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Here some pictures of a real one for study. Her

- I received this Wakizashi yesterday, I'm very excited to own this piece of history and wanted to take a moment to share it with everyone. I will do my best to update this post with some better blade profile and tang pictures. Hope you all enjoy, and thanks for viewing. Signed: Kunisada Blade style: Shinogi Zukuri Polish: Old full Polish Temper Line: Gunome - Midare temper w/ a deep temper at point. Cutting edge: 20 + 11/16" Width: 1 + 1/4" Thickness: 6mm at notch Length in mountings: 30" Edo Period: Ca. 1660 era made blade. Tsuba: Marugara shape iron sukashi. Fuchi / Kashira: Bird with bamboo motif w/ gold overlay. Saya: wooden w/ lacquered finish. NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho paper submitted on 7th July 1968 - J. Hoff

Hi, 一名　筑紫槍 Meaning: (This Yari is) also known as Tsukushi-yari/Chikushi-yari. In this case, 一名 means A.K.A.

I know by that wooden floor and notorious purple rug you bought it from komonjo on eBay out of Berkeley California. He knows what he is selling so no lost National Treasures there… the guy passes tons of swords and found the perfect schtick selling an endless pipeline of gimei blades with big names chiseled on them on eBay and not giving much in regards to description. Some advice: in the future not only study the blade but kantei the seller as well..

Dear Gary, you bought a fine Muromachi kabuto, papered by the NKBKHK as koshu tokubetsu, This is not nothing. Takemura sensei was a member of the Shinsa team, and he is familiar with Yoshimichi’s work. I trust his opinion. Yoshimichi is one of the sasaku, one of the 3 best kabuto smiths ever. About different generations, nothing is known. There is however a difference in his work, what does me think of a production by the master himself, and a production of his workshop., but this is only an assumption. Since it is a grandmaster, you should expect a masterpiece. I saw only +-5 of there incredible masterpieces during my career. I can not judge yours on these pictures, but at first glance it is not impossible that it is made by the master himself, or first generation (according some theories.)

Wow The only way is to compare it with a real one.

Second Kanji you mean 与? It is Yo.

Didn't want to start a new thread just for this, but sad to see a very accurate fake of the Wakase Shop's patented drag sayajiri: Being sold on ebay. Fortunately, the China seller calls it a replica. But it's a testament to how good the imitators are getting.

Re Item No. 276 A few extra pics to give a better idea of the texturing etc. Thanks, everyone for your interest !

Thomas, the first great Meiji registration of weapons happened in Jinshin. I read up about the Bukoshi/Mukoshi (part of the Zoheishi Meiji govt Weapons Department), abolished in Meiji 8, 1875, but it was too bureaucratic for my addled brain. The explanation but not the pronunciation can be found in J Wiki here if anyone is interested in digging further: 1869年8月15日（明治2年7月8日）官制大改革により軍務官に代わって軍事防衛を司る機関として兵部省が設置される[2]。翌年の1870年3月3日（明治3年2月2日）兵器の製造・研究に従事する役所として造兵司が置かれた[3]。1872年4月4日（明治5年2月27日）兵部省が廃止され陸軍省および海軍省が設置されると、各省の管下に造兵司が置かれた[4][5]。 陸軍省では1875年（明治8年）2月3日に武庫司・造兵司が廃止され[6]、それぞれ砲兵本廠・砲兵支廠を経て[7]、1879年（明治12年） 10月に東京砲兵工廠・大阪砲兵工廠となった[8]。

Well at least it is centimeters - and not Shaku [尺] - or worse inches! By the way, Google says "In Australia, there is a preference for "centimeter" over "centimetre" (58 to 42)." [at least I am in the majority for once] not that I remember being asked!

I see your weapon was registered during the early years of Meiji 明治. 壬申 = 1872-02-09 to 1873-01-28. 九百六十一番 = No. 961 or 961st. 武庫 = Muko. Maybe this area 武庫郡. 司 = means official? Maybe Piers can figure this one out. I found another matchlock that was registered in the same area as yours. 壬申二百五十九番武庫司 Take care BaZZa and hope this helps with the quest.

