ROKUJURO

Hi Virginian, please sign all posts with your first name and an initial as is requested here. 1. Japanese swords can be restored in Japan. This board can supply recommendations for agents and polishers (not for the military blade). 2. Sword appraisals (SHINSA) are of course made in Japan, but also in the U.S. (not for the military blade) 3. There are several ways. A good place could be one where you get the highest price which could be a specialized auction house. But my personal opinion is that the sword should go to someone who takes good care of it and preserves it for future generations. You might find someone like that here in the 'FOR SALE' section. E-Bay should not be considered unless you are a specialist. All the best!

Yes, Hamfish, we all like the rare Alaska TSUBA!

Gentlemen, MATSU-KAZE in Japan is offering papers (without the items) on E-Bay: NBTHK Certificate Papers 10 Tsuba & Tanto. Akasaka, Nishigaki, Higo, Kyo-Sukashi $30.00 4 bids NBTHK Certificate Papers 10 Tsuba & Tanto. Akasaka, Nishigaki, Higo, Kyo-Sukashi. 10 certificates for TSUBA (envelope is nine pieces). We don't declare the low value or mark as "gifts". from Japan. Amazing or frightening? Kind regards, Jean C..

Andrey, the thickness of the plate, the state of corrosion (or the lack of it), and the shape of the rim (almost KAKU MIMI in places) could be indicators for a later manufacture in my eyes, so probably not KO-TOSHO, but early EDO JIDAI.

I remember having seen a similar one in the collection of Janos Horvath in Winterthur, Switzerland. That may have been around 1980. As Ford pointed out, the manufacture of these pieces has probably always to start from a cast base plate as brass is difficult to forge.

Grev, that was certainly a lot of work! Nevertheless, I would like to second Steven as I like to see only a few TSUBA nicely presented. Imagine how long it takes to see and admire a TSUBA really close in hand. I don't think I would be able to enjoy many TSUBA at a time.

Musée des Arts Asiatiques in NICE, France Sometimes good exhibitions on Japanes subjects. Website does not work. https://www.departement06.fr/musees/musee-des-arts-asiatiques-2508.html or http://www.nicetourisme.com/nice/184-musee-departemental-des-arts-asiatiques

Bob, this seems to be a short WAKIZASHI in UNOKUBI-ZUKURI shape. It has only one cutting edge, so no dagger. Do not attempt to restore or fix anything until you know for sure what it is that you have. Keep the blade away from children and moisture and don't touch it with your bare hands. Please read a lot about Japanese swords, we have a wealth of good information here on the board. It is probably not a national treasure, but it is a solid and authentic Japanese sword of the very late EDO period (my personal guess) in fair condition, and as such a good start for a collection.

Greg, with the KANJI pages provided by the board, it seems that the second KANJI is KAZU (or ICHI) and the third might be FUMI. The experts might know better.

Ben, the TSUBA seems to be quite thin, so I have an impression of KACHUSHI style with some ONIN flavour.

Thank you, Peter! The author is a generally well informed professor, but many of his conclusions are based on guesses. He mixes up some important terms like 'polishing' and 'grinding' which are necessary to deal with the Japanese subject of TOGI. Folding and fire-welding of iron or steel were standard techniques in the iron-age and are still relevant for those who run bloomery furnaces or TATARA today. His use of the term 'faggoting' is probably not correct for the iron-age, but came into use in medieval times. It is a complex subject though.

This thread should perhaps be moved to a forum where it fits.

Kurt, how is the condition and shape of the KISSAKI? The photos give the impression that it may be damaged, but that may be caused by the angle. The SUGATA is probably KANBUN JIDAI, the condition of the NAKAGO looks quite new, perhaps SHIN-SHINTO. HAMON is vivid, so might come out nicely with a good polish (preferably not KESHO).

January = SHOGATSU

Thank you, Guido! WAKARIMASU

Alex, looking mainly at the NAKAGO, it looks rather clearly like a very late tourist piece, but there might be a chance it is just a piece of a broken blade..

Chris, it looks like an attractive sword, but I am irritated by the phrase: ...The HA is soft....I don't understand the meaning. Is it a description of an aesthetic feature or a technical term?

Michael, the other SUKASHI (open design) TSUBA seems also to be a cast one. You should not try to fit that one to your blade, I think. If you are not accustomed with the techniques, leave the mounting of SEKIGANE and the fitting work of the TSUBA to a specialtist. It is not a big thing and will probably not be expensive.

Mario. the blade was made 1941 (SHOWA JU ROKU NEN). It has a SEKI arsenal stamp which means that it is very probably not traditionally made. I am not of great help with the MEI (signature). The first KANJI is KANE, but I cannot read the second.

Anton, just compare it with genuine Japanese swords. This is one horrible decoration for the Ghost train/haunted house!

Ray, I just admired your blade and thought how beautiful this would look with a fresh SASHIKOMI polish!

José, with that age of the TSUBA I could well imagine that it has seen battle situations. Look for KIRIKOMI on TSUBA, you will find others with similar 'scars'. Concerning the condition of your TSUBA, I am not very surprised that there were no more bidders! Unfortunately it has been sitting quite a while in a moist environment, so that there is not much iron left. I see no way to restoring it, I am afraid. Take it as a piece of history!

Didier, TEKKOTSU looks different. Your TSUBA shows TSUCHI-ME (hammer-work) on the face, but also some ISHI-ME (stone surface), which might have been done intentionally but was perhaps also caused by corrosion in places. TEKKOTSU translates as 'iron bones'. The explanation in the books how it is produced is usually not correct. If you look up the term, you will find that almost all authors relate to older text sources, but these mostly don't have a relevant and metallurgically satisfying base. Perhaps others will be able to relate your TSUBA to a school or even a maker.

Stegel, I cannot comment the ITO quality, but it is wrapped in a wrong manner. That is usually a give-away for non-Japanese production. The cast TSUBA has nothing to do with military, so I have my doubts. You might know better as you had it in hand. I always remember the saying "Buy the sword, not the story"!

Stegel, amazing! You are sure that this is Japanese? NAKAGO, TSUBA, TSUKA-ITO (can't see the FUCHI), all looks non-Japanese to me. Even the KASHIRA is not necessarily Japanese!