christianmalterre

LOL :D seems i do know this Tsuba David! Sometime in past bought it for 1600.-Dollars from Fred Weissberg Latter it was bought back by Fred Weissberg again. (Good Deal so far for both of us-interesting item so to study it...) Now,like it seems,it´s again offered in the typical E-Bay manner...hopefully an "idiot" will grab for mine asking price"...Not?-LOL! This Tsuba is correct,good and papers equally... Of course the actual to be seen asking price completely fails the market value! LOL! (yes,old collectors-we do know ours stuff!) Christian

Brian, just allow me so to comment,as i think i do speak for many others,too? The "problem" is in fact simple. How many times already?-Guys dedicating their´s freetime,passion and funds into collecting-did,still do... write same like i actually do it here? WE ARE VERY CERTAINLY GETTING RID OF THIS EBAY-STUFF! 90% of what is offered in E-BAY is "MÜLL"!(google for this word if you don´t already know... 8% of the rest remaining 10% is very medicore! 2% remaining may be good(most times those old sellers we all do know-so here there´s nothing to complain about) Gernerally speaking-and for those who regularely read those hundreds posts here ben written... DO BUY ONLY THINGS YOU DO KNOW ABOUT! DO BUY ONLY FROM SERIOUS COLLECTORS AND/OR SERIOUS DEALERS! (Sorry!) Christian

Mark, thank you for those efforts-honestly speaking,but-LOL-i can see nothing at all!-Laugh No worry-you can easily distinguish about those both schools normally. Your´s Mei seems correct,rest equally. Of course neither Shodai´s nor Nidai from bot traditions-as i once in past used to have one Nidai of each branch papered Tok.Hozon and did focus myself on them... I but am confident in heading you into Mike´s(Ricecracker) direction here-an friend of him did purchase mine Osaka-Nidai those days... You may contact him-quite confortable those Guys can help you... Thanks for your´s efforts again!(i do know from own experience-taking pictures may result somehow into Sissiphus sometimes...) Christian

Dear Chris, i used to have some of such in past. The blade is Japanese(Kanbun-Shinto most probably) All the rest is an artificially added construction so to fitt this blade for proper use. It´s not an Japanese mounting!(equally not Ainu). The Japs.had strong trade in this time,exporting blades to South East Asia,others as hired sailors,working for Dutch,Portuguese or Spaniard interests.... The Mounting does strong resemble Myanmar Bumese or Siamese taste and functionality. The Ferrule is quite typical to be seen in those-equally the other used material. The Knob(Screw) is an latter times artificially added construction-not original to the mounting. Here,you had to refitt it with an Original South East asian one... Interesting find-not but,that uncommon to see... Christian

Mark,could you please post some good picture of the Kissaki(Boshi)/both sides preferable? Christian

do have an look in Robert´s book: Armes Japonaises dans les collections privees Francaises 5.Mai-25.Juin 1977 some really special ones... Unusual? Despite the price i have to pay for some good Tsuba-nothing is "Unusual" at all in fact...LOL! Christian

Dear Henry, thank you for posting all your´s little Bees here! Your´s collection(what is shared here by you) is very much impressive! Great Tsuba-Great Taste-Great Eye... (nothing to add from mine part actually...LOL!) :D !!!!!!!! Hearthly! :D Christian

Such implementing Ford-(and thank you honestly for leveling this minute but important detail to surface)-we all can be quite shure,this may not an (such?)simple bargain affair. Those who may indicate(or at least do have an idea)(about) the source,will hopefully be more aware. (thank you Ford for this short statement!) Pretty Ugly Game! (But be aware-there are some here who still recognise pretty well in fact-Don´t take us for idiots!) (this is meant to that person who "created" this object!) Christian

Asking seriously... What shall be such that special despite an name behind?