I'm away from home until Friday. This is the only image I have aside from the image on the origami

宗与　(it is the simplified version of 與)

☆　八雲正清作 = ☆ Yakumo Masakiyo saku. 昭和十九年六月 = June 1944. Trystan, thanks for the above and below is another one for you to look at. 八雲正清作　昭和二十年三月

I think this kabuto is rather interesting! It bears a big name chiseled in the hachi, and gimei or not, the fact that his later owner feels worth to spend some money in refurbishing it, tells something. Furthermore, we are lucky enough to "know" the craftsmen who was commissioned with the job, so we can tell approximately when it happend. That's quite cool, I guess

If people insist on breaking the rules, then I have NO problem banning them. Or if they are just rude or obnoxious. Take a break for a day. Then see if you feel like being here or not. Sick of people thinking the rules don't apply to them. People sharing their stuff shouldn't have to worry about others targeting them for no real reason.

I think that comments should contribute to the post and in my opinion this doesn't You made a comment on one of my hanpo posts stating it was rubbish and not worth repairing which I thought contributed nothing of worth. You sell some pretty low value stuff but you have never had anyone state this in a reply to your selling posts. I bought one of your amour stands and the quality was dire but it didn't cost much so it's an item I can strip down and remove the sharp edges and improve the finish. I never stated this in a reply to your post as I left it to the potential buyer to make up their own mind This is quite hard to write but after your repeated caustic replies I felt now was a good time to air my views. I can be as harsh as you but I suppose I'll now be on your 'blocked' list I have nothing more to say and will not be drawn into an exchange of correspondence You sell quite a few items on the NMB and I wonder if you make a contribution the NMB although this is non of my business When I sell an item I contribute 5% of the sales to to the NMB and am happy to be a Gold member but that is my free choice

Hi, following on from John's Sadakazu thread, I thought, why not expand it to encompass all Gassan School, from Ko Gassan on. I will begin with a Gassan Sadakatsu, made for the Minotagawa Jinja in 1933

1. THE GUN ITSELF Minna san, I have been very slack in bringing to you my newly acquired TEPPOU, nearly a year after I acquired it. Firstly, I wanted to take good photos; secondly, there is always another straw on my back begging attention; lastly, I’m notoriously slow and slack at the best of times. Just ask those who know me and they will tell you my middle name isn’t ‘Gunnadoo’ for nothing!! This TEPPOU has some interesting features, not the least of which is the exquisite fine and precise filing of the barrel. I have always wondered what the ‘snake eye’ holes were for in the front of the hibasami (‘hammer’). The closeup photo of this area shows the wedge for holding the match cord is still with the gun and in place through the ‘snake eyes’. I have never seen a matchlock (sample about 10) with this wedge still present. Another feature that surprised me was the dark, almost red, lacquered stock. Was it ‘raw’ lacquer I wondered? At first glance from a distance (like, when I first clapped eyes on it in the distant gloom of a room) the stock looked almost black. What also surprised me was the battered look of the stock, almost as if the gun had been thrown onto a pile of weapons after the battle was won. That the gun has had a lot of use is clearly shown by the erosion of the touch hole in the flash pan. The pan cover is present, but broken, again as if the gun was just thrown down. Unusual to find the flash shield is iron, rather than brass, with a ‘T’-piece extension that ‘locks in’ the priming pan cover (top removed for clarity). The flash shield locking pin, however, is brass and of the Kunitomo form. I also thought it a distinguishing feature that the match extinguishing hole – if that’s what it is – was under the stock just behind the barrel retaining band. The stock itself internally seems to be of less than adequate quality and workmanship compared to the other five guns I have. See for example the view of the match extinguishing hole (7 'Snuffing out' hole 1) where the carving for the lock plate recess is quite crude and careless. This can also be seen in the last photo (10 retaining pin slot) showing where a barrel retaining pin slot has been crudely cut. Barrel length is 66.6cm and the bore is 19.9/20.0mm = 12.0 momme. 1 BaZZa's 2021 teppou win 2 RHS lock & stock 3 Flash pan & hammer 4 Priming pan quite worn 5 Muzzle front quarter view 6 buttcap 7 'Snuffing out' hole 1 8 'Snuffing out' hole 2 9 battered stock lacquer detail 10 retaining pin slot

