Grey Doffin

Hi Bruno, Short answer is no. Very little of past years' publication by JSS/US is online. Grey

Guys, The Index of Japanese Sword Literature on the JSS/US website is the place to search for something like this. http://www.jssus.org/ijsl/?&display=table&table=smiths&page=1 Grey

Hi JT, Brian, who runs this joint, lives in South Africa; thus the Rands. You should have no trouble; go ahead with the donation. Thank you, Grey

This thread brings to mind something that has puzzled me for years: why do tsuba collectors put up with these stupid boxes? It wouldn't be too difficult to fasten the center posts with wood pins or cord tied underneath, or some other method that doesn't risk damage. I don't get it. Grey

In checking on a package going to a customer in Europe I have learned that at least one northern European country has told USPS to delay shipments to them at the moment. Since the US leads the world in covid infections (by a long shot) this isn't necessarily unexpected. Grey

For what it's worth (not much) my 1st impression also was that something isn't right. The placement of the yokote seemed artificial and the fact that the yasurime have been messed with is a red flag. I'm not sure by a long shot of this and will be happy to be proven wrong; I wait to hear from those with more experience than I have. Grey

Thank you Moriyama-san Grey

Assistance please for the romaji and what it means of the kanji on this tsuba, which will be for sale someday. Thank you, Grey

Hi David, Steve has spend serious time in study of Nobuiye tsuba; his opinion maters. I believe this is the book he mentions: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b232-nakamura-kakudayu-nobuiye-tanshu-translation Oops; Steve beat me to it and it was a different book he referred to. Grey

Hi David, Your tsuba is signed Nobuiye but there are Nobuiye and then there are Nobuiye. The master made many fine tsuba and his success and fame led to many thousands of other Nobuiye tsuba: some might say school work and some would say forgeries. I am no authority on Nobuiye but I can show you a signature that has been judged authentic by the NBTHK. https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/tsuba-%26-kodogu-over-1000/t497-signed-nobuiye-tsuba-tokubetsu-hozon-paper Unless someone with more knowledge than I have comes along and congratulates you on your find, my best guess is that your Nobuiye is among the thousands. Grey

Morning Mike, Unless the spots have a different texture from corrosion, I wouldn't worry about them. I would skip the choji oil but the more often you buff the tsuba with a cotton cloth, the better their patina. Iron tsuba love being rubbed on jeans legs as you sit with nothing else to do; they take on a soft glow (this mimics the effects of wearing the tsuba at your waist for years as a Samurai). Grey

I don't think it is a good idea to place shira-saya in water even if the blade isn't inside; this isn't the proper method for splitting the saya or tsuka. As for the original question, place the sword in a more humid environment (the bathroom and take plenty of long, hot showers, for example), wait a week or so for the wood to take on moisture, and then use the proper tool (hammer & block) to remove the tsuka. Grey

Hi Roger, The loss is most likely due to corrosion. As iron oxidizes it expands and pushes the brass loose. Grey

Hi Les, The company I was using to buy books in Japan has gone out of business and I haven't found a suitable replacement. Sorry; I can't be much help. Grey

Hi guys, With the exception of a few pieces that are consigned, all kodogu on my website (tsuba, menuki, fuchi kashira, whatever) will now be 25% off the list prices. You will find them here: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Tsuba-&-Kodogu If you are interested in anything you have to contact me through the site. Please don't send me a Personal Message through NMB; I need your emails to keep track of business. Thanks, Grey

I agree; the polish is a stinker. Grey

This is the old style of paper from the NBTHK: Kicho, dated 1977. A few years later they quit Kicho and moved to Hozon. Grey

Hi Haydn, To answer your question. Japanese Swordsmiths in 2 volumes and the thin supplement contains about 12,000 smiths, with name and common signatures in both Japanese and English, province, date, a relative point value, and not much else. It also includes an index of early Juyo Token results. Japanese Swordsmiths Revised is hardbound in 1 volume and the same information as the earlier edition (excepting the Juyo results) but for about 32,000 smiths . The Centennary Edition is the same as Revised but in 2 softbound volumes and some mistakes have been corrected. You can see what all 3 editions look like by searching for them on my site: japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com Cheers, Grey

I think alcohol (rubbing, denatured) and a soft cloth will work to remove the cosmoline and won't damage the sword. As there is more cosmoline inside the scabbard you will have to remove it more than just once but eventually the blade will come out clean. Grey

Hi Georg, I am not an authority but here's what I think. I'm sure that for some smiths, time of life of manufacture makes a difference, but I'm just as sure that there will be a premium for early work from some and later work from others. As you say, time of life is just one of many variables and not necessarily any more important than others; this is far too complicated for one sentence rules. Grey

Hello, Here is a care and handling brochure you should read. http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.html Grey

Hi Andrew, In case you haven't already found something like this, here is a care and handling brochure for you to read. http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.html Grey

I have fussed with some of the tsuba; a bit of fiberglass pen and a bit of ivory and they came back fairly easily and nice. If you need something to keep your hands busy while stuck at home, you should try one of these. Grey

I'm sure Japanese craftsmen have known about wax for centuries. The fact that mention of its use on Japanese swords is nonexistent in sword literature and oral tradition should tell us all we need to know. I wouldn't use it. Grey

This one is my mistake (wrote without looking). It is Mumei and then Kanemoto in the brackets. Grey