Jorgensen

Hi Brian, Luckily its possible to open a large picture from the Col Hartley website to better study and there are some spots and details that are identical and makes me sure its the same kozuka. Also when changing the angle of light reveals the same bumps and irregularities. Its the light on the pictures that makes the difference. I have pointed one of the spots out on this image, but thats only one identical out of many.

Hi Folks, I looked at the website of Col Hartley's Collection the other day and have this Kozuka I recognized immediately. It seems to be the very same one. So it of course was a little funny and made me want to know more. The Kozuka seems to be late Edo, but does any have an idea about school? Maybe someone even did know Dean Hartley and have seen it before? Below is the picture from his website and my own pictures for comparison.

I find dating swords boring. One way communication

Gentlemen, thank you very much for your help.

@ Malcolm: Thank you very much, much appreciated. @ Morita-san: Fantastic, thank you so much for taking time to make the picture as well. Very interesting and much appreciated. One question - Feudal Japan period is commonly reffered to be between 1185-1603... Do you think this Ajirogasa(?) are this old?... I realize we probably are closer to 1600cth, but anyway... If so, its in quite good condition and taken really good care of.

Hi all, I would kindly ask for your help to translate the kanji on this Jingasa. If any is familiar with the Mon, please let me know. Thank you very much.

Dear collectors, Recently this wakizashi was showed to me and normally I have no doubt if its a fake blade or not, but this one I had a little difficult to figure out. At one side the hamon and other things screams fake at first look, but on the one hand the geometry of the blade and some other points is not that bad as seen on other fakes and the filemarks on top of nakago makes me wonder?? My thought is this maybe could be a overly cleaned/bad amatour polish (with acids involved perhaps) that makes kanji/horimoni/hamon looks worse/like this. Anyway - I turned the blade down, however this blade at some points got me doubtful. What do you folks say?

This might help with the stamp

Some additional pictures

Thank you all for commenting. Ford: Well said and I agree with you, tsuba is too well made to be for export and composition and lines are done with care and skill. I fell for this tsuba because of the size and funny design and sure bought it with the heart. Kunitaro: You just know everything (no, nooo... no envy from here :lol: )... Thank you very much for explaining the design, this is interesting and I appreciate to know the story behind the motif. You mention Owari/Mikawa tsuba smith and when looking at some pictures of Owari Nobuiye and Shoami Nobuiye (Mikawa province), I noticed there are some similarities in shape, appearance of metal etc... I am not saying its Nobuiye at all - it sure isnt! -just there are some similarities, that might support the idea of a Owari or Shoami/Mikawa tsuba smith. My own guess from beginning was Shoami... Junichi: I had the thought myself it could be a reworked plate. But its only 4 mm thickness and composition and all makes me feel the tsuba was born this way. But... difficult to know for sure. I am sorry, the large Tsuba we are discussing on this thread is not available to view on the website yet. The Yamagane tsuba on the picture for comparison (the "small" one) is on the website.

Thanks for your comments. The tsuba looks nicer irl than on pictures (shot with an iphone) and tsuba also have sekigane and seem to have been mounted sometime. As many comment and like the other tsuba - its for sale! - offers are welcome. Look at good pictures of it here: http://tanto.dk/product/tsuba-guri-bori/

Hi. Welcome to the board. Best way to get knowledge is what Steve said, go to sword shows and ask some questions here too (Please dont forget to sign post with your real name, as its a rule on the board)

Anyone dare to give it a shot?

Absolutely fake, no doubt. One hint... the filemarks are not even and very poorly done... amongst all the other issues stated by the other members.

It makes me think of Mito school, but I am not sure quality of workmanship is good enough for that... others here are much more knowledgeable than me and maybe can tell...

Stephen. Nice set of Tempo Tsuba. If you like Tempo Tsuba, you might like to see this one: http://tanto.dk/product/tsuba-tempo-skole/ However, to serious, my favorite piece is my naginata-naoshi Daido blade: http://tanto.dk/product/naginata-naoshi ... ami-daido/ Even the blade surely needs a polish, its my favorite big time. I like this thread, many very, very beautyful items indeed. People has good taste and have done well I think.

It was hard to choose, but this is my favorite piece

Alex... It was meant as a statement. Look forward to the reveal. Soon please, are curious

It has some Akasaka feeling...??

Dear collectors, I have got this tsuba and wondering if any can tell the school? Tsuba is large, measures 10.5 cm x 10.1 mm. Last picture is common katana size tsuba for comparison.

Yes, this is actually the blade! None of us did know blade have had been for sale here in the past. The pictures are really bad though.

The blade may perhaps be from 1500's or 1400's. The papers dont tell. Its just the information that was given to my friend from the seller of the blade and the seller has from where he bought the blade. My intention was not to debate the school og age of this blade, but to debate that what is written in books are considering mizukage as sign of retember and as fatal flaw and others say this is wrong and consider mizukage as a kind of utsuri that is brought out at the original tempering process of the blade. Are the books misleading in this subject? So far I think yes.

APOLOGIES!!! ... Not hira-zukuri... my bad - had a melt-down! Nagasa is 63 cm and has shape of Nagamaki shape without yokote. The blade is attributed to Shimada school. I have asked about it here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=19993 I do not have more pictures than this by now.

The other day I was presented a very beautiful 1300cth hira-zukuri katana blade in superb polish and noticed a clearly visible 45 degree line at the beginning of the hamon. Quickly remembering what I have read in several books its a sign of retempered blade and considered a fatal flaw. I told this to the owner of the blade and he pulled out Connoisseurs book from the shelves and the book support this. But - the blade is ubu and have HOZON paper and I was wondering how this is possible, if its a fatal flaw. It suddenly crossed my mind that I have seen this before when talking about utsuri and found what I have read before here: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/utsuri.html. After seeing this blade and the HOZON papers, I have no doubt that I think Mizukage should be (in this case) considered as Utsuri. SO - I would like to ask you - what do you think? is Mizukage signs of a retempered and a flaw - or is it Utsuri??

Thank you very much for your help gentlemen.