Henry Wilson

I think it would be a very interesting article but very hard to write, which could be why it has not be done properly before. For me, by default I always go to Sasano's silver book to help with determining metal quality / age and getting a feel of what is right and what is not. I like Sasano's work because I can safely assume all examples illustrated to be very good quality in good condition. The photos and the chronological lay out of the tsuba schools is very educational and in my opinion are probably more informative than words.

Hi David Thank you for the reply. I personally feel that the ko sukashi of a Genji mon would not be found on a Ko Tosho tsuba. Attached is a quote from Sasano. Early Japanese Sword Guards. p.9 If we consider what Sasano has written, I am not sure what a low ranking foot soldier would spiritually get from a Genji Mon. I don't think that these warriors would be familiar with classical Heian period literature too. I have done a bit of net trawling to try and find when Genji mon emerged. I found these pages; http://www.viewingjapaneseprints.net/te ... #Genji-mon http://www.viewingjapaneseprints.net/te ... oshi3.html I get the impression, especially from the last link that it was late Edo period when the Genji symbols became popular. However I could be wrong and would appreciate iif someone would correct me if that is the case.

Hi Grev Have a look here at the end of the first page. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13495 A good reference can be found at the link below. It is Tosogu no Kigen by Sasano Masayuki. http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?type ... ulu.com&q=

Hi David Thanks for sharing the tsuba. Looking at the pictures on my IPhone, two things that I notice are the rim and the fairly complex sukashi. They both hint at katchushi in my opinion. Also the Genji mon also makes me think the Edo period which in turn suggests that it is an Edo period revival peice. Just some thoughts.

Hi Grev Another indication of age can be the shape and size of the ryuo hitsuana. Based on this, there are two that I see that in my opinion would fall into different slots in the chronological line you have posted.

Congratulations and I would very much like to see what you won.

That is a very nice an useful resource. Best of all it is free which is very generous of David and Paul. Thank you very much for providing it. Just as a thought, the inclusion of the kanji for each term would be very useful and interesting for me.

Thanks gents. Most interesting!

Center tests are this weekend in Japan. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T130119003376.htm The reading passage in the first section in the 国語 test seemed very interesting. For me any way.

Thanks Jack for your thoughts. Have you read this? http://www.shibuiswords.com/tsuba.htm#nobuiye

Thanks Steve. Much appreciated.

Why?

LOL at what? PM me if you are too shy. :D

Hi Jack. Thanks for the comment. I am pretty sure there are only two hands illustrated. Which do you think are done by other hands? If you don't want to post your thoughts you can PM me. Cheers.

Attached is a chart that most of us have probably already seen that illustrates signatures by the first and second Nobuie. My question is which are examples of the first and which are the second? It is easy to assume the top line the first and the bottom the second but there appears to be a mixture of styles. I propose: 1st generation 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 2nd generation 2, 4, 9, 10 What are other people's thoughts?

Hi Mariusz The kozuka seems to be signed SHOZUI. The fittings in an obscure way remind me of this I once owned: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4053&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=Shozui&start=0 What I mean is the fuchi on mine was signed SHOZUI, and while the work was very good it was not exceptional which is what such a name would demand. I suspect your kozuka is similar in that it is a high end copy. Maybe not meant to deceive, but to reproduce and emulate. The engraving of the Sakura looks well done but (sorry to say) not very imaginative and slightly boring. The fittings look solid silver (is the koshirae heavy?) and all in all I would say Bakumatsu period.

森田さん 早速くのお返事ありがとうございます。

Can anyone tell me the meaning of this symbol. It is on the lid of a lacquered tsuba box and inlayed with mother of pearl. Many thanks in advance.

Ask and thee shall receive......

I think this is a good introduction too. http://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-george ... 48110.html

Off topic so delete if necessary. I have always liked the Ko Uda work. They seem like nice Koto blades at good prices. I wonder why they are so well priced?

I don't know if this has been stated, but there was a time when the daimyo /　shogun fittings became quite simple. Uchigatana Goshirae by the National Museum has a few.

I personally think highly skilled tsuba-ko have been around since before the Muromachi period. Just look at all those goergous early tachi. The fittings must have been made by a skilled artisan. Even Kofun period fittings are extremely well made. As for iron tsuba, I think specialized workers have been making them since at least early Muromachi. Ones that were made by a swordsmith on the side I feel are few and far between bit do / did exist as the pre-Muromachi uchigatana seem to have been equipped with simple hand guards. Look here for more details: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13468

I am confused. It has been a long day, but as I understand it this is my response. I think that it is agreed that at anytime in history swordsmiths made swords and armour smiths made armour only. The reason why people make this conclusion is becasue the time needed to make the items would be too long and the skill too specialized to make both of a high quality.

You are welcome KM and you are correct. However that rule of thumb is only applicable to tsuba made before the Edo period. The style of yours suggest mid to late Edo. Also Katchushi is a certain style of tsuba which has been labeled for kantei. It is only a theory that armour makers made them because they exhibit similarities seem in armour.