Ahhhh! Those Tsuba ARE Yagyu! (Thank you!) I think-it will be much easier for you David -so to focus yourself on such exemplaires,buying in future only such exemplaires,studying the essential literature,calm down in purchasing EVERYTHING wich looks maybe ?Nice? in your´s actual eye... Do invest into literature,travel costs so to see good exemplaires of Tsuba,try to meet serious collectors.... Very hearthly wishing you this-Me Of course-never forget an good Bordeaux or some -LOL! Christian

No articulated handprotection?-how did those have ben used??? Maybe somthing for Muto-Dori practice with live-blades? The do remind me somehow on Kendo-Gloves... For what use are those both "Hooks" intended? Christian

No Yagyu Iron-No Yagyu stilism-Such..No Yagyu Tsuba(in classical sense) Maybe an late Edo "Revival" in esteem of some elements loaned by the Norisuke-Group... Funny piece however... Christian

for those who do not have this.... TBJ Issue 4/Spring 1980

And how about that idea so to buy you some rather more insightful literature instead? There´s an active forum member here-offering EXCELLENT literature for bargain(!) prices- which some guys(like me) had paid twice or even more some years ago.... would at least make more sense in view of an conservative collector like me here-Not? But?-who finally knows...Masamune 7 and YKB´s like Hoan are/is still missing...LOL! Christian

Hard words Paul....hard words!... Sorrowly BUT thrue! Christian

Veli, speaking honestly-as i do imagine you do know at least... What is/has ben written-and what did you write/read here? Christian (do not worry-it´s certainly a fine blade for an first serious purchase)

Ahhh :D at least one here who does judge... (maybe thanks to us "dreamers here" constantly trying so to head the right way... )? Very nice Sword!-Very good blade(for an starting)-much better than many others...Many! Now you have to buy you (at least) Afu Shinto and ShinShinto Volumes so to do your´s own further research... Veli, Gassan school did start much earlier... Christian

Dear Henry, i certainly would-if i just could...did browse the net;it but obviously seems,that an link does not exist? could provide you with an image of that Tsuba-here but-Laugh!-not yet,as mine scanner did choose so to go to Walhalla and i first have to buy me an new one... (made pictures of some remaining Tsuba and Tosogu of this collection in Paris-where i equally had the possibility so to study them-the one spoken did show the similar arabesque Zogan in silver and gold,like the your´s one,equally not signed. Now seeing better the Seppa Dai area-i do even feel more confortable with what i wrote first...definitely an Shinsa candidate in mine eyes!Pete is hard right in thinking to submit it...) Attached(an picture of an Dia)-which right this moment is the only possibility i actually do have..LOL! You certainly do have an lovely candidate here!Congrats Christian

The Mei reads: I am made from ArcelorMetall.... (just browse and you´ll see who this is...) LOL! (Please do buy you an book before buying you anything else i just can say...the K-time..) Christian

if it´s real-so you are right Thierry-me do see Dito. Do browse Tanaka school line-and you´ll find the artist Uwe! Christian

This is an nice Tsuba Henry I actually do not see Haruta here Pete?-Those were Izumo situaded(at least while prospering);the Bizen Suruga you did mention may be Hirata but. (perhaps you did just write wrong?) There´s an Katchushi-style Tsuba made by one of those early Hirata smiths in the Vautier collection which shows simmilar careness and symmetry in it´s execution. Relating to attribute it as an Ko-Katchushi,i but actually doupt a bit... For me,it´s rather an Katchushi-style Tsuba from begin of Tokugawa times 17th... Can you provide an better view on the execution of the Seppa-Dai area Henry? The general execution is such finely worked out.... Christian

LOL! be certain,if i had an O-YKB,me too,i would not give it out of hands-such speaking,studying this-may cause some "delicate" difficulties... but-no worry-those are out there,well cared,well kept-and one day,i am certain,you´ll see one so to do your´s study... (would certainly be lot of fun for you so to compare it with the your´s here... :D Yes-i tend to agree with your´s observation and idea here-this Tsuba was certainly created in "memory and glory". Nice! Christian

I do like this Tsuba David! Very much better(maybe)-but of course much more interesting in fact,than all your´s recent other´s you did post(sorry-no critic of course!-it´s your´s DING...) It does remind me in stylism to the O-Shodai YKB-the iron is but different it seems me(compare with those depicted in Makoto Sugawara´s book)... Certainly not common to see... Christian

