ROKUJURO

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.

If you meant YOROI-DOSHI, they usually have a thickness of 9 mm or more, so the NAKAGO-ANA of this TSUBA will perhaps not fit. The design is called ITO-MAKI in Japanese.

As we are just at it: Could anything helpful be said about this TSUBA? Does it look cast to the NAMBAN experts? Is there a way to guess provenance or age?

Justyn, that might well be the case.

These TAGANE stamps in the shape of a star or a flower (more likely) are not uncommon and often seen as decoration in filled-in HITSU-ANA on TSUBA. In your case, they were obviously used to expand the copper SEKIGANE to secure it more tightly.

Jimmy, a lot depends on the condition of the surface. If ridges (= SHINOGI) and edges have not been rounded by removal of material, a polish would certainly be possible. Please show photos oriented correctly (tip/KISSAKI pointing vertically upwards) and use a dark basckground.

Très joli! Art nouveau!

The first TSUBA might be (AKASAKA) TADATOKI SAKU, the second TSUBA says SHÔAMI, possibly KANE.....

Kris, these photos are much better! Now I have to revise my earlier assessment and I think Kirill was correct. It is probably an older blade as far as the pictures allow to see. Unfortunately, the HAMON is not really visible, the HADORI hides a lot. It would be a good idea to show the blade to an expert. Perhaps you have a NMB member near you, or you go to a sword show and ask some dealers for their opinion.

Kris, the photos are not very informative, but just looking at the steel structure, at HAMACHI, MUNEMACHI and the drilled MEKUGI-ANA, I think this blade is not very old, but perhaps MEIJI era. It would help us attributing the blade if you would post photos in the correct orientation - NAKAGO photos with tip (KISSAKI) pointing upwards -- no hardware on the blade - photos taken directly from above - with light from the side - well focused - against a dark background to get a good contrast - preferably presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the item

Mike, In case you want help, please take care of the correct orientation - NAKAGO photos with tip (KISSAKI) always pointing upwards so we can read the inscriptions without breaking the neck -- no hardware on the blade - photos taken directly from above - 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

Brian, should this not be moved to the military section? This is NIHONTO!

Piers, I don't think that is possible. Arrows do not start straight off the YUMI, they fly in sinus curves, so you would need a really large "window" for them. It might even be too small for a cross-bow arrow. But a YARI or a sword blade would probably pass through as a last measure.

Jon, even with a phone camera, you could take photos that would allow the experts to see something. When you make pictures, please take care of the correct orientation! - NAKAGO photos with tip (KISSAKI) pointing upwards -- no hardware on the blade - photos taken directly from above - with light from the side - well focused (!) - close-ups of the NAKAGO, KISSAKI, HAMON, and HADA, if possible - against a dark background to get a good contrast (not a bed....) - preferably presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the item

Looks like an attempt to write MASAHIRO (or MASAMITSU), but was obviously not chiselled by a Japanese. As Brian says, there is a big doubt that the sword is Japanese at all.

Ken, to help us identifying, please post - pictures of the NAKAGO and the 'naked' blade always with tip pointing upwards - photos taken directly from above - with light from the side - well focused - showing details like HAMON, HADA and HATARAKI - HAMACHI, MUNEMACHI and KISSAKI are important - against a dark background to get a good contrast - and presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the blade itself

A very simple KO KINKO TSUBA with KUCHINASHI flower design. In reality, the colour is dark brown, so it is probably YAMAGANE.

Looks like a well used TANTO. Considering the number of related photos, the seller seems to love the TSUKA which indeed looks o.k. to me. Not the cheapest version of a KOSHIRAE, but without seeing the blade properly and the NAKAGO, any comment is useless.

Tom, close-up photos would help with light from the side and against a dark background for better contrast.

Oni, the NAKAGO looks as if it had been painted at one time, and dirt/debris has settled in the paint, obscuring the signature. The first name KANJI might be KANE, but I cannot read the second KANJI.

NAGAMASA and SHIGENAGA?

Mark, KIRIBAKO are for protection, not for display.

Luca, I cannot offer a translation, but as far as I know, YAKITE KUSARASHI describes indeed an acid treatment of the TSUBA surface. It has nothing to do with the KARAKUSA decoration which is done manually with TAGANE.

Peter, I like the general design idea of your TSUBA. What puzzles me are some details: The NAKAGO ANA is not symmetrical, and as all TSUBA masters have a good eye for balance and symmetry, this does not really fit for me. The SEKIGANE are barely fiting into the NAKAGO ANA on one side while they go far into the SEPPA DAI on the other side where they have been pounded flat. In my eyes, this is not elegant and often seen in amateur TSUBA. Also, the bird's tail is not symmetrical. Furthermore, the pronounced TSUCHI ME (visible in photo # 4) is unusual for an older TSUBA, I think. The TEKKOTSU (or what is probably meant to be TEKKOTSU) is strange in my eyes. They look like traces of welding to me. Finally, the head of the crane does not look elegant to me. I may well be wrong on all points, so I would really like to see this TSUBA in hand.

With pleasure, when I have a bit more time. Actually, I am on the road, travelling home from northern Germany.