Brian thanks a lot, the tang is even more dark(almost black) then on the picture , but i welcome any info, i used this katana to train iaido so many years ago(what was I thinking) I am still training a bit with a iaito ,a chinese and good iaito, not a cheap one and boy they really know how to make ugly koshirae I really know how a chinese katana looks! and now im thinking of polishing and repairing the tsuka of my old katana, it will be good to know if i dont trow my poor shekkels away ! Thanks again for the kind way you responded to my inquire
Bob