ROKUJURO

Sam, I would love to hold your TSUBA in hand, but just looking at the photos, I think it is a legit OWARI TSUBA. The "irregularities" on the MIMI are either TEKKOTSU, but more likely old corrosion remains. Signs of casting would look completely different.

The blade is out of polish, was obviously sanded (although with fine sandpaper), and has no YOKOTE. So the condition was not good before, and now it is perhaps worse, but I think that a complete (traditional) polish will remove all corrosion.

KANE....X. The experts will certainly know!

Thomas, it does not help posting bad photos. See my post above to learn what we need. We can wait until you make better photos.

HB, please give us your first name plus an initial to address you politely (it is a rule here). We had some reports on former Utrecht events here in the NMB which might help you. In my memory, the lectures and demonstrations (in English) were interesting, depending on where your collecting focus is. The prices were 'normal', I think, for what I was looking at. Buying there is of course a good opportunity and saves you from the hassle of customs and shipping. Can't help you with that special Friday event.

Thomas, you will probably get opinions, but not true confirmation or authentication here, as we have only photos to work with. Your photos are mostly not well focused, so in case you would like more input, it would certainly help to post photos in the correct orientation: - NAKAGO photos with tip (KISSAKI) pointing upwards -- no hardware on the blade - photos taken directly from above - close-ups of NAKAGO, KISSAKI, HADA, HAMON.... - with light from the side - well focused - against a dark background to get a good contrast - presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the item

I don't know but I don't think so. It might be an exception. Japanese YAJIRI are forged from steel, and they are hardened. They could be re-used, while European arrowheads were made from iron, so one-way items.

Henry, a good photo might be helpful so we know what you mean. In case you had AOGAI in your mind, it is the mother-of-pearl of the Abalone shell. Lacquer techniques can be very complex and time consuming which explains the cost of a good SAYA.

Jounior, these photos do not tell much. From the looks of the NAKAGO, the blade might indeed be an older one. In case you would like to have more input, it would help to post photos in the correct orientation: - NAKAGO photos with tip (KISSAKI) pointing upwards -- no hardware on the blade - photos taken directly from above - close-ups of NAKAGO, KISSAKI, HADA, HAMON.... - with light from the side - well focused - against a dark background to get a good contrast - presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the item

The colour does not seem typical for SHIBUICHI. Looks more like SHAKUDO.

Never seen these before! Very cute!

Thank you, Robert! An expert opinion is always helpful!

In my opinion, this is one of several types of battle arrow-heads. The cross section can be square, but mostly it is rhombic. The YAJIRI for target practice are round and have no NAKAGO (cap type).

Brian, Thank you! It must be very difficult to choose the correct section......

Justyn, the concave shape of the TSUBA plate is not necessary a sign of stamping. There are many hand-made TSUBA which show that feature. Stamping could easily be done in any shape desired, be that flat, convex, or concave. But I agree that the TSUBA above is not authentic in the sense of a traditionally made Japanese swordguard.