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Tsuba signed « Ichiryu Tomoyoshi » – 一柳友善 Late Edo Ichiryû – Mito school Kinko Meikan rank : Ryoko / Joko This beautiful katana-sized tsuba is made of shakudo embellished with gold and silver accents, on the theme of the unryu dragon. The work is very fine and of high quality, with a beautiful relief and many details. 7,9 x 7,4 cm 2500 €

From M Sesko Nihonto meikan translation Aritsugu (有続), Genbun (元文, 1736-1741), Settsu – „Sesshū-jū Jinrikumaru Aritsugu“ (摂州住神力丸有続), „Jinrikimaru Aritsugu“ (神力丸有続), civilian name „Takayanagi Shōzaemon“ (高柳庄左衛門), son of Kaga no Kami Sadahiro (加賀守貞広), Settsu-Shimosaka group, he signed firstwith „Kunitsugu“ (国継), there exists a joint work under the name of „Kunitsugu“ with his father Sadahiro which is dated with the first year of Shōtoku (正徳, 1711) and gives the age of 27 years, notare-midare or an Ishidō-like midareba, wazamono

For your work. No markings on the guard or anywhere else I can see. Scabbard drag matches

If it needs clarified, I believe the papers are from 1986 or so.

Looks like a good amount of buffing and or polishing compound. It s a shame bc it lookslike it might have an interesting hamon. Good news is that the foundation doesnt look severely compromised and can most likely be brought back to it s proper state of polish. Seen swords in far worse state being restored by a good togishi. But the reality is that it s probably far from being financially worth unless the blade has special meaning to you

Anyway, Here is my latest purchase on eBay. It was being sold in the U.S. So, with taxes and shipping it cost me $132.00 U.S. If you know what to look for, I think deals can still be had on eBay. 67mm x 65mm x4mm.

Bruce I found that this gunto was made in the final month of the war 昭和弐拾年八月 (August 1945). The swordsmith was 長弘 Nagamitsu, 野呂山麓住 Noro-san roku jū（ resident of the foothills of Mount Noro）.It has convas cover.

Wanted to share a Taikei Naotane that I recently acquired that has a secret engraving for "Ichimonji" on the bottom. Is anyone else familiar with this type of thing? Is there a specific reason(s) or is it just a total "this would be cool" kinda thing?

Not AI, they are hosted by Imgur. I am guessing it's just your wonderful Govt and their wonderful OFCOM making sure you are protected from nasty things such as images of weapons. I'm still supposed to fill in forms and checklists and make sure UK members can't buy "weapons" via pm messaging etc. You can imagine my thoughts on that.

Excellent idea. These fakes are just a waste of your money? Well, assuming you are going to collect wooden netsuke then you can buy something “basic”, maybe something more “folk art” than “high art” for around $200-400 but beware, there are thousands, probably millions, of fake wooden pieces. The worldwide marketplace is overflowing with them. Just look on eBay! Keep training your eye until you can spot the fake immediately and be patient. Spend a lot of time looking at this link…… https://www.bonhams.com/search/?chronology=past&query=Netsuke

Excellent, Sham. Added to the list! John C. p.s. That's 44 serial numbers on record; that particular mark is seen on the serial number side up through about number 1,000, however there is a large gap between 1,000 and 1,900 so unsure of the exact point the mark changed.

Looks like fresh "spiderweb" rust. Address that with some isopropyl and then oil it. May not remove it all, but will stop it from getting worse hopefully.

Not my cup of tea aesthetically, but WOW, the craftsmanship is certainly amazing.

Congratulations on the acquisition! You can look at it for a long time, like a painting. I really like that works of the Soten school look great as standalone pieces.

