cspage

Thank you, Brian! That's exactly what I was looking for (I know, I should have searched the Board first...). Good information that perhaps should be in some central location where all papering info could be found. Thanks again. Colin

Okeedokee then...Is the top paper legit? This is just trying to figure out what's what for someone with limited experience. Any info beyond the obvious to the experienced would be really helpful...apologies if that sounded somewhat ingracious, I am just functioning on what I can find available...but with grateful thanks to those responding, no disrespect at all intended. So, what's the solution here? Maybe the JSSUS could update their website? And the NBT might make their information more accessible? Please? Thank you both for your help, I am just trying to learn. Any futher suggestions really welcome. Thank you all. Colin

I'm looking for verification that the proffered papers as NBTK (sic) papers as listed on Bushi Art are authentic as they are markedly dissimilar to the sample posted on the JSSUS website. As attached. Thanks. Colin

Just in case someone wants to dig enough, AOI-Art, a few months ago, had a beautiful Ko-Uda katana with similar fuchi-kashirae. It sold and is no longer on the site and I don't know if they keep images, but someone might want to check with them to see if they could share the images for comparitive purposes. I deeply regret I did not download pics of that katana as I really really drooled over it and the koshirai, and the price was reasonable (alas, but not for me). Colin

...and, since you're new to the Board and apparently nihonto, Todd, the standard advice must be stated...don't do anything to the sword or fittings without prior consultation with experts. Do not muck about with the sword or you may lose whatever value it may have. Keep it as is until someone with experience has a chance to see it. Just a small bit of friendly advice. It looks good. Good luck and Lucky You! Colin

Oh yeah. It's very obvious. It's puzzling that someone would expect the difference not be noticed. Colin

Mike, thanks so much! And, in acknowledgement of Ford's observation, could you post the dimentions of your tsuba, please? It would be interesting to compare the thickness, etc. Thanks again. Colin

Well, this isn't going anywhere quickly. Mike, thank you so much for your contribution. If possible, could you post a pic of your tsuba? I would be interested in seeing it. Ford, I don't know if you're being circumspect, facetious or straight in your almost laconic response. Quite unusual for you. The reference to tsuba similar to those in books could lead one down another path concerning designs and differences between the book versions and the website versions, but that's another topic. Carry on. Colin

Recently I brought attention to this site on the Board recently, http://tsuba-no-bi.com/tsuba/Tsuba/52/. I am very curious about some of the tsuba designs found at the website and would like to engender some conversation about them, just the designs, please, not whether they are real or fake or cast or not, etc…just the designs, please. The tsuba are T00018, T00021 and T00050 (I hesitate to post pics here without permission of the site owner). These three designs in particular, strike me as being unusually dramatic and dynamic, two of them full of smooth fast big motion, almost “modern” in style, attributed to Late Muromachi/Early Edo and Edo Period. They are so different in “atmosphere” (a word the AOI-ART website often uses that I find agreeable) that I would love someone else’s take on them. The lobster tsuba is especially intriguing because of the unusual clean shape that works so well with the lobster sukashi, it is reminiscent of a broken seashell, perhaps. Any observations would be welcome. I admit that I am new enough to all this to have not seen enough tsuba to possibly take these as ordinary designs. This is also obviously an attempt to keep alive Ford’s discussion of the aesthetics of tsuba design, something I think is valuable. Any observations welcome. Thanks. Colin

I didn't see this site in the Links dropdown here and while most of y'all probably know about it, others who don't might be interested in these really spiffy tsuba. Would that one were weathly. Also, of course, I have no connection to the ownership or any financial interest in this site, other than I'd really like to be able to afford to purchase from them. The only bright light in this is that the Euro is currently not quite so strong against the dollar as it used to be (check out a new conversion and compare to the equivalents posted on the site). http://tsuba-no-bi.com/home/ Colin

Lovely! Thank you both, very much. Colin

Please, I've got most of this paper figured out, but there are some areas (in the red rectangles) that I would like translated, if someone would be so kind. I figure they are descriptions of design of the tsuba and while I know what it looks like, knowing the characters of that description and how they are arranged would be helpful. Moon and clouds. Thank you in advance. Colin

