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You don't seem to understand. Don't post it in the auction section. That section marked "Auctions and Online Sales or Sellers"? Do NOT use that unless you are discussing a seller or someone else's online sale. It is not for listing your items. Use the section marked "For Sale or Trade" and in that section, the one labelled "Swords and Edged Weapons" I can't make it more clear than that.

Here what I think is a pre-Edo Kamakura tsuba:

Looks good to me Dale, but why are these bones considered 'lucky'?? They look eminently suited to getting stuck in your throat and inviting whacks on your back!!! Here is my Akasaka Tadatoki V, with thanks to Justin O for selling it to me. Here is part of Justin's writeup for general knowledge on the Akasaka group: Hikojuro Tadatoki V was the 8th and last master of the Akasaka school. From the 6th master onwards the guards continue to be influenced by the style of the 4th master period and are in Higo school. This guard in particular is very reminiscent of Higo Nishgaki work. Tadatoki V prepared a genealogy of the entire Akasaka group that is reliable and provides much of the information that we know about this school today. BaZZa.

Like Michael above I would feel this would be quite plausible as being a genuine work by Enju Kuniyoshi. Unfortunately the TJ13 Orikaeshi-mei example that Michael posted above is the only actual picture of signature by this smith that I have. Here are the 3 tachi signatures that I mentioned above. Kasuga Taisha Ise Jingū Jūyō 15

... and my three favorites Ko Katchushi

tsuba has a HIGH EDGE, and the surface appears dark

Bohi is a tad too wide for a Nagoya 95. I bet it's half of a cut blade, post war.

Ko Shoami

Often when something is cheap enough, we want to Hoover up anything that looks like it may be a real Japanese sword. Lots of us end up with project blades that will never get polished or seen by experienced collectors, so I am trying to resist the urge to just buy anything that is cheap. Especially when you live in a country where Nihonto is almost never available. So...this one came up for sale on a local auction site. I racked my brain for a few days trying to decide if it was worth a low bid, but eventually Last night i decided to pass, and make it someone else's problem. It ended at about $95, which is cheap enough to gamble for some folks. But since the seller wouldn't show the nakago (usual "I don't know enough, I don't know what I am doing etc etc") I decided to practice my ability to refuse stuff. Here's my thought process: Does appear to at least be (part) of a real blade. Not so sure about the fittings. They look cast, maybe modern. But the blade looks like it may possibly be part of a longer sword Shape is ok for a cut down katana/wakizashi...but very awkward for a tanto. That old avoid shinogi-zukuri tanto thing is rarely wrong 2 Mekugi ana. Lower one may be the original...the upper one is off center and was likely drilled for this mount. The nakago would likely have a horrible off center hole Condition is bad. There will be some pitting that will never come out. If I looked at the one blade picture, the more I looked, the more I started to see a crack/hagire in one spot The hi. I like a well done hi, but when I followed the hi, the upper thickness of the ridge near the mune got wider and narrower. This put me off most of all. Hi tend to be well done and even. This one doesn't seem to be. So, bearing in mind this would have likely been a $100 gamble for someone, just wondering what the thought process of others here would have been. Little lesson in what we need to go through before throwing money at cheap stuff. I'm happy I left it. Curious what other think. Come at it not from the point of an advanced collector who buys polished and papered stuff...let's look at it from the pov of a novice who wants to spend peanuts, and buy a "Samurai sword" out of polish that has some age. Curious what others have to say. https://www.bobshop....ibly-ww2/p/626192023

Lol. Nah, I have enough better project blades. Everywhere I look at home I see another one. But most have actual potential. I live in fear that after I'm gone, someone is going to find one of these out of polish old blades is an Ichimonji or early Soshu or something I wish there was a shinsa here at least once.

Umetada Myoju

Well I have to admit one of those Antler tsuba is mine! Number 5 with the metal seppa-dai - not much bigger than a fifty cent piece with its own custom box [also not much bigger than a matchbox!] Had it since 2018 - is there a statute of limitations?

Allow me to chime in. As you know, I do not recommend tsuba indiscriminately. I do it only in cases where the tsuba is exceptional. Now, this is such a case. Unlike so many other schools, Sado Island masters have retained true martial spirit in their work even in the "weak piping time of peace" that was the mid Edo period. I know that John's photography does not do the tsuba justice. and that it looks much better in hand. What I see here is excellent iron and a very dynamic motif that makes this massive tsuba anything but plain or boring. This is the work of a true master. Needless to say, that if Mr Haynes stated that this work is rare, then that's what it is. A great opportunity to purchase an exceptional tsuba for what I see as a great price.

