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UPS? or the others. Just to add, there doesn't seem any slow down with knife dealers. Sold 4 to a dealer at the arms fair a few weeks back. Im assuming when he sells them he wont be travelling around Britain delivering them in person.

My uncle brought this flag back with a type 98 shin gunto. It’s in pretty rough shape. Wondering if anyone can translate it.

$775 for today [Wednesday]. I will give this listing until Friday, before the Chicago show. My personal quirk is to travel with as little iron as possible, as I had TSA once try to tell me I could use things like iron tsuba, kozuka, and kogai as weapons.

Thank you. The old ones get en-vogue for a while, but currently seem out of vogue. I thought it would sell fast at that price, but only not too serious tire-kickers. Things like Shingen tsuba, which you couldn't give away 5 years ago, currently seem to be very en-vogue.

Agreed! Always a big help, and much appreciated. Thank you @Soshin and @Spartancrest; thanks to people like you, I learn a little more every day. I hope nobody thinks I was asserting that this Tsuba is cast. It was meant to be a question and not a statement of fact. My apologies. Curran, that old tsuba you have for sale is really stunning! Cheers, -Sam

+1 to David Styles and Tasmanian Dale Thank you guys.

@Spartancrest Hi Dale, sorry but advising someone to hit it with a hammer is just plain daft and to me very offensive and disrespectful and extremely ill-advised….and deserves to be called out. Had he said something similar on a sword for example the world would come crashing down on him.

And how do you import blades for those fairs?

My apologies, you are right. It's not necessary for me to get defensive. I sincerely am just trying to understand what I have, because I don't know. I only meant to ask questions. This thread really took a left turn, and i'm sorry for my part in that. I am, 100%, without a doubt, out of my depth with fittings. Again, my apologies to anyone I offended, I respect everyones advice, knowledge, and input to this community. -Sam

Actually I’m looking to buy a Nagamitsu sword I searched to see what other opinions about this sword It has to be a Bizen Nagamitsu does the Bizen add value making it a better quality? I know condition is important what’s the value of a Nagamitsu these days Steve

Cherry picking words is poor form - Sam and Colin. I don't mind admitting I often find myself out of my depth in the rather murky waters of tosogu. I will even say I don't know it all - does anyone? "Floundering" is as good a word as any, would "treading deep waters" make people feel better? JMO

No need to forgive - you brought me a little joy finding an unknown connection with Dad.

Guess it's a return to militaria fairs for buying/selling swords in the UK.

No offense Dan, but I was simply asking for the opinions of people more knowledgable than me. Originally I just wanted to know about the motif - maple or kiri. Your post history and past arguments are irrelevant to me. I got this Tsuba originally because I liked it. Simple as that. Floundering? Maybe, but that's my prerogative and $$$. I got it from someone I trust. You even admitted that you could be wrong, but then downvoted ROKUJURO? I just don't understand that logic. Sincerely, -Sam

Well you sure as hell are. Just keep your hammer advice to yourself.

Hello all! Just some stuff from some of my previous posts on another thread. Nov, 4th, 2023- “Could anyone actually differentiate between an extremely well-made cast iron tsuba and a well-made hand forged tsuba? As I have stated previously (several times in this thread) I feel the only way that a determination could be made is to subject the piece to non-invasive metallurgical testing (I refer you to Dr. Lissenden's thesis paper and quotes stated in one of my previous posts - to be found on page 12 of this thread - his entire thesis can be found on line). Until that can be done (or someone is willing to take a hammer to a possible cast iron tsuba!) I think that it would be extremely difficult to make an accurate determination.” January 28th, 2024- (this quote is referring to another tsuba, not the tsuba shown in the recent posts here) “Obviously that tsuba is made from cast iron. Whether cast in the Edo period or not is impossible to determine. Probably the only way to deterimie if it was actually cast would be to subject it to non-invasive metallurgical testing. I purchased a similar tsuba that was pictured on that water kettle a couple of weeks ago (pictures also attached). That tsuba has a mei. There are a plethora of these similar motif tsuba being sold on various purchase sites. How is it possible to determine a hand forged from a cast iron one of these? I know that a mei can be “faked”, the tsuba could have been made after the Edo period and a “fake” mei from the Edo period added to that tsuba. Or the tsuba could have been made in the Edo period with no mei, and a “fake” mei added later. Or the tsuba and the mei can reflect the actual maker of the tsuba in the Edo period. Without taking a hammer to the piece and seeing if it is brittle and breaks (cast iron), how does anyone determine such things? I even have discovered that if a tsuba like this is papered by the NBTHK, it still can be very misleading. I have found that the old green papers can be incorrect and themselves could have been forged! Are we all just “floundering” around when it comes to the more inexpensive type of iron tsuba and just must take our chances? Who is right in their determination if a tsuba is hand forged and not cast? Who is wrong? I mean can a description of a tsuba being listed by a reputable seller be wrong? I know, maybe I am just overthinking this thing. But how can tsuba collectors be certain of anything with so many variables that turn up and present themselves? I mean is it possible that knowledgeable people could be incorrect in their determination? I have even heard were the NBTHK could make mistakes!” With respect, Dan

Fear not! No hammer was used in the enjoyment of this tsuba . I would never. I also wish I could get it into David, or Jeans hands. If either of you ever attend the SF or Vegas sword show in the future - I plan to attend them and will bring it along. I appreciate the discussion, -Sam

Glad it went to you Conway! An update on observed Mantetsu in MRS fittings. 20 so far: Manchurian Rinji Seishiki (MRS) Fittings Date Serial Number Notes Source 1938 Winter N 156 SMR IJASWORDS, NMB 1942 Spring Unknown Sohei swords/ebay 1944 Spring SE 489 Ren ebay 1944 Spring SE 1029 Ren 1944 Spring SE 1066 Ren 1944 Spring SE 1144 Ren 1944 Spring SE 1251 1944 Spring SE 1310 Ren Leather Saya Cvr 1944 Spring SE 1344 Ren 1944 Spring No serial number Ren Gold Saya Worthpoint 1944 Spring SE 2430 Ren 連工 1944 Spring SE 2575 Ren 連工 1944 Spring SU 10 Ren 連工 1944 Spring ? 199 Ren 連工 1945 I 88 Mumei Conway, NMB 1945 I 142 Unknown Fuller 1945 I 164 Mumei St Croix swords 1945 I 165 Mumei Remilitaria.com 1945 I 285 Mumei ND blade only Steve, NMB 1945 I 1170 Mumei ND

I think you meant to say “with no respect”? why do you think it’s good advice to tell someone to “take a hammer to it” when you haven’t got a clue what it is?

Thank you for your input. I am very happy to hear that it’s not cast. I originally did not think it was cast at all. I’ve enjoyed it in my collection for about a year, and never even considered it being cast. Dan made the cast suggestion, and I admittedly am too new to argue it. So I added the question to the topic for confirmation from the more experienced like yourself, Jean, Brian and Dale. Im glad I did, because y’all have helped confirm it’s not cast. I enjoy admiring it, and have developed a liking to Owari in the process. Thank you for your input and help, All the best, -Sam

So, newbies in the USA (Dan and Sam S.) now say Owari Tsuba are "cast". I would love to see and feel this tsuba in hand. I don't see anything as such from the limited number of photos provided. What I do see looks to be rust and corrosion damage to the plate surface. There are several iron bones along the rim typical of Owari Sukashi tsuba. If this form lacks high quality examples in excellent conditions to study, I have a few that I can offer to discuss that were once or us still in my collection.

Fascinating - thanks The reasoning behind this style is well portrayed and to see how styles showed status. From the beginning to the current day Sumo