Should be this item https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24617

I thought I would share the story of how my first Nihonto delivery process went in case it might be helpful to someone. I went to Japan with my family for the first time in the middle of June this year. One of my goals for the trip was to select my first Nihonto while there. You can read more about that in the Nihonto forum under the thread “Question about Aoi listing”. I did select and purchase a sword from Aoi Art. Paid: 6/15 Export permit received: 7/19 Shipped via EMS: 7/20 Arrived in Chicago customs: 7/23 Letter from US customs with arrival notice dated: 7/28 I received that letter from customs on 8/5 The letter from customs said that since my package was valued over $2500 that it would need Formal Entry. I believe all packages will require similar processing in the future with Trump ending the de minimus exemption. The letter said that I could send the forms myself but that many choose to hire a customs broker due to the complexity of the process. I thought I would do it myself, but was quickly underwhelmed by the lack of helpful info on the internet. I thought I would take a couple of hours off of work to find a broker on that Wednesday (8/6), the day after receiving the letter. It ended up being an all day affair. I started on the CBP website with the list of approved brokers they have. Most of them seemed to cater to large companies but I made some calls that went nowhere and filled out some online forms for a couple that looked promising. One responded fairly quickly. I sent some info and asked some questions, including how much it would cost. They would answer my questions except for the ones about price so I stopped working with them after multiple attempts were ignored. I was getting frustrated trying to find someone to work with me so I consulted the internet. That lead me to some posts on Reddit that suggested eezyimports, which is a kind of DIY customs portal. I registered there and uploaded my info. I felt like I was making good progress but had a question. I worked with their online chat to resolve my issue and they eventually informed me they don’t work with postal packages. I next engaged with Clearit, a similar service where you upload your docs and an agent helps you through the process. I uploaded my forms and an agent contacted me a couple of hours later. Long story short, I spent 2 days going back and forth with the agent and had to abandon Clearit when they insisted I provide a USPS form that made no sense for my situation and was literally (in the original sense, kids) impossible for me to fill out. The agent was somewhere overseas and seemed to be following a template, but it didn’t apply to my situation. I was back to the point of cold calling customs brokers found via a Google search. By this time it was Friday and I was concerned with how long it was taking to get this process moving. Many fruitless calls later I finally had a broker answer that said this wasn’t something he normally handled but that he was willing to help. What a relief. He was very quick to get started once he received my paperwork. During this process is when I learned that I was going to get hit with tariffs. He said that it would be duty free because it was an antique but that the tariffs should apply. Since I had seen other people on NMB say they weren’t tariffed, I wanted to make sure he was correct, so I emailed US CBP at the address listed on the letter. They were quick to respond to multiple inquiries that we had and confirmed that the tariff would apply. From April to 8/7, the 10% tariff was supposed to apply. I think that they weren’t very strict about applying it because the whole thing was a confusing mess for a while. I read of several here who got through customs without tariffs, including one who posted in my other thread that he bought his more expensive sword from Aoi after me but got his export permit sooner, so it got to customs sooner. I was told by my broker that they got alerts about increased scrutiny starting the day my package processed. Lucky me. HTSCodes, if helpful to someone. 9706.10.0060 Antique over 250 years old 9706.90.0060. Antique over 100 years old 9903.01.25 IEEPA Reciprocal tariff 10%. The reciprocal 10% tariff was replaced by a 15% tariff as of 8/7. https://hts.usitc.gov/search?query=9706.10.00.60 There was one last hiccup that occupied us for a couple of days as we waited for an answer from Japan Post/Japan Airlines/USPS but it turned out to be a wild goose chase. As I mentioned, the broker did not normally handle this type of case so he was unfamiliar with processing items going through postal services (EMS/USPS). His software would not process the file without a Master Airway Bill(MAWB) associated with the delivery to customs. We went round and round trying to get it from Japan Post/EMS/USPS/ Japan Airlines/Aoi Art but to no avail. We finally emailed customs and they just said to use the tracking number (also known as the House Airway Bill (HAWB) for both HAWB and MAWB entries on the form and to leave out trailing characters on the MAWB if it was too long. With that info, the paperwork went through. After the fact, we learned that the MAWB is a commercial freight forwarding (UPS/FedEx) concept that doesn’t apply to postal service deliveries. I submitted my payment and fees/tariffs (almost$1k) to the broker and he forwarded the paperwork to Customs shortly thereafter on 8/12. The next day customs turned it over to the USPS at noon and I get home today on 8/14 to find that they had attempted delivery. I’ll go pick it up tomorrow and hope that all is well with the package. I’m not without concern, as one heartless poster on another thread put the idea of sticky fingers in the USPS in my head. Aoi Art was very responsive in my inquiries to them and participated in the wild goose chase without complaint, which I was thankful for. My broker said that he learned some things throughout this process that would make the process much smoother next time. I am very thankful to him for working with me. He was professional, extremely responsive and seemed of very high character in all of my interactions with him and would definitely recommend him if someone here needs this service. He works out of Texas, but can work with any port. He said that I could post his info here. I have no affiliation or monetary interest in doing so, I just want to help someone here. If you aren’t using him for a sword, tell him you heard about him on this sword forum so he knows the business is coming from his willingness to help me. James Shalda Licensed Customs Broker JAMES CB TX LLC https://jamescb.com Good luck to any of you going through this process. Jeff