盡忠報国 Jinchū Hōkoku Its a patriotic phrase, commonly seen on WW2 items (particularly flags). "Loyalty to Country".

Hello all, I think I recall a post to a thread on the NMB forum (cannot remember which thread it was or if I read it somewhere else) where someone described Ford Hallem “as considered the West’s leading expert on tsuba” (or words to that effect). Now, that is a great honor! I believe if this entire thread is read from beginning to end, it will clearly be seen that many contributors have verified their research by stating references where they located the information. They are not stating opinions, but rather statements backed by (sometimes) painstaking research. It is also my belief that many of those contributors are “university educated” individuals (as I am). Their research methodology was learned over several years of formal education. Now, as stated above, Ford Hallem may have been described “as considered the West’s leading expert on tsuba”. Again, that is a great honor. And congratulations, Ford! But “who is considered the East’s leading expert on tsuba”? Or more specifically “who is considered East Asia’s leading expert on tsuba? And why haven’t we heard from him? Now, Ford, in one of his latest posts to the thread stated a very humorous fact- “I'll end by sharing this, sent to me by Greg Irvine, recently retired Senior curator at the V&A, so a serious scholar, The Samurai, as a class, were dissolved in 1867 The 'printing telegraph', the first fax, was invented in 1843 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 so There was a 20 year window in which a Samurai could have faxed Abraham Lincoln.” That is indeed very funny! And although the information is from a “serious scholar” I believe it is flawed. That is because there were no direct telegraph lines installed between the United States and Japan until 1901. “The Commercial Pacific Cable Company Founded in 1901, the company provided the first direct telegraph route from America to the Philippines, China, and Japan. Prior to this, messages had to travel across the Atlantic to the Far East via Capetown and the Indian Ocean, or via London to Russia, then across the Russian landline to Vladivostock, then by submarine cable to Japan and the Philippines.” Found at the below website- https://atlantic-cable.com/CableCos/ComPacCable/index.htm Now, in the paragraph stated above there is mention of a “land line”. A “land line” is defined as a telephone. The telephone was not invented until 1876. So, although the “serious scholar” statement is funny, it is incorrect! Anyway- Gentleman, we are not trying to discover a cure for cancer here! Tsuba collecting is extremely educational, interesting, and sometimes exciting. But most of all it is “fun”! I have found that, oftentimes, people take themselves much too seriously. When tsuba collecting stops being fun for me, then that will signal the time for me to “exit” the hobby! This forum is a fine place to ask questions and share ideas and thoughts. In several of the threads a “lively discourse” of varying opinions often takes place. However, I believe there is still much “out there” to be discovered and learned about tsuba. I am reminded of a quote from a famous Zen master in his book- “Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice” by Shunryu Suzuki “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few…. In the beginner’s mind there is no thought, ‘I have attained something.’ All self-centered thoughts limit our vast mind. When we have no thought of achievement, no thought of self, we are true beginners. We can really learn something.” ~ Shunryu Suzuki Also, I would like to repeat something I previously stated on a post to this thread- “I never underestimate the innate quality of man’s ingenuity. To do so would be a mistake.” If this thread is read in its entirety I am personally convinced (from all the excellent research presented in the thread) that cast iron tusba were produced during the Edo period (even maybe as early as the 1600’s). But that is just my thought on the subject! As for the multitude of other tsuba collectors out there, they will have their own opinions. Thank you all very much! With respect, Dan

Great pictures and great sword. I would be proud to be the care taker of this blade. Thank you for sharing MikeR

Dear Jonathan. Nice sword and thank you for sharing your excitement. Now comes the fun part, digging for information and looking for comparable Kunisada mei, learning to see what is in the hamon and so forth. Enjoy! All the best.

