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Showing content with the highest reputation on 09/20/2020 in Posts

  1. Hey, whiskey goes down the sewer pipe, but a tsuba is forever....
    3 points
  2. Here are four tanto tsuba - nothing exciting but for me, a representative few. They didn't cost much individually but my good friend who appears on this NMB and only bothers with very good quality Nihonto questions whether a good bottle of whisky mightn't be a better deal than one of these ? Obviously he has a point. I haven't included measurements but 6cm is the largest diameter amongst them. Roger j
    2 points
  3. Hello all, I was not sure whether there is continued interest to post here, but I thought I’d share my favourite kozuka. Hirata shippo Mt Fuji with Tokubetsu Hozon. Very colorful as you can see. best regards, John L.
    2 points
  4. Cheerio is right Malcolm. Mr Beato used the props to stage his photos not really knowing how samurai wore ther sword. There's one some where with a togi polishing swords.
    2 points
  5. Hello. I don't think this is the work of tetsugendo school, because it is very different from his style. Actually, I'm not sure about the author of this thing. I asked the experts in Japan. Some people think that this is the work of ichinomiya school, and it may even be the work of ichinomiya nagatsun's youth (i.e. the period of setsusan). Of course, it's just a statement from one family. So far, I haven't got an accurate answer.
    2 points
  6. Good afternoon Gentlemen, The Silver Albumen print of the three figures in #2 is ascribed to Felice Beato c.1865; Beato was working in Japan between 1863 - 1884. The armour worn by the seated figure shows up in another Beato image, also dated 1865. Reference: Gallerie Verdeau Paris, who exhibited both images at the London Photograph Fair in 2015. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/pictures/stunning-vintage-photographs-depict-daily-life-19th-century-Japan-10284236.html Beato produced Commercial Albums which were extremely popular in the West. He is referenced as one of the earliest Photo Journalists, having documented a variety of events Worldwide. Just an addendum regarding Tsuba control. A few Koryu use the thumb (As it faces forwards) at 1 o'clock (11o'clock from the observer's POV) and the index finger curled around the front of the tsuba at 7 o'clock (5 o'clock observers POV). Also a certain Household in Kyushu advised its young Samurai against random acts of violence, enforcing them to tie their swords closed with a knotted paper string through the Kozuka Hitsu ana and Kurikata, there are Tsuba which have a hole precisely for this purpose. . Would you want to tangle with this fine gentleman, back in the day? https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/285902 PS The Circle and Cross Kamon shown in both images in the Independent Newspaper article, is still associated with the Shimadzu Family.
    2 points
  7. Maybe not worth much, but sooo kawaii 😁!
    2 points
  8. Just collect what you want - there no rules
    2 points
  9. It simply starts with what do you have? With what you have you pursue a good individual in that field who specializes in those swords. That's all. Louis as good intentioned as he is, being mentioned in the same thread as top level Japanese polishers, this is kind of inappropriate. It really depends on what it is. Foreigners are so brand limited that they want to drop everything on one guy. And it's just not done like that in Japan. You send something to the guy who has the best skills in that zone for the effect you want to obtain. There is no such thing as a "best polisher" any more than there is a "best car". It depends on what the goals are and what you have to work with. You don't wanst junk swords being worked on by the top polishers, there is no point. "YOU CAN'T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A SOW'S EAR" ... but you can make a sow's ear out of a silk purse so you must choose well.
    2 points
  10. I have this tsuba (picture taken of the rear) which shows considerable wear to the arcs at the ends of the slots, especially the one at 11.00 o'clock- probably because of rubbing against the clothing. Ian Bottomley
    2 points
  11. Hello everyone, I'd be grateful for any information or views about my O-kissaki katana. For example, is it likely koto or shinto, is it likely the mei was obliterated and the nakago shortened to make it seem like an o-suriage tachi? Thanks.
    1 point
  12. Hello, I purchased a blade described as sue mihara, hozon. Lenght is 68cm, 29mm motohaba, I tried to find some comparative pictures of other blades described as sue mihara, but the curvature looks strange, koshizori to my eye. Bades from pictures, not received the blade yet, I will try to make better pictures once in hand.
