Tcat

Quite common. Popular themes were made over and over, with designs copied between schools and down the ages. Workshops also often made fittings in batches, so you can come across 'identical' examples. Same with tsuba.

The ana appear to be '壷笠' or pot lid shaped. Given that they could be atobori, I wonder what the significance of that may be.

SOLD. Sent you ten bucks Brian, paypalled from me on June 13

Tsuba is on hold.

A big pro of shinshinto IMHO is you can get healthy, nice polish nearly flawless blades in old shapes for a low price. It's where I think a lot of newcomers on a budget should start out. The con is usually not so impressive activities in the steel and 'lack of historical relevance', the latter you can get around by focusing on smiths of note or those making weapons intended for use, eg Aizu smiths during the Boshin war. Some of the most beautiful swords and fittings ever made were produced during this period.

Blades like this typically don't command much on the market. Its a mass-produced user piece from its time. Worn-down mumei muramachi blade with big flaws and out of polish. Artistic value is approximately nil, though it does have historical value as an example of what it is, not to mention it would probably still poke a hole in something just fine if needs be. Without any koshirae your market gets smaller. I have a similar one in a similar state I would let go for a hundred bucks and a beer..though you might do a little better. Please note I am not an expert and this is not financial advice.

Japanese yes, late muromachi period.

$60+shipping, NMB will get $10

The tsuba is signed “Yoshitaka saku” - I think this is referring to Komai Yoshitaka (駒井美雄) , oldest of three sons of Komai Seibei (駒井清兵衛) who founded the Komai school in 1841. Yoshitaka was born the same year. The Komai brand later became famous for making overlayed cigarette cases, decorative boxes and similar works. Signature examples (the second is not to my knowledge authenticated, but I believe it): More info on the famous “S. Komai” school and its origins - http://www.smokingsamurai.com/KOMAI_S.html

The mimi on this little tsuba is pretty cool, perhaps the star of the show. The work goes all around like in the photo above so looks really good side on or when mounted. No takers at 85 USD shipped? Bumping with a special NMB Ninja price of $75 shipped CONUS, (add 11 bucks for international shipping). I will donate $10 of proceeds from this sale to Brian for NMB server upkeep. If you pay 85 I’ll send him 20! 🤣

Nice. This is a WWII era sword, upper pic sig reads "Koa Isshin Mantetsu Kin Saku" meaning Asia one heart - made of mantetsu, then on the other side the date reads Showa Mizunoe-Uma Haru - spring 1942.

Hi all. Without overthinking it seems to be a meiji era kaiken. Quality is quite good for the era, not a cheap tourist item but also not a treasure per se. The lacquerwork is done well, with nice abalone inlays. Fittings are good but not outstanding. The blade has 'Hachiman Okami' carved into one side with a late-style looking horimono. On the other we have grass script horimono and birds. Decent horimono both sides. My guess is that its a legit meiji era 'wedding sword' kaiken worn by the bride.

Well… the results are in. Nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the Rai Kunitoshi tanto. It seems that everything which sold did so for higher than estimate, but a fair number went unsold. A juyo Higo koshirea though rather plain sold for 31k haha. Funny old world.

Will be interesting to see the results of the Sotheby's sale too...

Hi Dale, great work and good to see you back online here.