kissakai

With the previous info I was wondering if it was possible to remove smiths that this should not be? Re: - the usual early Sukesada mei starts with “Bizen [no] Kuni Ju Osafune…” while here I seem to see “Bizen [no] Kuni Osafune Ju…” -> food for thought….. Markus does however list some late Sukesada following the format here Quite distinctive writing, and for me the most salient feature is at the top left of each character, where the first stroke starts with a pronounced north-westerly pointing stroke. The angles of these starting 'brush' strokes are markedly consistent. Look at the top line of 長 for example. None of the 祐定 Sukesada Mei featured in my Japanese Fujishiro show such a habit. A mei added later? Below smiths that are within the suggested period Name Mei Gen Province Era Circa H/TT/FS Rating Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Tenmon (1532-1555) 1532-1555 15 / / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Tenmon (1532-1555) 1532-1555 20 / / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Tenmon (1532-1555) 1532-1555 20 / / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Tenmon (1532-1555) 1532-1555 40 / / Sukesada 祐定 2nd Bizen Tenmon (1532-1555) 1532-1555 80 / / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Kōji (1555-1558) 1555-1558 40 / / Sukesada 祐定 2nd Bizen Eiroku (1558-1570) 1558-1570 40 / / Sukesada 祐定 2nd Bizen Tensho (1573-1592) 1573-1592 15 / / Sukesada 祐定 3rd Bizen Tensho (1573-1592) 1573-1592 15 / 450 / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Tensho (1573-1592) 1573-1592 15 / 450 / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Tensho (1573-1592) 1573-1592 90 / / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Keichō (1596-1615) 1596-1615 15 / / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Keichō (1596-1615) 1596-1615 15 / 300 / Sukesada 祐定 Bizen Kanei (1624-1644) 1624-1644 15 / / Sukesada 祐定 1st Bizen Kanei (1624-1644) 1624-1644 15 / 350 /

My mistake

Circa 1600 - 1650?

Two more images

Hi My friend has a Bizen Sukesada blade With so many smiths with this name I wonder is it possible to pin it down to an approximate date?

Very nice presentation

Google translates states: 日本刀装武具研究会 to Important Tsuba (Mei-Tsuba).

Thanks Steve Much clearer now but I wondered about 'important tsuba (mei-tsuba)'. Why this is an important tsuba but I do now it is a rare mei

Logged in but can not see the catalogue!

For some reason I had this dated at 1825 but Haynes had a look at it and said it was Efu ju Yukiyoshi 之芳. H12487. D:ca.1800 Who worked in the Edo Ito family style From the papers? Streaming (dancing)paulownia I'd like to know a bit more from the papers - with thanks

This is a very recent purchase that I really like. The colour is a bit off, it's actually a lot darker! The majority of my collection is old iron along with ko kinko tsuba, and I was wondering if I should let go most of my later tsuba, not all as there will be keepers in my newer stuff. Can’t be too dogmatic. So, the merits of old iron verses those wonderful examples posted by Bob M. Other examples would be great to see.

I'm sure you will get some answers but price is important If it was $500 or $5,000 the replies are going to be very different Although papers may be irrelevant to the knowledgeable collector it is different for a seller as it adds value/authenticity Lets see what the replies suggest

I agree with Jean and that is a wonderful stand. As it displays the tsuba you are not distracted unless you look at the sides

Strange find well done

Ditto Darrel

I have recommended The Sword of Japan by J.W. Bott to any new collectors Because the author is not a 'big' name it has always been good value Clear descriptions and images so in my opinion a steal

When I took the pictures in the Birmingham museum I asked I could use the light tent and additional lighting No I couldn't this was set up for professional photographer So I spent about an hour under fluorescent trying to mitigate shadows and harsh lights I then had to take photos without any pauses just like being on a conveyer belt Anyone who has seen my books are very complimentary about my photos albeit from an amateur (we have some wonderful photographers on the NMB) Strange with all this equipment they still turn out rubbish images!

Unusual to be recessed om the back so that saves precious metal Can you it tested for silver or is there a diy kit that would work

It was suggested. of board that it is a Choshu tsuba circa 1600

Maybe a securing strap with Japanese thin cord?

Maybe I agree with Trystan Thanks to you all that about sums it all up

Thanks Trystan

Is it for the retaining clip on a WWII sword?

We do try to help but it will always be an opinion but I do the NMB quite a lot

The images are not very clear so show none of the detail