Grey Doffin

Hizen Ju Tadayoshi. Grey

Do we even know for a fact that these massive o-dachi were actually used in battle more often than rarely? Is it not possible that in the normal course of events the VIPs sat, either on horseback or on a camp stool, adorned in their fancy armor with o-dachi at their sides, watching the actual work of war being done by foot soldiers in make shift at best armor, carrying a spear or whatever sword was available? That's pretty much how it works now. The o-dachi I own is in mint condition; doesn't look like it ever saw battle. Do we know how often o-dachi show signs of use? Grey

Hi Rohan, I think you have 2 options that make sense. The 1st would be to sell each item individually by listing them someplace online. Offering them in groups of 3 or 4 similar items probably won't help as collectors usually look for the one piece that grabs their eye, not a group. Here on The Message Board, I think, would be best and ebay would be a distant 2nd. Renting a shop on Tracadero or some such site might be an option also. This will be a lot of work and probably will take a long time before everything is gone. The 2nd option is to consign or sell in bulk to someone who has a physical store, who has a table at sword shows, and/or has a website. This will be much easier for you and in the end may not be all that much different in the amount of money you get out of the collection (he will take a cut but but having the store or website will allow him to get better prices). This person, if honest, will help with value also. Selling a collection is very time consuming; best of luck. Grey

Hi Michael R, Customs shouldn't be too cumbersome; there is no duty coming into the US on antiques. There are 2 possible hangups however: ivory and same'. Some shira-saya have ivory eyelets at the mekugi-ana (customs will definitely raise a stink about ivory) and I know someone who had trouble with same' once. Much easier and less expensive post if you live in the US and buy in the US. Grey

Hi Joe, Just saw some of these on ebay and see that they were at one time glued down to something. Unless the glue can be removed successfully your opening bids of $ .99 might be about right for final value. Sorry for bad news. Grey

Hi name please, Off the top of my head and with the understanding that I'm working from photos of one side and that I don't know the dimensions, I think these are worth somewhere between $75 and $150 each and #3 might be a bit more but not much. Grey Jean was posting same time as I was. To an educated market they might be worth only $200 for all (if an educated market would even be interested) but maybe my figures would be more appropriate if they were offered someplace like Ebay (uneducated market).

I also had business with Thierry and, also for me, it always was a pleasant experience. He will be missed. Grey

I think it has been said on the message board that these are gardening tools of some sort but I think just as, if not more, likely that these are late Meiji/Taisho Hamamono: made for and sold to western tourists departing Japan from the dock at Yokohama. Grey

Hi Luca, I don't currently have a copy to sell (but I will soon); here is a link to the book, Tsuba Taikan, on my website. This will tell you more about the book. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b667-tsuba-taikan-kawaguchi-noboru Grey

Noshu Ju Kaneshige (Resident of Mino Province Kaneshige) and Showa Ju KU Nen Ni Gatsu Hi (Showa 19 year 2 month day: a day in February of 1944) Grey

You can try a long drill bit with a diameter small enough that it won't contact the sides of the nakago recess. Rather than securing the tsuka and going after it with a hand held drill I would secure the drill and move the tsuka against the spinning bit. This way you will be better able to feel when the bit has gone through the paper wad to the wood tsuka core. A drill press, if you have one, should work; other wise you can clamp the drill to a bench or have someone hold the drill firmly on the bench and press the trigger. I wouldn't attempt to get all the paper with the bit, just enough to break it up so the rest will either fall out if the tsuka is rapped upside down on the bench or you go at it with something like a crochet hook. Grey

Hi Brad, No core steel on this sword; it isn't traditionally made Nihonto so one piece tool steel. I wouldn't expect the hamon to be falling off on a WWII era sword; what you refer to in your 5th picture is probably due to wartime polish and condition. Grey

Hi Andrey, Don't discount the possibility that this is a modern copy; it may be. I think there are quite a few new old tsuba coming out of Japan lately. Sorry to say but I think true; buyer beware. Grey

Hi Brad, Lay a thick towel on a counter with a few inches of the towel hanging over the edge. Lay the blade on the towel, spring clip side up, and gently bump the tsuba against the edge of the counter. Increase the force of the bump as needed until the blade comes loose. This works with cast Gunto tsuba and iron tsuba without soft metal inlay; do not try this with a soft metal tsuba. Grey

Glad to have you with us but usually with an introduction we get a name. Grey

Hi guys, When I was introduced to this book I heard that the title is Nihon no Furuju, Peter has it as Nihon no Koju. I can't find the word in my dictionaries. I have another copy coming in and I'd like to have the correct title when I list it; which is correct please? Thanks, Grey

The pair at bottom right are, I believe, ornaments off a kiseru (tobacco pouch). Note the double posts on the back of one. Grey

Enjoy it as is. Grey

Hi Matt, I also wonder about #4 but even if it is right it still is very low quality. The rest are most likely mid to latest Edo generic tsuba except for 5 which was Heianjo zogan. #1 has a bit of charm and the rest are ho hum with #5 being close to toast condition. I think you'll get significantly more joy out of collecting tsuba if you set your sights a bit higher. It could be that if you had taken what you spent for the 5 and put it into one you'd have a piece that pleases you more than the 5 do. Try some study: online, good books, and in hand at shows or with other collectors, before you buy tsuba. The more you educate yourself the happier you'll be with your purchases. Meaning no offense; just my thoughts. Grey

Hi guys, I am back up. To clear up some confusion I have deleted the Sales Books category; it was out of date. If you search through all my books you will have to go to page 7 before you find a title that wasn't marked down in the last couple days. If you click on a book and scroll to the bottom of my description, you'll often find the old and new prices. Grey

I think there was too much interest; I can't get on the site either. I'll get it back up ASAP. Grey

Hi guys, I just finished going through all the non-consigned books on my site and I have lowered the prices on about 90% of them (hundreds of titles). There are bargains to be had. If something interests you please contact me through the site, not by personal message here. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Books Thanks, Grey

I know there is at least 1 Kokuho. Grey

If the shiny area at the tip is a reflection and not a polish job then I am probably wrong; maybe this never had a yokote. Grey

I agree; the yokote was lost to an amateur polish/abuse. Grey