no luck and the dealer wouldn't accept holding it with time payments from a child. We went back to this shop at least two more times but on the third time the katana had been sold. I still long to get this katana plus get one of the swords my father gave me polished by a togishi but with only one (Andrew) here in OZ it also is proving difficult.

Just bought a modestly priced tsuba because of it's design. Is there any meaning to this design ? It doesn't appear to be a totally random design to me with my limited tsuba knowledge. Any comments welcome. thx

the broken blade will be up on eBay soon ...........................

A chapter on "interpreting listings" e.g. what may not have been accurately describe, what is missing, incredibly bad photos and masterful bullshit descriptions etc

The tsuba has been made from cutting it out of a large katana tsuba (damaged ?). On one outer side I can see the cutting marks and it is uneven. The only sword it fits is a very large katana but it looks stupid. The nakago-ana is too big for any tanto or normal wakizashi or slender katana. The Japanese seller made an honest mistake in describing it as a tanto tsuba purely based on its diameter and I didn't notice the plastic ruler across the whole tsuba which did indicate it had a large nakago-ana. The seller offered me a refund or discount but as this was a cheap tsuba I didn't worry as I intend to buy more later on. So we both had a tsuba lesson

Thanks for the information Jean, and yes I did mean yoroi doshi. Will measure this tsuba when it arrives and see what fits as I have a few tanto with motokasane from 6 mm to 9 mm. cheers

Anyone have an Edo or earlier wari kogai they are willing to sell ? Not looking for anything special, just a basic set. Prefer a local purchase in Australia/New Zealand if possible but not essential. Thanks

Can anyone enlighten me on the shape or style of this tsuba and the approximate era ? Just bought it because of it's shape and if I am lucky it will fit one of my yorio toshi. Thanks in advance.

Description Edo period (1603-1868) Both with Shibuichi Nanako (fish roe ground) with shakudo and gold, one depicting a scrolling dragon clasping a flaming pearl, among cloud, and one small depicting chrysanthemums. Condition Report: Some slight wear to raised areas.

I was interested in 20 items but the strong bidding dampened my hopes for most of them as the estimates were way off when the serious bidding started about 10 minutes before auction closing times. Bought the two kozuka bare blades, item 77 and ended up with two kogai as I don't have any, items 121 and 123. Final buy was a normal kozuka and a small kozuka, item 140. Would appreciate any comments on these kozuka. I found the Philips auction staff to be very helpful.

I really need to win Powerball ...............................

Some lucky buyer got this ANTIQUE Japanese KATANA SWORD AND WOODEN SHEAF, SIGNED TO BLADE, WITH STAND for a mere Aus $1,100. So you all missed out ....................

Can anyone help me with this translation. Using the MS Nihonto Compendium as a beginner I arrived at: ko ....? tsune tomo suke Thanks in advance.

I wish a few nice tanto would follow me home .......... Good buy Brian.

Hi Need help with translating the name of the smith and the date this blade was made (August 1492 ?). Does anyone know what the inscriptions represent ? Any general comments appreciated too. Stll learning how to take decent photos. Thanks in advance.

why so few books .....................................................

Was amazed this week by Japan Post and Australia Post. Bought a wakizashi on 14/12/23 and I had it in my hands on 19/12/23 so a total of 5 days from the seller in Tokyo to me here in Sydney !

my wife refused to buy this as a Xmas present for me ..................................................

Ok, then a lot of Chinese need to be prosecuted for deliberates forgeries, luckily most as so poor that anyone with a basic sword knowledge would avoid them.

Ian I would be interested in any tanto or tanto parts that he wants to sell. I need some tanto sayas - any condition. cheers Clive