WWII Vet Bringback Tsuba

I came across a sword that was a WWII vet bring back... but has been stored poorly and played with over the years... the blade was in bad shape, the scabbard was split, and the grip was damaged badly.... However the one attractive thing on this piece was this Tsuba. Can anyone help me ID it? Thank you!

Matt

Matt,

Those inserts are unusual. Not sure if shakudo or what....but they don't serve much purpose where they are. Inserts are known, but usually for different purposes.

The biggest worry is that there seems to be casting "flashing" along some of the edges. Especially in your 4th picture. If that is indeed flashing...then the tsuba is cast and maybe a repro or low class WW2 production. Is there any sign of a seam inside the cutouts? Even one that was ground away?

Also, your first 2 pics are upside down.

On the up-side, the signature looks properly cut, instead of cast, and the nakago ana inserts are properly done. So perhaps a real tsuba, but one that had a hard life of rust and wear.

Those inserts are definitely a-typical and worth investigating though. Wouldn't put that work into a repro...but they aren't done 100% traditionally either. Soldered or pine resin to keep them in place?

Brian

Brian,

Thanks for the reply. The sword that this came off of was in very bad shape. What you are seeing in the 4th pic is just a dirt/rust combo and not flashing. I didn't want to clean it too much before I posted the pics. I can't see any seams. As far as the inserts go... I don't think they are soldiered because there is a little wiggle or give in one of them but its still securely in place.

Just to clarify, this is the part I am talking about. If that isn't a seam/flashing..then looks like the tsuba is genuine, and whilst not a top class example, it is interesting and unusual. I have no idea why the inserts though

Brian

Brian,

Yep... That's the gunk. I will be trying a gentle cleaning to remove it... But I didn't do anything to it before I posted it. Any idea what school or period this strange thing comes from?

Thanks again!

Matt

I think this tsuba has been under fire.

you see black parts on surface also some parts on Seppa-dai.

and Shakludo parts also damaged by fire.

if you see these on Nakago, it is burned blade which has no-hamon or re-tempered.

It is possible I noticed the black as well. I thought it might have been painted.

Matt

The design seems to be of two butterflies hinting at the Taira clan.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taira_clan

The inserts between the insects feelers are probably cosmetic and if the tsuba is real and is what it appears to be, the sheen of shakudo would have made a nice contrast to the patina of the iron. I have seen such cosmetic inserts quite often, the most memorable was on a Yamakichibei kurama tsuba where a few random spaces between spokes were filled with shakudo.

Hi,

The mei says "Tomokata saku". 知 賢 作

Maybe Choshu tsuba.

Hi Matt,

it looks like fire scale on the seppa dai to me

And it looks like the whole surface needs some attention

A job for Ford Hallam or one of the other tsuba

makers/repairers/repatinators depending on costs

for you.

Alan

Here are a few more detail shots after I lightly removed some of the gunk.