Fred Geyer

what notches are you reffering to ?? can you share a photo of the back side of this set ? Fred

Dan, I have read the book "and few others" and as a new guy to the tsuba world you need to keep reading, and maybe also look at the dealer web sites that are out there to see real tsuba and see their differences in your tsuba and what real tsuba look like and the details from the different schools. If you like Namban ..so do I.... yet I wonder what you saw in your tsuba to put it to the group of Namban?? No wrong answers here I what to keep all new collectors to this great study and hobby ! Fred

Here is another item from my collection on Japanese stuff, from Kyoto 1600 Kind of looks the same , made small and put on a tsuba Fred

Pete you are 100% right there also, a seen symbol of odd foreign things ! Back then they loved it, there are so many books on the odd namban things that where put into the Japanese culture Fred Geyer

StevenK , you noted superficial resemblance is not enough...."the devil is in the detail"... OK is that money on the bottom a male or female???? do a little digging into the style and paintings from 1550 to 1650 you do not have to have Lillies on it "I get the name" Also the object is represented in a .20 space and done from a visuial interpretation hard to put the "details" in a mass produced object. The French were in China by 1560 but he main push was by 1685 and by the late 1700 there are notes showing over 150,000 Roman Catholics in China So this style or symbol of the cross was seen by many in many places and I am sure copied as well as the other objects represented on this tsuba Fred Geyer

This is a French Fleur De Lis Cross and they never made it to Japan before the "Boiling party so to say" started !!, I have this same style tsuba but mine has silver still left in the cross so meant to be seen !! Yet they have two odd points 1) plain seppa dia and the the Fleur cross so old 1550 then late 1860 so not for sure about these. Unless they are VOC cast then chased and cleaned up, but mine shows a lot of corrosion in the inner pattern so not 1860 and looks every bit of 1550 to 1610 which is right So this is one of the "Hummmm" tsuba?? Why this style of cross when never there ?? Maybe China tsuba ?? or India tsuba ?? As French had a very small base at these locations and we know the Imports were strong from both so just one of them to history. Fred Geyer

Ford, Sorry I got half way down down your responce and went ot REPLY !! Fred

Ford, Love you man!!! you are a greatest artist of today that I know of !!!! , but you cant call it a genuine piece as it is not a tsuba it is just "metal Art" it was never made to mount on a sword so it cant be a tsuba.... I fully understand how you noted it above and it was correct …,sort of. But for the 5 of us on this site "that I know of" who study the heck out of tosogu. I feel that we have to define tosogu or metal art I feel this can head to a really bad way … what's next, well this is great Chinese reproduction ???? Again Ford sorry but I feel very strong on this, we all know when swords became prohibited ...the last day of a tsuba! Fred

Ben, will say this best and sweet as I can, but enough make-up on a it and change the lighting Victoria secret model all that goes away...just a reproduction tsuba ?.. Fred

Ben, So the rounding of the of the corners and lack of filing edges or maybe say "hard" sharp corners first problem of the nakago -ana made to fit a sword ever seen a rounded sword nakago …. answer ...never sharp and clean....tsuba made to fit always ! also please note the that the seppa dai not clean and sharp why is the seppa -dai there ??? the tsuba it a work of art and a wonderfully engraved , inlaid , love them !!! but it had a purpose and always made for that one reason first. Fred

Ben, For me it was the seppa-dai and the nakago-ana shape both are never made to mount a sword to Fred

Ben, Stop on the tsuba buys that is a reproduction. Go to a sword show or get some books and look at dealers sites it is a great hobby and study but start off with going down the right road first Fred

Hey Robert did you get my email ?? Fred

So here I go...…... , what Darcy is saying is 100 percent true my time line was 18 years and looking at a ton of Juyo blades and also going to as may NBTHK American exhibits at shows as I could seeing the best and...... truly studying the best. When you see why they went Juyo and what it takes to move a sword or fittings to the next level you will somewhat understand the "tooth pick".... fittings student not master comment ! Many years ago I saw the best fittings and swords at a showing in Japan and held many Nanbokucho blades that looked like Shinshinto and Ichijo tsuba and Goto sets and one Masatsune tsuba that I knew I had to start over and now I have a different thought about great is ... as I saw great... always study great ! So now I hear it in the group "well I cant afford great" ...so 18 years of study and as Darcy notes just knowing what to look for my last 2 Juyo , one from a gun show $800 the other off a online site $1800 in the last 2 years. So to a person who kind of sets on the side line, its OK if you love a sword that will never go Juyo ...I have them and same on fittings you love it GREAT study , learn , read, study more ...go to shows go to the NBTHK displays study and see great anytime you can ...everyone STUDY ..STUDY ...STUDY ....you will know the lemon in duct tape and you will be.... DAMN I really see JUYO !!! OK I am done ! Happy Thanksgiving everyone ! Fred

who has the group photo I want one ! Fred

just got home, had a great time THANKS Robert!! ton of food, gallons of drink great freinds and and a surprize concert by the three tenors...well sort of Fred Geyer

Just got home, as always Fred did a great job on the show and did a really cool display for the NBTHK of "Odd Things" huge kozuka and a kogai that could have been used for a boat oar !! kosherae trhat held money and writing tools! Saturday was a very busy day ! Fred Geyer

I am upgrading so I will be bringing alot of higher end swords and fittings, so stop by my tables and take a look.... make a fair offer and take home a new treasure !! Fred Geyer

I put on a really nice boys sword and a set of 8 books all in one and a rare naval silver box Take a look ! https://www.ebay.com/itm/163140935813?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649 https://www.ebay.com/itm/163140867181?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

https://www.ebay.com/itm/163100494650?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649 ebay link to a rare set of swords from my collection published in Dawsons book If bought through the NMB will donate $150.00 to NMB! Fred

Are there dated items out there to see signature or construction styles to place them into the right generation ? Fred

Thanks for all the great information and your advise, that is what is great about this site ! Fred

Dave ...all i can say is WOW!!! Thanks ! So Ian and Dave's comments which I printed off.... is it worth fixing the inner cloth liner?? I have always really liked armor, know nothing about it I look for you two to point me in the right way here to the piece justice Fred

Thanks !!! Off to study this guy! Fred