Dale, I did not make an assumption.

It is a gold heart shaped carving, or the kanji for One (一) Heart (心)? If the nagasa is 21.5", it is unlikely to be a mantetsu-to. As mentioned, that inscription is seen as a part of other mei. Alternately, perhaps a name. Is it kinpunmei/kinzoganmei? https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=一心

Roger, You are too kind! Your input into the progression of this "amazing" (in my opinion) thread is much appreciated!! Yes, my friend, you are correct. There is still "maybe a little way to go yet". We will see what happens! With respect, Dan

I usually go to sales etc in disguise. Look for the old man in a dirty mac using a walking stick and wearing a red rose in buttonhole who keeps talking to himself. Please say hello if you dare😳😳 …….agree, it’s no fun on our roads and even less fun when you discover you aren’t the only one there, or on the phone, or on the internet, or using a proxy, or has left a book bid…… ……and even less fun when, after buying it, someone says “you did see the hagire didn’t you?” ……see you at Holts soon?🙂🙂🙂 Happy days. All the best. Colin

In my understanding this is an assumption, not a fact.

Star stamped blade in Type 98 mount.No photo of the full tang of the maker side, I don't know if there is ser# . 八雲正清作 昭和十九年六月

Indeed, Colin it can be a bit of a trek sometimes. I know our American friends think that the distances we travel around the UK are small, but given the congested roads and cost of fuel, it can take longer and cost more than travelling three times the distance in the USA! However, for private sales, I've found travelling to be a double-edged sword (pun intended!) Yes, it costs a fortune in petrol and takes ages, but I've had the pleasure of meeting other UK collectors / NMB members when travelling to buy or sell swords. Jon

The date should be when he became a Gunto smith instead RJT smith .Says on the top of that website :受付年月日

@Ford Hallam I wonder if you can be persuaded to once again join this topic and give your views?

I have to chip in here - tsuba did not have to be unbreakable and a hell of a lot were far from it. Copper, Shakudo, Shibuichi, Ivory, Horn, Makie, wood, leather and even stone tsuba were all in use and for a great length of time. Couple this with those swords that did not even have tsuba and surely this should tell you it matters not what a tsuba is made from, because they are not a defensive part of the sword. The argument that cast tsuba would never be used by samurai because they would break under the blow of an opponents blade is a non-argument, else all those other materials would also be "rejects" of true samurai, which would certainly put a big dent in collectable guards! Facts not opinions please.

One more thing. Yoshimichi’ s mei is on the paper. This is important. It confirms the credibility of the mei.

Dan, I sincerely think that your "crusade" for EDO JIDAI cast iron TSUBA is at its end. The fact that a certain technique was available does not mean that it was applied on a wider scale. It was perhaps technically possible to cast iron TSUBA but why should the craftsmen have done it? 1) Casting was done in single (lost) molds. There was no die casting to increase the production output, and for a quality copy the mold had to be destroyed afterwards. The mold material was a mixture of fine sand and clay, and it had to be prepared pre-casting for the process. 2) The raw cast item was not useful in its technical properties as a TSUBA. If there were cast iron TSUBA meant to be used by the SAMURAI, they would have to be treated for more toughness, possibly by the tempering method. This would have reduced the risk of breaking in battle, but it would still not attain the properties of forged TSUBA. Remember: tempered water kettles (not 'tea' kettles) were tougher than standard cast ones, but could be broken anyway! 3) A raw cast iron item requires a lot of work to make it functional. Casting seams are a part of it, surfaces another. Recesses and sharrp crevisses could not be reproduced, so the choice of motives was limited. A lot of work is required to make a cast iron item look acceptable. And there were no grinding wheels and steel brushes for faster work in those times! 4) I doubt that the aesthetics of cast iron TSUBA would have satisfied most SAMURAI who were known for their sense of quality and beauty 5) There were many TSUBA workshops and craftsmen/artists in EDO JIDAI who made their living with the manufacture of TSUBA. Simple items could be forged easily and in a short span of time, so what could they possibly win with a casting method that required a lot of charcoal for the higher temperatures, equally a lot of cleaning and refining work, with a relatively small output in numbers, and without making a comparable amount of money? These are my objections to the subject of a widespread manufacture of cast iron TSUBA in the EDO period that were meant for use with the SAMURAI. But you can convince me of the contrary if you find representative numbers of cast iron TSUBA (papered) datable to the EDO JIDAI.

