What kind of tsuba is this, please?

[Ron M]

Hello and good evening, I don’t see any seams, nor flash from casting but this looks like it’s bronze or copper. Probably a molded piece, but not really sure what all I see. Thank you for any insight.

[Ron M]

[Spartancrest]

Non magnetic?  

The repeated pattern, mirror reverse on each side would suggest Sanmai but could be Ko-Kinkō.

 this side view of the hitsu looks like thin foil such as you find on sanmai but I can't see the typical three layers.

 

Has the surface got any peeling?  There look like area's where there is wear through the foil? 

 

If it is sanmai the outside rim is well joined, I can't see any seams. Interesting old piece - no modern fake for sure.

[ROKUJURO]

Looks cast to me, possibly copper. Certainly not bronze.

In my opinion, it is not so pretty. 

[Ron M]

I agree, cast in copper and cleaned up then patinated

[Curran]

A burned or chemically torched Nagoya-mono tsuba.

[Ron M]

6 hours ago, Curran said:

A burned or chemically torched Nagoya-mono tsuba.

Ahh that’s a good one too.