I can tell you directly. Spitting your dummy here or in the nihonto community will get you off side of everyone faster than farting on your wife hand in bed. Relax, take a step back. Iv had lovers tiffs with brain in the past but we got past it. Hes a decent guy with a lot on his plate

Here is what I believe to be a Ko-tosho tsuba from one of my blades, came mounted on a 29.5" Sukesada. Interestingly, it has a very prominent kirikomi on the rim to the side of the sukashi cutout. It is a superbly thin piece, barely a few millimeters in thickness, but 3.5" across!

Interesting. I've never heard of this before, but there are three bones in the head of a snapper that resemble farm implements, hence the name "Three Tools" that are circled in red in the picture that Dale posted. They are supposed to resemble a hoe, sickle, and rake. May also have been used in some kind of fortune-telling. Anyway, I found another example of a tsuba with this theme, so I think Dale hit the nail on the head with this. https://issuu.com/kogire-kai/docs/109_____

志号？　(Wild guess. No idea of the meaning) And then 足立? (Adachi, which is a surname, and also a location in Tokyo.) No idea of the little bit at the end. But 定位 is also possible. Sorry, not much help.

The tsuba priced at $5,000 on Shibuiswords is attributed to the 1st Tadatoki (4th generation Akasaka). I'm not familiar with how to evaluate the mei of this tsubako, but what I do know is that the 4th gen Akasaka is arguably among the best, having not only authentically derived from the Akasaka lineage, but because he pushed in a new and innovative direction that is quite distinct from what happened with the generations that followed (generally regarded as inferior). After him, there is a noted decay in the quality of the execution, whereas his designs are executed with a crispness and artistry that is distinct. Whether it is worth $5,000 is arguable. The artistry is IMHO unquestionable.

Again not sure on age, 91 mm diameter and very nice iron quality. Jason

94 mm diameter, I am not positive on age but have been told this is an older tsuba Jason

A friend sent me a link to a strange looking tsuba design currently up for auction: The image [eventually] sparked my memory of a similar themed guard in the Royal Ontario Museum: However that description just does not gel [a design of leaves "After the style of Risei of Sadol"] Having found that image, I found another from Japan with a much more plausible explanation of the design. https://www.seiyudo.com/tu-120519.htm Bream bones With that clue I found this image which would seem to confirm the fish bone accuracy. What do others think?

Iron Kozuka What is represented here is a bamboo flower container that is used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. This type is normally hung on the wall of the Tokonoma in a Soan, or Wabi style tea room. A very famous example, and considered to be a prototype of bamboo flower containers is the Enjo-ji, made by Tanaka Soeki (Rikyu) while in attendance to Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the siege of the Hojo in Odawara in 1590. This flower container is named in reference to the bell at the Enjo-ji temple which is cracked. See here for a picture of the flower container in the Tokyo National Museum. http://www.tnm.go.jp...geId=E15&colid=G4217 Because the Enjo-ji flower container is cracked, it leaks a bit, and this is evoked by the four dots, representing water drops, below it. Age: It is likely that this kozuka was made sometime after 1590. My guess is Bunroku through Genna, by which time the new capital in Edo is firmly established. I have seen two other kozuka like it, so I think it is a production item sold to warriors who practiced the Tea Ceremony. Maker: Heianjo Zogan Inlays of copper and silver in addition to the brass suemon (excludes Onin) Inlays being raised slightly above the iron surface (excluded Yoshiro) The archaic and stylistic “Onin-like” nature of the design (Umetada, Higo, etc. are more naturalistic)

Here is another pic showing the difference in size of the Tsuka compared to a standard size one from my collection … there is a vast difference Gareth

Saotome

Dai Katchushi

Katchushi tsuba

Managed to retie the cover I was lucky that the dealer took the time to gently untie the leather thread so gently and managed put it all back together …Gareth

Wari-kōgai, iron. Said to be old, Muromachi (?) but I do not know enough about these. The slanting ‘shoulders’ below the ‘mimi-kaki’ may be one indication.

I’m going through a rough period so please excuse my comments The forum is not about negativity Steve

I’m sure it would fool many newbies but imo it’s a total faked up jobbie. Adding to what you said Brian, the tsuka is not an original Japanese one. It is carved wrongly and looks like the wrong type of wood. You can indeed see casting seams in the tsuba and fuchi…..modern. The seppa looks fake. I’m not at all knowledgeable on Gunto but could it be the top section of an NCOs sword dressed up?

this is really thick and not uniform layer of the stuff, really not good looking

Not the best pictures off my phone camera but hopefully they'll suffice... This pair 100% come from Nara. The maple leaf on the side is also a common Nara image. Not exactly the same style as yours but the spotted deer makes the association with Nara likely!

