ROKUJURO

Donald, don't you think that for € 7.550.-- we deserve some nice photographs?

John, is that a NAKAGO your are showing us? Please send some photos of the blade (full length and details like KISSAKI, HA MACHI, full NAKAGO etc.) so we can help you identify what looks a bit strange at first glance!

Tom, we have a special translation forum. Smith is KANESHIGE, I think, February 1945

Perhaps a tourist item, rather new. KOZUKA HITSU is sloppily shaped.

Jeremy, you could send it to me (Germany) for the removal of the paper. I could forge any fine tool that may be necessary, but you may find a skilled smith near your place as well, I hope!

Yes, as Ken says. SUNAGASHI which follow the MASAME HADA.

No, Johnny, the number of layers has not directly to do with the number of folds. You can start your work with a 10 layer package. When you fold it, you get 20 layers with one fold! A lot depends on why you make foldings. If you want to homogenize the steel, you just use the raw material and fold it. Contrasting patterns are obtained by using different steel alloys, and these are then used in form of sheet metal. Sometimes you fold a number of layers and forge-weld them perfectly to a homogenous block so you don't even see layers in the cuts! In forging, there are not many secrets left.....

Johnny, the TSUBA is probably not so old; I don't think KO-TOSHO or KO-KACHUSHI, as these are usually very thin. Did your really measure 9,8 mm thickness? That would be quite extreme! The surface reminds me of several classic TSUBA schools but I think this might be a (well made) revival piece.

....as Brian wrote: Not from the U.S. or Canada!

Juha, you are probably right that there is a fascinating story behind your blade - and behind many others if not most! But speculating is dreaming in this case with really nothing realistic in your hand. If it were mine, I would be more interested in the blade itself, and I would like to have it polished so it could tell the story of its creation. This might be fascinating as well and closer to reality.

A wonderful TSUBA! The tiger looks very peaceful and friendly! Again marvelous work!

Pedram, welcome on the NMB board! Please sign all of your posts with your first name plus an initial as is requested here. Your TSUBA seems indeed to be signed SOTEN, but the signature is not done in the classical way (Goshu Hikone Ju Soheishi Nyudo Soten Sei). The TSUBA itself is nice, but does not seem to be made in the typical SOTEN style (which is not necessarily bad). SOTEN TSUBA were popular so they were produced in large numbers by many TSUBA artists. There is a saying that out of one hundred 'SOTEN' TSUBA on a table, all of them might be copies/fakes. Not all were bad, but probably not original. Hope that helps in your studies. Have a look in the internet, you will find many pictures to compare!

Ray, I did not know this was possible and really done! Sounds like a lot of effort, and I am not sure I would like such a blade. On the other hand a SAI-HA/ new YAKI-IRE would not represent much more work, I think.

OBIWANKNABBE (what is your first name please?) A good proposal! Brian has contacted him already.

It can't help with the authentification, but I think I see a deep crack just under the TSUBA.

Yes, that works, but is has not necessarily to be a penny. Any piece of soft metal may be used to scrape the active red rust away, but this procedure does of course not replace a polish, and it is not a means of restoration. Attention: Some soft metals may catch on very coarse parts of a rusty item and leave traces! This is not a problem if these metals themselves do not corrode easily. In my experience, the old recommendation (see above by Ken) to use ivory, bone, antler or similar is a good one.

Dave SHIRASAYA!

I like the last photo a lot.... The TSUBA is quite nice. What are the dimensions?

It might be missing an arrow like this one:

Opelab, welcome on the board! Please sign all posts at least with you first name plus an initial as is requested here. The first KANJI of the MEI is probably MASA. Although the SHO arsenal stamp hints to a mass produced blade, the HAMON looks quite attractive. There is probably no HADA to be seen as the steel was not traditionally folded. The date looks like SHOWA 16, so probably 1942. There is a good possibility to damage the blade with uneducated polishing attempts, so it is a good idea to ask before you start the angle grinder! Please read here on the board about care, maintenance and polish. Enjoy your blade and take your time to learn about it.

Geraint, this blade looks like an oil hardened one, and perhaps in the days of war they did not care too much to have it polished traditionally.

Seen with the eyes of a smith, this is a wonderful work of art! Is it somewhat resilient like a spring? How old do you think it might be?

With dimensions of 64 x 66 mm it is certainly not KO-TOSHO, but the KAMA and NATA SUKASHI are also found in TOSHO TSUBA of later dates, so it is a TOSHO design TSUBA at best, but not old, I think.

As far as I know, TAMESHI-GIRI was mostly done with a special TSUKA and no TSUBA..

Michael, what is Samari?