Dear Veli, that´s not that hard-here so to begin some links,you may find many more just by googeling... http://www.nihonto.com/abtartyoshihiro.html http://www.to-ken.com/swordregister/No36.htm http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/K9305_W6623_E.htm http://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meis ... c&page=256 Oshigata are depicted in several publications,some more,in some of the TBJ´s,Rei Magazines,Ginza Chochuya Magazines... (I but certainly will not browse them all now!) This is an pretty known smith,an pretty known school,and an pretty surched for style-such,i am very confident-one of the collectors here being more into this school-may find sooner... If not-let me know... And here for clearifying some eventually occuring questions-i just do allow me so to recapitulate some Text: (You but do find this all Online-so no magic here...) Shijo Kantei No 645 (October issue) Answer and Discussion for Shijo Kantei To 645 ( in the October issue). The answer is a katana by Bitchu no kami Tachibana Yasuhiro This blade has a normal mihaba, and the width at the moto and saki are different. There is a very shallow sori and chu-kissaki, from these characteristics, we can judge this as a Kanbun shinto katana. This sword has midare utsuri, and a gorgeous choji hamon, but the shape is as seen, and the shinogi ji has masame hada, and the boshi is komaru. From these characteristics, this is not an old Bizen katana, like Ichimonji, and it is more likely to be a Shinto period Ishido school katana. The modern Ishido school had branches in Edo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kishu, and Fukuoka, and each branch school had an original style and produced well made blades. Among these schools, a long yakidashi at the koshimoto is an important characteristic for the Kishu Ishido school. This hamon at the koshimoto shows a slight midare pattern which is different from usual pattern, but if this part were suguha, it would be a typical Kishu Ishido yakidashi. the Kishu Ishido school’s yakidashi yakihaba (width) are not an even suguha, and towards the upper part of the yakidashi section, the width becomes wider, and this katana shows this feature. Also, the Kishu Ishido school choji midare hamon have a wide hamon, as seen on this katana, and often the top of the hamon reaches the shinogisuji. At the same time, each choji is narrow, and entire hamon is smaller, and has a tight nioiguchi, and the hints mentioned these characteristics. The Kishu Ishido boshi are straight with a komaru, or are midarekomi, and often have a long return, like on this katana. They can often have frequent muneyaki. Among the Kishu Ishido smiths, Yasuhiro has more work left today. His nakago tips are iriyamagata, and on the ura under the habaki there is a mon, and from these characteristics, the Bitchu-no-kami Yasuhiro nameis suggested. Most of the people voted for Yasuhiro, and besides his name, a few people voted for Tosa Shogen Tameyasu and Mutsu-no-kami Tameyasu who are also Kishu Ishido school smiths. These smiths made choji midare hamon, and it is difficult to judge distinctively between their styles. In particular, Tosa Shogen Tameyasu has katana with mon on the omote side, so these names are treated as almost correct answers. Tosa Shogen Tameyasu has very few blades, and Mutsu-no-kami Tameyasu’s nakago jiri are kurijiri. Beside these, a few people voted for Unju Korekazu. As a Shinshinto smith, his mihaba are normal or slightly wide, and his kissaki are chu-kissaki or long chu-kissaki, which are common shapes. A choji midare hamon is his strong point, and a few blades have an Aoe-mon; so from these characteristics, people may have voted for him. Korekazu’s shapes are wide but his work show a thick kasane, and many of them have a narrow shinogi-haba which often are seen in Shinshinto blades; his jitetsu is a tight ko-itame and can become a become muji-hada type, and are often mixed with nagare hada. His early choji hamon, have narrow clusters, and tops are not round; there is a tight and strong nioiguchi, similar to Chounsai Tsunatoshi and Koyama Munetsugu. Usually his choji in each cluster are thick, the tops are large and round, and more likely to be similar to gunome midare hamon. There are dense nioi, dense nie, and frequent kinsuji and sunagashi. In addition, Korekazu has very few Aoi-mon blades, so please pay attention to these details. Explanation and provided by Hinohara Dai.

Well? Sorry here,but this all does make no sense here/at least for myself. This item is obviously attached with an False signature. Please do carefully compare how the Shodai did handle the cisel. Equally,speaking relating this point here-neither the Nidai nor any(there were some)the Sandai did such. What may be correct is the school-attribution(this may finally sort out an professional(!)polish(which obviously seems out of discussion here equally?)-the statement it´s eventually Shodai-is indiscutable(if seriously collecting). There are plenty of Oshigata available-so to compare... Ridicoulous conversation in fact! School attribution may be correct-artists attribution certainly NOT! (and No-he had not an bad day when ciseling this..Laugh!) Christian