ROKUJURO

Brandon, of course I was pulling your leg . Making good photos is not only a question of hardware - these blades are generally hard to deal with. I think it is important to know which features to show and what can be pictured regarding the condition of a blade. Correct angles and light are crucial, and in many cases the photos could be enhanced with a software program. If you make a SUGATA photo, cut away the background as far as possible, and use a dark one.

Looks more like Harry Potter V. Maybe the signature with KAO is down right, but it is barely visible. A better photo might help.

You are not alone, Brandon! The photos: I think this is an old and dirty tent in pink with some metal bar on it. Honestly, there is not much to be seen. Have a look at the other threads and compare how photos should be made!

Probably a Chinese decoration item of TSUBA shape, industrially made.

Yes, you know the problem. But to help you find a way for your insurance, I'd suggest you have a look into the market. The insurance companies are interested to learn the value of a possible replacement. As swords are generally unique, this is never precise, but what else could you tell? Find a comparable object and look at the price, that is on a 'normal quality' level all you can do. This will perhaps not work for your priceless KOKUHO at home.....

David, a very nice TSUBA! On the photo I believe to see remains of a removed signature. Is that visible on 'in hand'-inspection?

Perhaps if the MUROMACHI TSUBA had similar dimensions (diameter near to 4") might this have had an influence in classifiying the item as KATCHUSHI? What do you think?

Yes, you always have abrasion with whatever you use to wipe a blade clean. It only depends of the time. I was critical about the regular use of solvents because of their effect to remove the tiniest amounts of oil from the steel. Japanese sword steel, unlike any other steel, has a microscopical 'open' surface which we see as HADA. It is understood that oil can penetrate in these very small structures and remain there, preventing rust to build up. In my understanding, the traditional care system of Japanese blades has proven to serve the purpose best. Any attempt to improve the cleaning with chemical solvents should be considered carefully.

Ken, it might be mathematically difficult to find such an amount of water in alcohol of 95-100%......Of course you can buy 70% isopropylic alcohol with the mentioned content of water which is probably what you wanted to say. In Germany denatured ethylic alcohol is 94% pure plus a small amount of a health hazardous or otherwise repellent substance not only to prevent misuse but to prevent alcohol tax evasion. While I find it suitable to clean a newly acquired blade chemically with a solvant if necessary, I would refrain from using it regularly.

While I like the old TSUBA with this design a lot, in my eyes the revival piece lacks good and visible workmanship. It seems to have been aged artificially by acid treatment, and this ended up in eroded spots on a relatively 'dead' surface, showing nothing of the steel qualities. I would have liked some TSUCHIME or a genuine MIGAKIJI surface, depending on the style intended. Just my one and a half cents....

Brandon, have a look at my post of Sept 26th.

Mariusz, with that familiy name he probably couldn't have handled it differently! :D

From the distance it looks more like a TSUBA for a YOROIDOSHI.

I have a related question: is it true that swordsmiths as a rule were not to work more than four hours per day? Considering their very concentrated work I could well understand such a limitation. Being in that business myself, I can hardly imagine that a smith could make a long blade in less than a week, even with assistants.

To me it looks like a SURIAGE (shortened) WAKIZASHI with the remaining KANJI for BIZEN (a province). Photos are only helpful when well focused and sharp, and TSUBA should be presented with the pointed part of the NAKAGO ANA (slot) upwards unless it is a TACHI TSUBA.

I agree with you. Maybe I have a general problem with films about Japanese subjects made by westerners as in many cases they are not respecting Japanese culture, behaviour, or historical backgrounds. As an explanation, these old films could be seen as products of their times, but in today's view I often find them made quite incompetently and superficially.

Pete:.....It's always had a cult following. My opinion is if you don't like it, don't watch it....... In my opinion, a cult is not necessarily a quality badge. And of course you will have to see it at least once (which I did half a year ago on YouTube) if you want to come to a personal evaluation. But I understand your sight: Some 30 or more years ago I might have seen the quality differently. At that time, I did not want to miss one of the David Carradine KUNG FU films!

Maybe it refuses to be loaded as it's a bad photo and standing on it's head....

Perhaps because it's a really bad film, even if you consider the times it was made.

...and the smaller version for WAKIZASHI is called Mini-Cooper..... .

I don't share this opinion. Japan had an advanced knowledge in their own and very narrow field of military technology, while the Europeans were not less skillful with their arms respectively. You will have to compare arms side by side and of the same period of time.

This is a typical 'shoot-and-forget-about-it' arrowhead, a standard type. I have seen HAMON on YANONE with a flat design but technically it is almost impossible to produce a HAMON in a small and compact piece of steel like the arrowhead shown.

To my old eyes, No. 1 is cast. Look at the corners of the SUKASHI. There seems to remain some residue from casting.

You cannot retemper a part of a blade. Trying this would always produce a non-tempered zone in the blade.

I don't believe this to be a YUMI YARI. There is no possibility to hook the loop in, and the long extension shows a hole, but nobody wants a screw or nail in his bow! I remember having seen a picture of a YUMI YARI which was quite small, so as not to reduce the performance of the bow. There is an old photo in my 'Japan department' showing my KYUDO teacher KAWASHIMA SENSEI in a fight demonstration with a 'palanquin arrow'. I am sorry not to know the technical term for it but it looked quite similar - a short but stout arrow, used for defense in limited spaces like palanquins. One could stabb with these arms but also throw them. Maybe the item is something of that kind.