KungFooey

Here you are Dan - your elusive unicorn at last. Think of it as a farewell gift from me. (I don't think even you will down-vote this one.) Membership Plans | LOT-ART

鐔(鍔)－ t-362 鐔 八代甚吾 桜に流水の図 鉄地銀象嵌 －　日本刀の通信販売　明倫産業株式会社

I felt an obligation to make a final comment on this thread as I promised to submit this tsuba to the NBTHK. My brother, who is based in Japan and still has the tsuba, attempted to submit to shinsa online yesterday. However, all available slots were filled within 14 minutes. So I guess we'll never know. Best wishes for 2025. Dee PS: Want to know why I quit the forum? Look at the emoticon responses to each of my comments on this thread alone. REALLY encouraging for a newbie.

Message received loud and clear Brian. Guess it's time to say goodbye to this forum. I'm obviously a square peg in a round hole here. Thank you to all the kind people who tried to help me and appreciated what I brought to the table. The kind PMs were much appreciated. Wishing everyone a very happy new year! Dee

"...no need to be mean"? That's pretty rich, John. 😂 If those guys dared show up on this forum spouting such incredibly inaccurate garbage (a star stamp and a chrysanthemum on water means a blade is "factory made"), they would be flayed alive by the resident cognoscenti. Dee

The correction was made before you even replied. You must have been absolutely itching to pull me up on that one. 😂

Hi Ivo, Yes, you have a hirazukuri (flat sided) tanto in aikuchi koshirae. It will all come together in time! 😉 Dee

So, my brother actually got the tsuba in hand today and made the following observations. (He just sent me an email Japan time.) It has some active rust around the mimi which will need some ivory work to tone down. The four 'folds' hammered into the steel are 'two up/ two down' in opposite corners so each side mirrors the other, but in reverse. I've included another photo to hopefully demonstrate what I'm trying to explain! Dee

Technically, 'tanto' simply refers to a blade less than one shaku while aikuchi is a koshirae style.

I think the mon is carved but, because the tang was shortened, its upper profile was changed and so cut off the side of the engraving. Dee

They had me by "the hammun". Collecting WW2-Era Japanese Samurai Swords - YouTube

Hi Steve, I stand corrected. 👍 I will definitely read more about the Goto school's history but I fear they will never be "my cup of tea", as the Brits say. I won't say more as I'm very wary of wandering 'off topic' again. Many thanks! Dee

That's a great lead to investigate, Dale - thank you so much! Dee

Awful to happen at any time but especially during this season. 😥 Please take care and I hope you get back to your keyboard soon. You definitely keep the board on its toes! Love Dee PS: are you sure it was a dog? The Wolf Man (1941) - Heaven Help You Scene (3/10) | Movieclips - YouTube

Thank you Soeren! Your comment echoes my own feelings on this tsuba perfectly. As stated in a different thread, I am not a fan of the Goto school; their exquisite workmanship is undeniable but they are not made for warriors - they are simply a gaudy display of wealth. Thank you also for the very interesting link! Love Dee

Thank you so much for all the comments so far, gentlemen - they are truly appreciated. I totally understand Stephen and Colin's views that it is a utilitarian - almost 'thuggish' looking - piece but I personally feel that the precise and delicate workmanship exhibited in the gilded umegane in the kogai hitsu ana and kozuka hitsu ana balances the practical 'brutality' of the design. Thank you all again for taking the time to look and comment! Dee PS: If anyone could hazard a guess as to possible school, that would be fantastic.

Strange you mention that Brian. Shown below was actually my first choice of tsuba from the same seller - until I saw the one I bought. Dee

My last request for assistance unfortunately turned into "a sad, boring pantomime" (to paraphrase two of the last comments) and it was entirely my own fault. I fell down a stupid rabbit hole of trading insults and petty mindedness. I wish to sincerely apologize for that and would like to begin afresh - if any members here are still willing to help me. The attached seller's pictures are of a tsuba I just won on Yahoo! Auctions which will first be sent to my brother stationed in Japan, as per my previous purchases. I was attracted to it because of its rather unusual design and large, solid dimensions; Length = 8.95cm Width = 9.0cm Thickness = 0.55cm Weight = 157.84 g. Any comments on this tsuba would be most gratefully received, whether they are critical of it or not. I will not respond to anything unrelated to the tsuba itself. This includes small talk, personal comments and even flattery. I will also ignore any icons after my responses. As Brian rightly says, "this is not a popularity contest". If I receive any abusive PMs (as has happened previously), I will disregard them and immediately block the person responsible. Thank you in advance for any constructive remarks about this tsuba's provenance or age. Dee

Hi Alex, I am very sorry if it came across as me being dismissive of your observations. It was not meant that way and I actually agree with what you say. I wouldn't recognize a koto tsuba if it hit me in the head. I've handled this thread very badly.

True.

Yes Jean, and I've seen topics unilaterally shut down and locked on that too. 🙄 I'm going to bed now - I have to be at the shooting range tomorrow morning.

Just lock the discussion then. I've learned everything I'm likely to about the tsuba anyway.

Better late than never, I guess. I work a crazy schedule in a very demanding job so I have a wide range of interests to relax with. I go to the gym five times a week and practice mixed martial arts. I'm also a gun enthusiast so you often find me down at the shooting range. I favor very powerful handguns and specific models are listed on my profile. My family is all military from way back and I have a younger brother currently stationed in Japan. I'm a mega history buff, often combining my love of ancient weapons with a study of the societies that produced them. I'm currently making lots of mistakes about tsuba. 😂 (But the guys here are teaching me a lot.) Reading literature has always meant a lot to me so I've now moved onto the Japanese classics such as The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon. I love animals and value all life. I suppose JD Vance would call me a single dog or cat lady - before I whupped his ass. Despite not liking him, I'm true red all the way but avoid talking politics whenever possible. Real glad to be on this forum - thanks for having me! Dee

Don't bother - I understand Egyptian hieroglyphs and Mayan as well.

Oh, Ma Kettle gets it just fine, Stephen. Apparently, you get a 'get out of jail free card' to be a never-ending pain in the butt if you're a paying Gold Member. All others had better beware.