ROKUJURO

For our Australian members.....

The motif of the right one could be BENKEI and YOSHITSUNE.

Nicolas, you are certainly correct in that the SUKASHI of the TEIMEI TSUBA are not usable as HITSU ANA. I showed it more as a general example of "big openings". The HIRATA TSUBA below (not mine) is probably more functional in this respect.

Nicolas, I do not believe that the HIRATA TSUBA pictured above (and the other one) attempts to emulate the PODIA of sea cucumbers. It would not be the intent of TSUBA artisans to create realistic copies of nature. In my opinion, these small SUHAMA-like decorations were meant to "soften up" the very stern basic shape of the NAMAKO TSUBA. My observation is that a pleasing, balanced shape with inherent functionality can be found in most TSUBA, especially in the iron ones. Speaking of "oversized" HITSU ANA, I am attaching a TEIMEI TSUBA as example plus two "NAMAKO" TSUBA in HEIANJO style

No, it is TSUNAHARU. Many of your photos are useless. Please use a plain dark background (not your bed), and take care to make well focused photos. Use a dark room to avoid reflections, and spotlights. NAKAGO photos always vertical tip-upwards, without HABAKI

A really nice one. I like it! Concerning the condition of a TSUBA, we usually do not know how it was stored and preserved in the past. This will have a big impact on the surface condition. In this case, it looks consistent with KAMIYOSHI's working period to me. I don't think it is modern.

There is one thing I observed on this sword: It has one obviously older MEKUGI ANA (punched), and a newer one (drilled). A MEI is usually chiseled BELOW the MEKUGI ANA, so you would expect it to be placed lower than the old MEKUGI ANA if it was made by the smith himself. On the other hand, the MEI looks as if it was chiseled "around" the newly made MEKUGI ANA. This is at least unusual if not dubious. Concerning the photos, you could show more important details with another set-up. Please use a plain DARK background (not your bed, not white or bright colours). NAKAGO photos always without HABAKI. The condition of the blade is not good enough for my old eyes to see YASURIME, HADA or HAMON clearly. While the SUGATA is quite nice, we should see more details for an assessment. Sometimes, unpolished blades like this remain an enigma.

Thank you Tom!

Gentlemen, I cannot read the MEI except X SADA. Would some expert please be so kind and help? This is a cut-off NAKAGO, and I am curious. Possibly very late EDO or younger.

Hector, it is TAGANE MEI. As to the motif, I believe it is TOMOE and waves, not clouds. What do you think?

Vanessa, I shouldm't have asked..... Generally, the age of such an item is not so relevant. You may find very well made modern NETSUKE as well as much older ones with little value. It is the quality that counts.

Joel, before a newbie reads this and believes it: This is all wrong or at least confounded from other information.

VV, please sign all posts with your first name so we could address you politely. It is a rule here on NMB. Concerning your question, I don't see MASAYUKI, and I don't see Japanese quality in design, expression, or execution. Maybe the backside with the HIMOTOSHI is better?

KUNIHIRO

That one is still worse if possible at all!

That may well look like star constellations to some....

That's what I thought. So it is a typo in your text above: ....This blade is a Muromachi period Wakizashi signed: Nōshū no jū Kanetsugu (濃州之住兼辻)....

Hi Travis, Calvary is not exactly the same as CAVALRY.

Frédéric, can KANETSUJI (兼辻) be read as KANETSUGU as well?

To me, all three look cast and of no collector's value. Better photos on a plain dark background in correct orientation might prove me wrong.

Not much to see on these photos. A rather neglected KO-WAKIZASHI (see my PM please) in HIRA ZUKURI shape. KANENAGA (YAMASHIRO TEGAI school) with these 包永 KANJI would be a very famous name in KAMAKURA era. Later generations of that school used 兼永, but our experts will have to decide the reading. For that, please post a vertical (tip-upwards, light from the side) photo of the NAKAGO in the TRANSLATION section (here, not IMGUR). Better photos will show what you have there. For the moment, please refrain from any attempt to clean or polish it!

Looks like a pile of bayonets with - possibly - one Japanese WWII sword. In case you are interested in Japanese swords, I suggest you take this one and make some detail photos of it on a plain dark background, take it apart so that details are visible, and then our militaria experts will certainly be able to help.

Travis, no need to apologize! Just trying to help! You wouldn't get the desired response in the FOR SALE section!

Travis, you are posting in the FOR SALE section. Perhaps try in the TOSOGU section with photos made on a plain DARK background so details become visible.

Hi Lea-Ann, If you could use a plain dark, non-reflecting background for photographing, we could see much more. A white background reduces the contrast as you can see yourself. What can be seen from these poor photos is, these arrows are of the simplest war type. They may indeed be as old as EDO JIDAI. The KANJI on the shaft may be a name of an archer or a dedication; that would not be unusual. It certainly has no effect on the value. The long YANONE (= arrow-tip) (single photo of an arrow) does not look Japanese to me; it might be a replacement. Better detail photos will allow for a closer assessment.