    1 point
  13. Not wanting to Hijack a For Sale post that are discussing this topic, I thought that I would start another discussion about Samurai Thumbprints here. I have this Tsuba attributed to the Bushu school which has a wear mark that appears to have been done by constant wearing by a thumb. 1. How likely is this to be so ? Thought: - If this was worn with Kozuka nearest body as it should, then the thumb would rest quite a way over the rim. I am constantly being told off by my Iaido teacher for doing this as it is a cert giveaway if you move it to loosen sword in Saya. He suggests just enough thumb not to be obvious but ALWAYS on Tsuba holding Katana safely in Saya. What are your views? Gwyn
    1 point
  14. Thank you kind sir. 🙏
    1 point
  15. Dear Darius. Does it have ububa? Not that that alone would necessarily distinguish between Shinshinto and Gendai/Showa, just curious. All the best.
    1 point
  16. Most testers had there own kao. this would definitely be testers kao not the makers.
    1 point
  17. Some tanto size tsuba from my collection.
    1 point
  18. Ashi also means nioiguchi projections extending towards the hada, sho-shin has many examples. I wonder if this could be a kazu-uchi mono with a “cleaned“ nagako... or maybe I’m totally off(I almost certainly am) and it is a WWII era.
    1 point
  19. I can see clear Nie and Jihada so looks like Gendaito to me. The numbers on the parts are just assembly numbers, the mounts are of the Type 3 variant.
    1 point
  20. Darius, the blade may have ashi in nthe hamon, but the saya is where you draw the blade from.
    1 point
  21. There is a guard in the V&A with Sennin riding the Carp.
    1 point
  22. Sorry Adam fixed now. It was impossible for me to see the problem. Since found another - not perfect match but very close. The Guard is from the D.Z. Norton collection, in this case the oni is hidden up a tree rather than running away from the reflection in the stream. My theory is it may be a daisho pair to the original design?
    1 point
  23. 謹作高山刀   Kinsaku Takayama-tō (Diligently made Takayama sword) 刀匠 服部正廣 Tōshō Hattori Masahiro (Smith: Hattori Masahiro) 研師 伊藤六助 Kenshi - Itō Rokusuke (Polisher: Ito Rokusuke) Its nearly identical to the signature that Dave posted, except for the polisher.
    1 point
  24. 1 point
  25. I don't think it is just new and shiny The only way you can fully appreciate a good sword is by seeing it as close to when it was made This is what the maker and owner saw Also I have one sword where I can get a basic opinion but all the replies have stated that they can tell me more after it has been polished Once a sword has been polished the owner will ensure it stays in an A1 condition so it's never going to need another polish for many years Polishing is just correcting an item that hasn't been looked after correctly Just my opinion
    1 point
  26. Adam I found another guard represented in that design book. Found in the Detroit Museum of Art. ID. number 70.705 The real guard has a seppa-dai but all the other design elements are there, I could not find the ura side of the real guard. - So we know the designs were in fact made, others may turn up. [sorry I am getting off the main subject of the post but all these cross links are fascinating.]
    1 point
  27. Here is a link to some discussions. The photos I saw were of the date, but you can see the style that I was referring to immediately. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/16387-sukehiro-2nd-gen-real-or-gimei/
    1 point
  28. Sorry I don't have time for a long answer. My recollection is that he had two main periods of signing, one was called Kakumei and the other was Marumei, meaning square and round. If I am not mistaken, the maru mei period was the one in which he mostly used Tsuda, and the signatures were quite flowing, almost like grass script. I'm sure you can google Sukehiro signature examples and find lots of discussions about it. Even looking in Fujishiro should make it clear.
    1 point
  29. Yes Adam a great reference. I have found one image from the same volume that matches the design of a guard found in the National Gallery of Victoria [Australia] The guard though is unsigned. I am seriously thinking of doing a copy of the volume for my own reference, it is all in the public domain so there would be no copyright problems. I do wonder if the designs are for "new" pieces or is the book a collection of "past" pieces? Some pictures look like rubbings of existing work.
    1 point
  30. Probably actors/models and not martial artists ?
    1 point
  31. I'm still so impressed by this iron tsuba, especially those rocks. I've never seen rocks conveyed that way before in a tsuba. Is this Tetsugendo school?