Greetings, to all., I have a WWI Gunto blade and saya All other parts are missing. I'm looking to find a source so that I can restore this or have it restored by another. Any help in locating these parts or a person to repair or restore. would be great..

So recently got a Takahashi naganobu daito, and noticed this odd rust on the kissaki. Almost looks like a hagire but it's not present on the other side and isn't straight. Here are some pictures. Any thoughts on how this could've formed?

The import process is fairly streamlined now but yea it was a bit messy in the beginning. AOI uses UPS and they will let you know via email if they need additional info and any import duties once it enters customs

Good afternoon, my name is Carolina, I'm from Argentina, Buenos Aires province. I have to sell this old Katana that was from a great-great-grandfather. I was researching forums and they told me to take the handle out of the katana to see its authenticity, and we found that the blacksmith's signature was from Masamune, I wanted to find out its value since we want to put it up for sale but at its real price. I'll send photos. Thank you very much, I look forward to your reply.

Nice one posted by @BANGBANGSAN here: Made in the last month of the war, Aug '45, so pretty pristine:

Perhaps authentic, late Edo / Meiji ken. Best regards, Ray

As amazing as they can be to look at, I'm not really a huge Soten fan precisely for this reason! They're like sensory overload haha

Bit unusual to revive a thread after more than a year (almost 2!) but, I like this tsuba Dan. For the price, it seems like a great pickup...

That's filed, not carved, and I am pretty much 100% sure it's got nothing to do with Ichi. Likely just a marking the smith used to identify it, maybe from others while finishing it.

I wanted to thank everyone for their contributions! This is the first time I've logged in for a few days so I'm sorry to be tardy in expressing my gratitude. So, like many abstract designs, this one remains uncertain. Any ideas on a possible school would once again be very welcome. 🙏 Thank you once again! Hector

I agree that hamon was a bit...different..but I am not really familiar with that smith. Maybe his style is off beat skinny vertical spikes with tobiyaki? Maybe they didn't want to bring out the good good stuff.

Check saya if there isn’t moisture. It’s red active rust probably formed during delivery. Isoprophyl alcohol 99%?

Unless this has sentimental value I wouldn't attempt this endeavor. It would be much cheaper and less of a headache to purchase a Type 98 that is complete. To try and find the missing parts that Fit the saya alone will take a lot of time(these aren't all one size fits all) I'm assuming it is missing the wooden liner as well? Also the fact that the nakago on the blade has 2 mekugi makes me question if the type 98 saya is for this blade.

Is the caliber still 15 mm a little bit down into the barrel? Like 10 cm down. My extremely little experience have taught me teppos sometime expand in the muzzle. But I can be totally wrong!!

Hey Piers , ( notice I got you name right this time- apologies! ) thank you so much again for all the info and advice ! I do appreciate it. Yes _ was referring to the Bamboo leaf as a mon . Doh! yes apologies - the barrel length is 1005mm as for the bore- I have measured again and it does seem to be coming out at 15mm?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/205749037590 Something similar? The one you are looking at is cheaper and better in my opinion - no idea what the theme is but another in Sasano's book 212. page 272 says Shimizu and described as "Butterflies"? [It is not particularly close in design though]

I have one that is very similar, but there is no tekkotsu on mine.

Yes, that is one of the crude theories, but it is ridiculously unlikely when you think about it. I am working scientifically on this TEKKOTSU subject and hope to be able to present results in the near future.