Fish bones indeed, there was a detailed report on this topic some time ago in the Token Bijutsu magazine, alas I don't know which issue.

唐団扇　Tō-uchiwa　(Chinese-style fan) Made in December 1892, for a Mr. Okada.

I believe @Ray Singer does some selling on consignment.

A couple of other examples: 1. a Facebook site for a Japanese dealer https://www.facebook...sumoto/?locale=es_LA This one was sold back in January [price unknown] 2. An example from Greville Cooke's book on the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery number 1930M731 75 mm x 72 mm x 5 mm. 3. From the Cleveland Museum of Art number 1919.302 70 mm in Diam. 4. Ashmolean Museum , Oxford number EAX.10673 https://jameelcentre...ction/8/object/21277 http://jameelcentre....0/EA_X_10673-a-L.jpg 5. & 6. From Cornell University and a Bonhams auction back in 2008 where one sold for £780 7. Christies auction https://www.christie...m/en/lot/lot-4962432 An Akasaka Tadatoki Tsuba Edo period (19th century), signed Tadatoki saku. With a delicate lobed rim and pierced with chrysanthemum petals and leaves around the edges and carved on the web with leaves in ke-bori 2 5/8in. (6.8cm.) [18 Sep 2007] - are they cheaper by the dozen?

Very nice Kai Gunto with top quality Koshirae, sharkskin Saya, original tassel and retention cord. Mokko Kamon, Habaki appears to be solid silver, all fittings are matching (三 San) and have the name "林 Hayashi" engraved. This has been untouched since WWII, and was brought back with a number of swords by a USMC soldier of the during the occupation of Japan. Good Koto Suriage blade that is in an older polish, with plenty of activity. Please see photos for details and flaws. Nagasa: 63cm Mihaba: 3cm OAL: 94cm Price: SOLD

Here are some phone pics of my latest work, this is my 4th attempt at making tsuba. The bronze original is in the V&A London online collection. The details are as follows. The project took 7 months to complete including choosing the design to inlay of the mei. The material is iron(not mild steel) I sent some 100 year old relic parker brothers and other Damascus shotgun barrels to a blacksmith who returned them as 1/4" iron plate. I made a pen and ink drawing adding the kogai hitsu ana. The design was xerox copied and transferred to the plate. I then pieced with a jewelry saw and sculpted with hammer and chisel gravers. Polished with files and finishing stones. The color is heat blue patina.

Hi Colin have you seen this? https://www.jauce.com/auction/d1158008208 obvious differences but a lot of similarity particularly the bottom of the guard where the stems come together. I don't think the seller has attributed it to any particular school or smith which is a pity.

I just received an email that it was held for verification from the CBSA. They just wanted proof it was old and how much I paid for it. Good thing it wasn’t lost, I guess it was sitting on a shelf waiting to be processed. I think I was just unlucky and they just randomly picked a package to hold, hence the delay.

wow. Seriously impressed. Work on practicing your signature 1000 times before signing that one. It deserves a signature to match. Hard to believe this is only your 4th go at it.

my Tadatoki

My Ko Tosho

Registered on June 11th, 1964. 昭和丗九年六月拾壹日 最正刀　（not sure of the meaning) 黒ザヤ? (Black scabbard)?

Two more, getting slightly earlier now into late Muromachi/Momoyama. A large and imposing Ko-Katchushi with a snowstorm design of equal ferocity. Beautifully composed despite its busy plate, the sign of a true master lost to time. Note the pronounced counterclockwise tilt of the form, an often seen feature of pre-Edo guards. Lastly we arrive back in early spring when the warabi, or bracken ferns emerge from the recently thawed earth (we call them fiddleheads where I'm from). A favorite motif of mine that instantly transports me this time of year, walks in the woods and foraging for these fleeting delicacies.

Skateboarding was fun when I was young…at 40 years old my heart is there but not the falling down repeatedly part. lol

Maybe we had that already: MASAMUNE exhibition

This Momoyama-era tsuba is in exceptional condition for it's age, and is very well made. Solid shakudo plate with fine shakudo, depicting the interface between land and sea. 72x67mm £250

Well you can get a very nice helmet for cheaper than you can get a very nice sword. And if you were to compare it with European armour of the same age, it is not even in the same ball park price wise.

Indeed Lewis thank you I suspect “ no chance “ but I will just keep it nice sword as is . Yes no papers but the last owner had many swords and didn’t paper any of them which is either good or bad but leaves space for investigation which is always part of the fun I guess ( or lost money in most cases )