Jean, Throughout about the 10 months that this thread has appeared on the forum you have been a great and valuable help. Your insights, thoughts and opinions are of excellent value; and they are much appreciated! You always seem to “challenge” me. That is much appreciated, since it forces this “old man” to continue his research. In so doing I am constantly learning. Thank you! Now, in your most recent post you again “challenged” me with your below statement which refers to a quote from my previous post-- “.... there is very little (almost none!) historical evidence written about “cast iron” tsuba possibly being produced in the Edo period..... Dan, do you have a suspicion what that might mean?” A very legitimate and valid question, Jean. Thank you. But I am sending that question back to you Jean, “do you have a suspicion what that might mean?” As you notice I used the term “oral tradition” in my last post. That is defined as- “a community's cultural and historical traditions passed down by word of mouth or example from one generation to another without written instruction.” That definition is found here - https://www.dictionary.com/browse/oral-tradition Now, Jean, I make reference to the following- Below is from this link- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_education_in_Japan “Japan was very unified by the Tokugawa regime (1600–1867); and the Neo-Confucian academy, the Yushima Seidō in Edo was the chief educational institution of the state. Its administrative head was called Daigaku-no-kami as head of the Tokugawa training school for shogunate bureaucrats. When the Tokugawa period began, few common people in Japan could read or write.” And more information was continued on that site, that I did not consider relevant to the issue. Also, I would like to refer you to this “hierarchal” scale on the “Edo” period (notice where “artisans” fall on the lower end of the scale). Which was found at this website- https://factsanddetails.com/Japan/cat16/sub107/item502.html So, my conclusion is that there are very few (or none at all) written records of early Edo period cast iron tsuba casters because those artisans did not know how to read or write (as verified by the above research). If anything, they would have communicated their methods by “oral tradition. That is why I stated “oral tradition” in my last post! Anyway, my friend, the adventure continues!! With respect, Dan

Check Suken (素剣) and Gomabashi/Goma hashi (護摩箸). They both symbolize Acala. Ref. The connoisseur’s book of Japanese Swords

Sword collectors love rules, categories, and lore. "Green Papers" were what was available for years and years. Then SOME were besmirched. That does not make them "worthless." It certainly doesn't mean that they are ALL wrong. Enjoy the sword! P

Hi again Lee. I’m in the UK also….and it isn’t quite as easy here as it is in the USA! They have more dealers, more collectors, more restorers and a hell of a lot more swords! Trouble is, it is becoming more problematical buying swords abroad and then trying to get them into the UK. We are having more than our fair share of issues with Customs/Borderforce. There are also problems shipping swords abroad if you want papers or restoration (polishing etc). All in all it’s getting more and more difficult to ship anything anywhere. Sad but true. The Token Society can give you advise on these topics. The advise given above by Brian is rock solid but as you say, dealers are few and far between here. It would be worth you going to just about any arms fair (Birmingham, London etc) but they aren’t what they used to be either. Another potential pitfall is buying swords from images. An image can conceal all sorts of problems. A strong Hadori polish makes it virtually impossible to see the true hamon……you really can’t see what you are buying. So, where else can you see swords? Well, you have already found a few in scattered auctions. You really don’t have much choice but to travel to handle the swords in person before the sale. I’ve done round trips of 300+ miles to look at something. Sometimes it has saved me from a horrible mistake and sometimes the item is very nice…..but then you have to try to buy it! Good luck there. Forget totally all auction estimates including the London rooms. (Bonhams have swords in their Japanese sales normally). You will quickly realise that everyone else has also found your treasure thus it becomes a matter of who wants it the most and who has the fattest wallet. It can be maddening! So, view auctions in person if possible, go to arms fairs, contact dealers (Liverpool Militaria, JCMilitaria etc), try and establish a network of contacts but above all be patient and study. Learn what different “flaws” look like so you can spot them etc…..get the basics right and build from there. It takes time. Something will turn up. Enjoy the thrill of the chase! Happy hunting. Colin

