Dan tsuba Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 I got this tsuba from a friend. He said it was timpo or tempo. What does that mean. The tsuba looks rusted and layered. 2 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 Jacob, TEMBO (or TEMPO) is a TSUBA makers' style. It usually shows heavy hammer marks and hot stamp impressions. If your TSUBA looks layered, it is probably made traditionally fron raw iron (= TAMAHAGANE). https://japaneseswor...om/tsuba/saotome.htm On your photos (showing the TSUBA upside-down), your TSUBA does not look rusted. Before you treat or clean it in any way, please get information here on NMB first on how to preserve it. All iron TSUBA have a patina that is important to keep intact. 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 https://www.agsa.sa....ind-gold-huge/36461/ 2 Quote
Dan tsuba Posted January 12 Author Report Posted January 12 My bad about the tsuba pictures! I have roated them. Is this bettter? 1 1 Quote
mecox Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 Jacob, for background and comparison there is something on our own NMB Downloads: 1 1 Quote
Dan tsuba Posted January 13 Author Report Posted January 13 Here is another photo of my tsuba. It looks to have been rusted with metal showing. Is this how this tsubas are supposed to look. Quote
Shugyosha Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 Hi Jacob, No, the rust isn't something that you want on your tsuba. There are threads on the forum regarding dealing with rust on tsuba/ tsuba "fussing", here's one to get you going: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/44342-tsuba-rust-removal/ The key is to take your time, be gentle and avoid anything abrasive. Quote
Dan tsuba Posted January 13 Author Report Posted January 13 Hi John, Is it even worth trying to learn how to clean this tsuba. The rust was so bad the tsuba now looks that it has metal layers. Maybe I should wait until my friend gives me better tsubas. Quote
Robert S Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 Based on the photos, I don't see evidence of delamination resulting from corrosion. Forged steel typically does have layers - it's a feature, not a problem, unless the corrosion has progressed to the point where delamination is occurring, which is rare. Truthfully the level of rust on that tsuba looks superficial, and worth stabilizing. A sidebar story on steel: for a period in the 1980's, Nissan was using a recycled steel which had not been properly resmelted on the frames of their trucks. That stuff delaminated at the drop of a hat! The old smiths who made swords, tsubas, etc., were way better at steelwork than 80's Nissan! Quote
Shugyosha Posted January 13 Report Posted January 13 Hi Jacob, You’re the only one who can answer that. I’m sure your friend would be impressed and the only thing you need to remember is that slow and steady wins the race. To me it doesn’t look too bad - there’s a patch on the edge that might need some work with a piece of wood or bone but I think the remainder is fairly light from what I can see in the photos. You could try wrapping it in a rag and putting it in your pocket for the day - as you move around there’ll be a certain amount of friction and that might deal with some of the more trivial rust. Give it a few days of that and see what it looks like. Also you could try rubbing it between the palms of your hands two or three times per day or whilst watching TV to get some oil from your skin on it as that will help with the rust and to restore the patina. It’s just small stuff but it will help and you do have a little piece of history there… 1 Quote
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