    1 point
  32. Saito: Foremost polisher for Soshu work, this is where Masamune and top work by his students should go. Also highly skilled in Hitatsura work. Dodo: Excellent with Bizen masterpieces, top sashikomi artist, very well suited for swords with Choji. These polishers, especially the top one, will not take just any sword and will need an introduction by someone in the milieu who can vouch for you. You give the sword, you wait, and one day you get the sword back and a bill. And if the sword isn't up to their standards, or you've shown yourself to be insensitive to Japanese norms ("Can you polish this Shimada tanto?" "Can I get a discount because the existing polish is still ok? How about we make the polish this way. I just want hadori work, please. It's been two years, where is my sword?"), you probably will wait five years or more or get your sword back without work done. Add to that, you will need an intermediary to navigate these delicate social waters, who will be risking his own standing within Japanese society by vouching for you. As a more local and less cryptic alternative, I wholeheartedly recommend Ted Tenold as probably the best outside Japan. His abilities are recognized by Japanese experts who comment positively on the quality of his polish on fine swords. These are just broad recommendations, and this topic is vast and deserves an in-depth analysis by someone with in the milieu. The best route is always to ask Tanobe-Sensei what polisher he recommends for the job.
    1 point
  33. Hi All, This is one of the 4 complete blades from my grandpa's WWII cache. Some interesting things look to have been done to it some time ago. In its condition, I'm curious if anyone could tell me much about it. I love the fuchi, kashira, and saya though. Definitely looks old, but I have no real guess as to how old. More pics are here: https://imgur.com/a/pW8GHoZ Thanks for looking!
    1 point
  34. Thanks guys, this is great info. This piece is likely going to my younger brother, and I'll definitely pass all of this along. (We had 4 complete nihonto to divvy up between 4 cousins, and it's looking like their sizes/lengths will match up with us in age order, roughly anyway) I agree with you Bob, my grandpa brought back some incredible things, we're extremely grateful!
    1 point
  35. Mike, your grandpa did pretty well in the items you have shared. I agree with what Geraint said completely. As to the issue about polishing it, it looks to me like it has been "sharpened" using a western knife sharpener or worse (maybe a grinding wheel?). Also, it looks like it has a lot of pretty wide and deep ware in the ji which will become quite visible if it were polished. If it has been sharpened, then a polisher will have to reshape the blade when they polish it and it will lose the hamachi. A new one will have to be formed by shaving down the ha side of the nakago. To put it in english, the tang of the sword will lose its originality when it is polished in order for a habaki to fit properly. If it has to be reshaped a lot, you will also need a new habaki. All in all, you should realize, as Geraint said, that the primary motivation for this should be the "family heirloom" rationale, as you would most certainly lose a considerable amount of money if you were to sell it after such a restoration.
    1 point
  36. I do agree with Geraint. The file marks are very obvious on the nakago so it shouldn’t be extremely old
    1 point
  37. Hi Mike. Well. First off, the length of swords is measured from the kissaki, (tip) to the machi, (notches where the habaki sits). Extrapolating from your tape measure I am estimating this as about 9"? Nice gold foiled seppa, silver foiled habaki and copper tsuba with a shakudo fukurin. Shakudo fuch kahira which I think show tea ceremony utensils. All in all nice thing. Are you missing one menuki? If so then finding a new pair and getting this re wrapped would be good and easy. Grey has a few pairs at the moment, https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Tsuba-&-Kodogu You will probably also want to get a kodzuka and kogatana to round off the package. Take some advice on this regarding the theme, keeping up the tea ceremony idea would be good. As for the blade, well you know it needs a polish and it is really hard to judge what damage there is from photos. Given the shape and state of the nakago I don't think it's any earlier than Shinto and I would guess Shinshinto. None the less a nice package. I would be tempted to restore this one, once again monetary returns are not the consideration. Most of all enjoy this little chap. All the best.
    1 point
  38. Shape + suriage nakago + punched ana = Momoyama .... BUT.... Very tight Hada + light clear patina+ fake mei removed (so intention to cheat buyer) = Shinshinto Kajihei?
    1 point
  39. Dear Russ, Always liked this one from the Boston MFA:
    1 point
  40. Hamon runs off at the kissaki by the looks of it and in a few other places along the ha. If you look closely you will see this. These are classed as fatal flaws. The kissaki sustained damage and was reshaped .sadly in doing so your polisher has destroyed the blade. (If it was him) Sorry... no really happy ending here.
    0 points
  41. It cost you only the value of the Blade
    0 points
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