BenVK

Hi Jussi, Here's the first one, it's been re-listed. http://www.ebay.com/itm/KANAYAMA-Openwork-TSUBA-of-Katana-sword-EDO-2-8-2-8-0-2-90g-/352022758616?hash=item51f63104d8:g:zwgAAOSwsW9Y3NNE

That's a very nice Emura, I'm tempted!

Many thanks guys, I'm learning a lot here and it's much appreciated!

Thanks Geraint, the mounts did strike me as being of good quality. Not my cup of tea but can appreciate the workmanship. Shame the blade was in such poor condition. I wonder if it will pop up again for sale after a restoration..

Many thanks for your contribution but could you explain what you mean by your statement? How does one apply a definition of "stiff, dry and lacking vibrancy" to a tsuba?

I'd very much appreciate if you could educate me in regards to this sword that recently sold in auction. I'd never heard of a "Court Tachi" before so did some quick research online and came to the verdict that the auction sword was authentic but apart from that, wasn't my taste so didn't bid. It sold for £1600 plus fees so I presume others saw the potential however. Personally, only the koshirae interested me, the blade, regardless of the poor condition, didn't seem to be anything special.

Ray, I think you nailed it.

Steep learning curve for me this week regarding tsuba! Wasn't pleased about being screwed out of this one either. Thought I'd chosen a nice one. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22131-is-this-a-higo-school-tsuba/

I had no idea he was involved with "sword fraud" as well Brian! The last offering I saw from him was an SS visor cap that we all knew he didn't own!

You're joking! that's really taking the piss! If you need any help shutting this prick down, just let me know. Not sure how to do it yet but quite willing to complain to ebay if you want. In the WWII collecter market, there's a guy called Pavel Nowak who's well known for doing the same thing. He steals photos from legitimate sellers and websites and has ripped of countless collectors. He's more sneaky though because he offers the items for about 70% of the true asking price.

I don't think these blades that Komonjo sells are from China. I suspect they were forged in Japan in the last decade or two but for whatever reason, weren't considered good enough to mount and sell in the Japanese market.

So, the ebay seller of Tsuba No.2 is either the same guy running wakeidou.com or just ripping off photos of items from that website and trying to auction them? In other words, a scam? Here's the ebay listing. http://www.ebay.com/itm/262916947671?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 10% off now, lucky us!!

Understood, apologies for wasting everyone's time then.

Thanks guys! Not that it really matters now because the seller just told me this tsuba is "out of stock" and refunded my payment. Sold it for a higher price more probably..

So I've been searching for a tsuba for one of my swords and bought this one purely because I like the design and the workmanship looks good. Am I correct in thinking it could be Higo school?

I was hoping we could leave out who the sellers are and whether they are papered or not. The aim of the thread was to try and help me understand why two such similar tsuba could be so far apart in price. I find it very puzzling but I don't know much about tsuba yet so thought maybe I was missing something very obvious. To clarify. No.1 has the $200 starting bid. No.2 has the $5400 buy it now. I personally don't like them either, they are not to my taste but did think No.1 the better piece.

Tsuba prices completely baffle me.. For example, the asking price for one of these is $5,400, the other just $200. Just for kicks, can you tell which and why? (Without searching the net for the answer!)

Way before my time unfortunately. But like Hamfish said, they really have shot up in price the last couple of years which I just don't get. There are some seriously nice Nihonto out there in the same price range.

I don't know anyone these days who would use a $3 or 4k Mantetsu for Tameshigiri. They must be nuts if they do. The quality of Chinese forged blades is so good now and for peanuts price wise that you'd have to be a fool to use a valuable vintage Japanese blade to cut stuff with. In regards to polishing a Mantetsu, it's probably not what you guys want to hear but the best way would be a hybrid polish. WWII steel is just way too hard to place on natural stones. Plus there is no hada to try and bring out anyway so it would be a complete waste of time and valuable stone.

I'm puzzled why Koa Isshin Mantetsu swords are selling for so much these days anyway? Maybe I'm missing something here but they are just mass produced blades at the end of the day. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232281321682?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Most likely because Manchurian steel will just eat up all his very expensive natural Japanese stones with no beneficial result to the blade.

How about using something like this? I've not tried it myself yet but it looks nice and simple with only a one off yearly fee of $100 for as many auctions as you like. https://www.myminiauction.com/

Am I reading this right? auction started at 1 Yen, now up to 19 million but still hasn't reached the reserve?

Hmm, I dunno, it looks like a mono steel blade with either an oil quenched or etched on hamon...

I picked this one up recently which I believe to be a modified Murata-to Seems the threaded end of the nakago has been cut off to fit these mounts which are a curious mix of styles. No markings that I can see. I think it's quite an interesting sword.