Thanks, Franco and Eric. Much appreciated. Colin

I expect that Ford will chime in with apt observations on appropriate submissions to this forum if asked on a case by case basis, if he feels like it, business as usual. He's not sailing off into the sunset. However, there could be a sub-topic started in this forum that elicits only aesthetic based critiques. I would be surprised if Ford is the only one here with an artistic background and expertise in design, and more than one point of view is always instructive, as many of the discussions here have proven. Someone comes across a tsuba that just knocks them out in design, posts it for discussion (not allowed would be... "isn't this the most god-awful looking tsuba you ever saw?"). Just an idea. Colin

Does the NBTHK or the NTHK paper swords with fatal flaws, or are the flaws inconsequential to the process? Colin

James, while I've absolutely no experience with this sort of thing, I figured that the logical solution would be custom made seppa, rather thick and fitted to the peaks and valleys of the tsuba, as very poorly illustrated in this sketch I just scratched. Perhaps a more learned member will have a better, legitimate answer. Colin

Russell, check out this: http://ghostexorcist.livejournal.com/2044.html While not a standard reference site, it does have a good description of the legend. A place to start. Colin

http://bushidoswords.com/swords/pid.493 ... tand.ihtml http://www.swords24.eu/product/descript ... and(KB-301).html http://www.sanmei.com/contents/en-us/d23.html http://www2.saganet.ne.jp/hasuike-itou- ... kake2.html Just a simple Google search, except the last listed, that I just stumbled upon. Hope this helps. Colin

Joe, first of all, I need to apologize to the good Dr. Stein as the article describing Ono tsuba is not Jim Gilbert's site, but Richard Stein's site. The article was written by Jim Gilbert. With that said, and keeping in mind I am still very much a learner, not a seasoned tsuba guy, my thoughts are that the ebay tsuba to which you are looking for comparison should be viewed with high suspicion and one should shy away from it. If you are looking for authentic examples of Ono or similar work (perhaps Yagu), stick to websites listed in the links dropdown at the top of this page, other learned resources and away from ebay. From my point of view, that ebay tsuba is a nasty piece of work, surface-wise, design wise, patina, etc (well...maybe not nasty, but there's just something that rubs me the wrong way. It seems way over the top in busyness). And it lacks the simplicity and quiet heavy strength of character of Ono/Yagu type work (something your tsuba does contain to a certain degree). Just IMHO. Perhaps someone else feels differently; I'd be interested if they'd weigh in. Colin PS. You may notice that tsubas are usually displayed with the nakago ana's muni side down, as one would view them as they are worn at the waist. Just something to remember. I posted some tsuba pics with the tsuba upside down myself some time ago and heard about right away.

I would just like to take a brief moment to mention how impressed I am with the cool commonsense Brian exhibits in sensitive situations such as mentioned in his post above. Keeping a clear vision of the underlying mission of this forum, he inevitably comes through with concise reasoning and diplomatic verbiage to keep things on line and, thankfully, the Forum out of litigation. Colin

Peter, I stumbled across this on John Berta's website. It is also similar to your tsuba, more so than the one I have. He lists it as Kanayama, Edo Period. http://gaiginsjapaneseartsword.ca/SukashiTsubal.htm Scroll down the page. He doesn't list the dimensions, but you could probably email him for details. Colin

It would my guess that the top and bottom of the seppa-dai represents Ginko leaves. Colin

Peter, here is one of my tsubas that was presented as Akasaka when I bought it. While not the spitting image of yours, there are some design features that are similar. The surface wear seems more pronounced on your tsuba and while design cannot be a characteristic in itself for certain identity, it could be a place to start. Colin

One thing that struck me in the first example is the uniformity of the texture throughout the entire tsuba. Also the uniformity of the distribution of the rustiness. While not totally secure in using "uniformity" as a general measuring guide, there's seems to be something fishy about such uniformity where one might expect some variations. I count it just as one check point to consider in evaluating fake or real, not a "make it or break it" feature. And in many cases, I'm sure, uniformity would be expected. Colin

A suggestion, and probably unreasonable one, would be to require newbies, after their initial post identifying themselves as such, to visit the FAQs, Glossaries, etc. before being allowed to post further...sort of dictatorial, but often a "required reading list" is part of a university course of study. I suppose it would be hell to monitor. Maybe something like..."(PLEASE!) READ THIS BEFORE PROCEEDING TO POST QUESTIONS"... Would there be relative basics for tosogu (cast/not cast tsuba, etc)? Colin