WalterS

Just about photos... Most digital cameras take pictures at very high resolution compared to what can be displayed on a computer screen. So this might work better: 1) Make sure the picture is in focus. The thing you are photographing might look small, but make sure it is in focus. 2) Get a jpeg editing program like Irfanview. (Irfanview is free. Irfanview.com) 3) Load in your photo and crop it to show just the item of interest. 4) Resize the photo to match the forum requirements. 5) Save and upload!

Thank you to everyone for the thoughts. The tsubas at Japaneseswords.com do look very similar, and the second one is even very similar in dimensions. Anyone know of any modern repos of this pattern?

Sticks to a magnet. Definitely ferrous.

Hi, that first one looks superficially like one I just posted up... I'm a complete newbie. How would you describe that tsuba? Hi ... Walter? I am a perennial newbie, posting and hoping for comments myself. I have shown this tsuba to a few people but no information was forthcoming. One artisan said the work is not too complicated, but it would be too much effort to make something like this today, and with the price of silver hardly worth the effort. The copper tsuba interior is covered without in silver on both sides and then a fukurin is added internally and externally to cover the seams. It is worked in Nanako. That's about it. Sorry! Yep, Walter. Thanks for the info. I didn't realize it was a "constructed" piece, I thought that was just light reflecting off it. The description makes me appreciate even more.

Thanks for the replies. Dimensions: about 68 mm wide, 73 mm tall, 6 mm thick. The nakago ana is about 28 mm high. Material: I believe it is steel, just based on the appearance of the metal on the inside surface of the nakago ana. I have some background with steel and wrought iron through bladesmithing, but I am not familiar with other forms Japanese iron might take. It does not seem to be wrought iron in any case. Where the gold remains on the rim you can see cross-hatching. This is what made me think that it was gold applied to the rim, and not just paint or brass. On other parts of the rim, the rusting has completely obliterated the gold and the pattern. BTW, I am (perhaps obviously ) not familiar with terms and history here... so please feel free to correct my terminology or point me in useful directions. I realize I have jumped into your forum with both feet and appreciate any help given.

Hi, that first one looks superficially like one I just posted up... I'm a complete newbie. How would you describe that tsuba?

Hi everyone, I acquired this tsuba in a transaction that went a bit wrong... Now I'm wondering what I have. It was stated that this was "antique" with no other information. At this point I just want to know what it is, I'm not expecting much. I can't see any mold marks. The rim looks like it once had gold leaf applied. Thanks for any insight people have. Cheers, Walter one side the other side close up of the pattern sideview. you can see the edge with a bit of the gold.