Yves, this is called TEKKOTSU (= "iron bones"). It is a special feature of some TSUBA makers or schools. There is some discussion about what it is and how it is done. Unfortunately, most writers have no metallurgic background and try to approach the subject from the aesthetic side which does not lead far. Your TSUBA would be classified as HEIANJO style, in this case an earlier one with HIRA ZOGAN technique (flat inlay), most of which is still present. There are information that some TSUBASHI working in that style did not make the TSUBA plate themselves but bought them from more specialized smiths to decorate them afterwards. This may be the case here. Attached is an image of a HEIANJO TSUBA with another decoration style.

HIRAGANA character "KU"? Whatever, I like it!

A schematic representation of the Hotei bag?

Lol yes im definitely biased towards suguha and notare most but for that particular sword the way to togari being so high and pointing towards the tip of the blade just breaks the flow for me personally. Of course it s just personal preference and im sure there s plenty out there who cant stand suguha. I think part of it stems from when I was a kid. I used to have a lot of imitation katanas growing up and whenever I see hamons with a lot of togari it reminds me of those fake hamons lol. Esp some of the mino blades

Captures the chaos of the battle. I love the huge war club!

There is a lot going on on that TSUBA! Might replace a Chinese martial arts video!

Hi Alain, Apart from the patina, what I see is a Myochin edo hanbo. Chin, Yadome..

Great video and explanation for those unfamiliar with nihonto. But as I watched the curator bend the blade, I doubted that the strict prior Japanese curator would have approved.

It seems to be a nice sword with very strong masame. If trying for Tokubetsu Hozon, I would submit without the old paper from blank beginning. As the NBTHK has attributed it to Sue-Hoshō they see it as a Muromachi era sword. By default it would be that mumei Sue-Hoshō can only achieve Hozon level. There might always be an exception but so far all 17 NBTHK attributed mumei Sue-Hoshō that I have data on are all Hozon, even though some of would be good quality. Please send us pictures after Woody has worked on it.

Good morning. I am listing this blade as well. Mumei, large leaning gunome hamon. Iron fittings, 20.25” Nagasa. Saya painted obviously but has a nice shakudo fitting down near the end. Ask any and all questions. Open to offers as well. Listing for $1000, shipping included. PayPal or other pay options available. Regards

Hi, I wrote about this sword here. The sword was twisted, and as a result of repair, these shinae appeared. Best Hoshi

Famous name, no papers, IAITO TSUBA - what do you think?

Though I must say that Tsuruginoya has by far the best packaging of all the sword dealers I've worked with in Japan. The sword arrived via UPS from Japan to the US in only 1 day. EMS would have taken a week.

We have come at the same issues from opposite directions! I had a sword from my dad, and the more I learned the more I got hooked on the history. And it looks like you came from the other direction, hooked on the history, and found some cool swords! I think most of us have really been blessed by our collecting by the fact that it has exposed us to so much history and the human endeavors of all kinds. I don’t want to distract you from our need for addictive views of your sword, but I do appreciate your angle on early Japanese history leading up to World War II. There are a number of factors that led to what happened as we all know. But your angle is an interesting addition.

I appreciate your passion for history and your connection to the Type 19 sword, but I wanted to offer some perspective. It can be interesting to draw parallels between personal experiences and historical events, but some of your ideas, like Japan’s actions in WWII being a response to "oath torment" and "Stockholm syndrome," aren't supported by mainstream history. Treaties like the Convention of Kanagawa were unequal, but Japan’s actions were influenced by many complex factors beyond simple coercion. Be careful about projecting psychological concepts (like Stockholm syndrome) onto historical actors and situations where they may not fit. Nations and cultures act in complex ways that can’t be easily likened to individual experiences of trauma. History should be viewed with a broad lens that accounts for the complexities of the time. As for your sword, I’d advise against altering it, especially on the basis of unverified historical hypothesises, that you are likely to find not holding true in the future. Historical artifacts, like swords, carry important cultural significance, and modifying them erases part of that history. Maybe get a sword box 刀桐箱 which can be decorated with hakogaki 箱書き to express your beliefs

Don't forget the tsuba that have no Hitsu-ana, Dan. Not so common but you do see them.