Tsuba mystery

[DanP]

I have been in possession of a Tsuba found with blade & parts ( 2 x seppa &  what I think is the Fuchi). It was also found with a type of paper with inscription which was deteriorated & is broken into four parts. I was told the paper may have been used like a ribbon to tie the Tsuba to the scabbard. 

The Tsuba has a crane with gold beak & legs. Front & back have wave patterns carved. I’m not sure what metal was used for the crane but it does not rust or tarnish same as the gold. 

The fuchi has a gold dragon which does not tarnish.

The sword was found in 1987 on a beach in Dundee Northern Territory Australia in dry sand but due to salt water damage was rusted & broke in half upon being handled. The blade was stolen & never recovered. 

The current idea is it could be from either a Japanese pearling crew or from World War 2. Dundee is close to Darwin which was heavily bombed but is also within range of pearling operations. If the world war 2 theory were true it could point to the possibility of either a Japanese soldier/pilot potentially setting foot on this location considering the paper with inscription has some readable characters in the writing. 

I have included photos & hope someone may see something indicating authenticity & potential value for purpose of selling. 

I look forward to any response.

[Spartancrest]

I think you can rule out WWII - They are not military mountings. The body of the Crane could be Shakudo [copper gold alloy- usually a dark blue/black] or another type of traditional alloy [hard to tell from image] The tsuba looks to be in reasonable condition but the patina has been degraded or removed [was the tsuba "cleaned?"]

A similar themed tsuba here https://www.worthpoi...atana-edo-1695426040  estimate late Edo?

  What was it doing buried in sand?

I think as good as some Japanese paper can be, it wouldn't last very long out in the environment, so it may not have been buried for a great length of time - still a mystery why the blade was so damaged yet pieces of paper survived?

 

[Matsunoki]

Chances are the crane body is done in silver often with shakudo for the long tail feathers (can’t tell from these pics) and gilt copper legs….or the legs covered in gold foil. Looks like a wakizashi sized piece?