Minute Tanto Tsuba - Shakudo and Insects

Infinite_Wisdumb · March 26, 2021

New addition to the collection pictured below. I welcome any insights on it. still learning here! It is a delight to view the craftsmanship

ROKUJURO · March 26, 2021

Jesse,

a nice HAMIDASHI TSUBA. Congratulations!

Curran · March 27, 2021

nice one.

Bugyotsuji · March 27, 2021

Yes, a sweet little tsuba. We might be looking at Hagi and suzumushi, which for some reason bring up images of fall/autumn in Choshu, for me. (Play on the word 'Hagi'...?)

https://www.shuminoengei.jp/m-pc/a-page_p_detail/target_plant_code-282

Vermithrax16 · March 27, 2021

Picture this mounted, with the nice work showing on the edge.....very nice.

Soshin · March 27, 2021

Nice little tsuba. It would look very nicely mounted on a tantō along with an appropriate set of other fittings.

Infinite_Wisdumb · March 27, 2021

thanks for the kind words everyone! I agree, it must have been impressive when mounted. I need a First Generation Osaka Yoshimichi tanto now.......

Infinite_Wisdumb · March 27, 2021

8 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Yes, a sweet little tsuba. We might be looking at Hagi and suzumushi, which for some reason bring up images of fall/autumn in Choshu, for me. (Play on the word 'Hagi'...?)

https://www.shuminoengei.jp/m-pc/a-page_p_detail/target_plant_code-282

It does does look like hagi doesnt it @Bugyotsuji!!

Bugyotsuji · March 27, 2021

56 minutes ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

thanks for the kind words everyone! I agree, it must have been impressive when mounted. I need a First Generation Osaka Yoshimichi tanto now.......

Now that is funny. I was just holding a first generation Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi at our sword meeting about two hours ago. A really lovely object with clear early Sudareba up near the pointy end.

Infinite_Wisdumb · March 27, 2021

32 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Now that is funny. I was just holding a first generation Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi at our sword meeting about two hours ago. A really lovely object with clear early Sudareba up near the pointy end.

this seems near to torture to me

Bugyotsuji · March 28, 2021

This is the blade, Infinite.

Infinite_Wisdumb · March 28, 2021

@Bugyotsuji - that signature looks gimei to me. See below a snap from @DirkO

Bugyotsuji · March 28, 2021

Jesse, what is it in the Mei that looks wrong to you?

Infinite_Wisdumb · March 28, 2021

42 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Jesse, what is it in the Mei that looks wrong to you?

the first and second kanji do not match any of the papered smiths listed by DirkO. Especially the second Kanji

Ford Hallam · March 29, 2021

...and of the examples Dirk posted none are alike either :laughing: .

DirkO · April 27, 2021

On 3/29/2021 at 1:28 PM, Ford Hallam said:

...and of the examples Dirk posted none are alike either .

"Here's a side by side of your signature compared to the 1st 6 generations (papered authenticated examples)." ;-) was just making a case that the mei under discussion at the time was well off from any of the Kyo-Tamba generations. Which doesn't necessary mean gimei, but it doesn't help either.