Pictures of new Tsuba

[AlphaRaider]

I recently acquired this Tsuba at a local trade show in Colorado about two weeks ago. This was given to me as a gift which is neat.

I don't really know much about it, but wanted to share it with everyone on here.

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Images: Nikon Z7 with MC50mm F2.8 / 2x Unplugged Wireless TTL400 strobes fitted with 36in OctaBoxes. Adobe LightRoom

 

Thanks,

 

-J. Hoff

 

 

[AlphaRaider]

Images 2.

 

* Molly cat jumped in to crash the photo session. Then ate treats because she's cool. ( to distract her )

 

[rematron]

Molly is beautiful. 

[Spartancrest]

Hi Jonathan. Nice solid 'utilitarian' tsuba. Nothing wrong with plain iron guards - could do with a clean and possible re-patination. From the looks it has had a lot of tagane-ato but it is not really reflected as movement of metal into the nakago-ana so it is likely the nakago-ana has been filed wider again. The sides of the nakago-ana look pretty fresh and shiny, if I am seeing correctly.  Someone might help with a translation of the mei if you could get a better image.

 

Molly looks a little startled - pretty cat 

[Spartancrest]

Jonathan. This might be a long shot but there is another plain iron guard with the signature "Kunihiro" that doesn't look a thousand miles from what we can make out on yours?

It is signed in a different location on the guard however.  https://www.jauce.com/auction/x1082843864

[Kurikata]

If it helps:

 

[AlphaRaider]

Thanks for sharing the topics. I will see if I can get some macro images of that section this evening.  I'm really not sure if it's signed more so then some scratches or damages but who knows.

 

Appreciate it 🙏 

 

-J. Hoff

[AlphaRaider]

Here is a close up image of the "marks" from one of the previous images zoomed in at about 100%.

I do see some evidence of what looks like chisel marks but not sure. I will need to get a new image in a bit different light and angle maybe.

 

I finally have some time to do some things this evening so this will be next.

-J. Hoff

 

[AlphaRaider]

Ok, so here are a few more pictures of the Tsuba.

I got images as close as I could with my macro lens. Thankfully the 47mp images contain a lot of information.

 

* The center of the guard does look like it was altered by the previous owner or someone else and recently :[ it looks like a file was used.

* The "marks" do look like little tiny chisel tip marks. Not in the best condition sadly. Kinda neat.

 

* Beaver Fur

 

 

 

 

 

[Spartancrest]

On 2/23/2023 at 5:43 PM, Spartancrest said:

The sides of the nakago-ana look pretty fresh and shiny

Well the new images would seem to confirm that the nakago-ana has been widened reasonably recently - perhaps to fit a new blade? The rust remaining looks very old so it was likely on a previous blade for a considerable time. The chisel marks remaining of the mei are shadows and I think difficult to get a good reading. 

[ROKUJURO]

Jonathan,

the missing inlay or onlay on your TSUBA has not been mentioned yet. This is considered a defect or KIZU. Even your very good photos do not allow me to guess what the decoration was originally like.  

[Spartancrest]

This is pure conjecture based on a guess that part of the missing inlay/onlay represents the moon, either seen through clouds or with other common themes like Geese in the moon light. Certain elements would need to be moved around, I doubt we will find the original design exactly. If the central part is not the moon - all bets are off![JMO] 

 

 

 

It could be a dragon emerging from the clouds or even a Shachi?

 

Perhaps you can find a Katamenuki and do a repair job?