Wan gata tsuba for comment, please.

[MarkB]

Good, bad or indifferent? All comments appreciated.

84mm tall, 80mm wide, approx 4mm thick.

[Ford Hallam]

Hello Mark

 

my initial impression is that this is a modern cast copy. A close up of the nakago ana area might help to make a more considered judgement call.

 

regards

 

Ford

[MarkB]

Thank you for looking, Ford and I value your opinion.

 

I'll try to get better pics in the daylight tomorrow. This is one I took just now under poor room lighting.

[MarkB]

And just one more pic.

[Ford Hallam]

Mark,

 

I'm afraid I still can't see enough either way to make a fair call.

 

This design of a peach is a Nobuie school design and the leaves are typically partially inlaid in soft metal. There's an uncharacteristic graininess to your example along with various other subtle 'softnesses' that seem out of place. To be fair though an 'in hand' study is what's needed to properly determine it's true nature. Sorry I can't offer any more.

 

Ford

[MarkB]

It's a puzzle for me too, Ford.

I thought the peach leaves were produced by acid etching as they look too shallow and superficial to have been carved.

 

I see no obvious markings of wear on the seppa dai to suggest this tsuba has been mounted and used over a long time.

Though the tsuba gives me the impression of age.

 

The distortions on the edges of the nakago ana seem to contradict its being cast iron (unless of course, they have been cast like this)

The iron plate does not exhibit the porousness which would cause me to suspect cast iron.

 

It gives a high-pitched ringing tone when balanced on the finger and flicked with my fingernail. it is not magnetic.

 

I never thought this was a high-end piece, but then again, I quite like rusty old iron.

 

Thanks again for your opinion, Ford. I am beginning to think your first impression is correct.