I'll delete whatever I like. And now that we deleted one member for interfering with sales, do we want another so soon? Are you saying that Toku Hozon isn't one level under Juyo if this was a sword? I don't know the armour levels or how that society works, but if they issue papers and this is the highest paper before Juyo is awarded, then there is NOTHING wrong with stating the certificate is one level under juyo. TH is one level above Hozon. Levels are how origami works. Do you have intimate knowledge of how the Japanese armor society works?

I thought these documentaries would help some beginners so I've made a list: In love with the Samurai Sword(Polishing Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YKj3VCnX38 NKH: The Art of Discipline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYega7KQa2s NHK: The Art of the Japanese Sword https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCYZSqEKmq0 Budo(rare) Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ6HJf70fzQ Budo History of Japanese Sword https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqqRrDG-NPs A visit to female Japanese Sword Dealer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCEQNzqgpyw Nat Geo. Forging a Katana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE_4zHNcieM Way of the Swordsmith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqXfvmGU8cs Secret World of the Swordsmiths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxwWf-MfZVk Sword Making(Portland Art Museum) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WkWNDDrQO4 Nigen Kokuho(with cutting test) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Vvs1nK-w4 Tsukamaki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9a6dFGM-ks Modern Smiths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0glduW4-EPY Katana Kaji(Post WWII Documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7z9pkQnz_0 Japanese Sword as the Soul of the Samurai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UxL1AxztNg Hattori Masanaga(Tsuba documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ibRhcEevc

This nihonto arrived even more beautiful than I expected! Absolutely stunning piece of history, amazing communication, some of the best packaging I've ever seen, and a beautiful oshigata! Thank you so much for helping me buy my first nihonto!

Somehow I would like to say Būshū Tsuba. And I agree with above said there is a likelihood to Shōami artist. @Ford Hallam: very nicely done! Cheers from a material science fellow.

Tony, mostly it is the other way round: The purer (in terms of alloying metals) the iron, the softer it will be, and less likely to corrode. Carbon content always enhances the build-up of corrosion.

I'm able to sort out just one...

Here are some experimental overall shots of the tanto.

Here's another Sadayoshi, found on a link by SteveM, at the Hattori Samurai Art Shop http://www.katana-hattori.com/katana/gassan.html

My contribution, a recent Enomoto Sadayoshi acquisition thats currently in route to Tirado for shirasaya. Unique specs and characteristics, which happen to align with my personal taste, were requested by Iaido/Kendo master Mr. Sekiguchi who originally commissioned the piece to celebrate his 6th Dan back in the 80s. http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as18465-%E5%88%80%EF%BC%9A%E6%98%AD%E5%92%8C%E4%B8%99%E5%AF%85%E7%A7%8B%E6%B9%A7%E6%B0%B4%E5%BF%83%E8%B2%9E%E5%90%89%E4%BD%9C%E7%84%A1%E9%91%91%E6%9F%BB-katanashowa-hinoe-tora-yusuishin-sadayoshi-sakumukansa

Just to clarify, with Japanese swords..."tourist" means late 1800's when Japan was opened to the West. Lots of trade and exports. In our side of the world, tourist means yesterday in New York. In Japan, early 1900's is considered brand new