kissakai

Hi Stephen If it was cheaper it would be great to take it to a Nihonto meeting claiming something like the amazing coloured hamon Then sit back and watch the fun Grev

Hi Daniel I think you have the info you required and looking at the various images I think you can get to an approximate date Grev UK

Hi Daniel I think there were around six or seven generations The earlier the better and this is down to how well they were made (the devil is in the detail) You will find examples on the web for the mei (signature) and I suppose this is late around 1850 Early Edo is post 1600 so much later than suggested The mei has been cut into for fitting on another sword so some liked it Nothing wrong with an honest tsuba and a nice gift Although there are many Kinai tsuba they are not a 'collectors' item unless of the highest quality but someone called James Lawson has bought the best ones! As these are not too expensive you could look and maybe buy these from the internet and if you do pop an image on this site stating the price if known to ensure it is not a copy I have four Kinai for sale on the items for sale on this site, the post is called 'Massive Tsuba Sale' I'm not interested whether you buy or not but worth looking as Kinai examples Grev UK

Hi Daniel Just do a search for 'Kinai' tsuba and you will find this tsuba Grev UK

I wanted #25 but had gone about 1/2 hour before I saw the post Grev UK

Hi I understood oil quench was more forgiving than water which is so much more abrupt during the quenching process but I'm not a sword guy Grev UK

Hi I've just saw these and bought two and currently there are 3 left but I think they will go soon This is the link if you are interested: http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/401157585934?ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT Grev UK

PM sent Grev UK

A two piece habaki is usually a sign of quality. I am a fan of ubu and the shape is very nice What next? Looks like you need a really nice tsuba LOL Grev UK

Hi Darius When you put up a question you take a chance You have had a bucket of good advice over the laste few months so this is just one of those things Christian is just stating a truism that bad work offends the eyes. I'm sure you already know this as you do have a good eye which is you greatest asset A line I saw the other day seed apt to collecting It is only junk that is expensive!!!!!!!!! All the best Grev IK

Hi Marius I have your #2 - PM sent I purchased it at the end of 2014 Grev UK

In Victorian Britian they enhanced (in their option) so many items such as silver work and furniture but we now realise this was a bad thing to do So the same thing was happening in Japan! Grev UK

Hi I should have done two posts but have comboned them instead This is before and after by Ford He remarked how well the mesh was made and you can see how fine and regulat this has been done Original: Reworked: I purchased this Daisho a few days ago and I asked the seller to get them papered whilst they were still in Japan I was very happy with these: It was a nice to see they were in an old tsuba box and the marks show they had ben there quite some time: Grev UK

Hi Uwe and all you lucky Welsh supporters Will the 2nd goal end up as the goal of the tournament? Grev

Thanks John, I'm glad they were to your liking Funnily enough virtually all the money from these sale has gone back into tsuba and mainly from Tom (Leporello)! Grev UK

Hi I though this may have provoked a few more relpies I'm going to use Shodai Hallam Grev UK

Many thanks to you both I'll let the owner know the results Grev UK

Hi John - thanks No bad news just a need to know Grev UK

PS This stamp was on the back of the print Grev UK

Hi My friend has found a seal mark on the back of an Utamaro print showing Yamauba and her son Kintaro Can anyone help with its translation? Actual image Hand copied image (not bad for someone with Parkinson's) Grev

Tsuba #169 has been sold Grev UK

I would not expect Ford to make the initial response He may however respond to pressure or just a like a appropriate rely Grev UK

Hi I am lucky to own a few of Kevin Adam’s tsuba I keep a record sheet for each of my tsuba including (where known) the school and maker For Kevin’s tsuba the school is listed as modern which now seems so inadequate What school name should we give to tsuba made by his Fords students? It is a serious question especially as we come to expect either himself or his students to take a tosogu medal in every NBSK Craftsman's Competition (if they can afford to compete) There may be some micky taking or puns from our erudite members which I’m sure Ford will appreciate or smile about. After a few replies I hope Ford will post his views I was going to add my own play on words but my brain just exploded Grev UK

I just came across this vid about bluing I is also about hardening and tempering so 'bluing' starts after 7 mins This is a professional but ideas can be copied Grev UK

Assuming you can't return the 'tsuba' and as it has no merit you could get it ground down File out the kozuka hitsu to the correct shape File all other edges to sharpen then up Heat it up and drop it in oil to give a bluish colour You then have a modern but better made tsuba that may not hurt your eyes! About a month ago I bought a tachi three piece tsuba that looked OK in the images - a nice colour etc When it arrived it was crap but I kept it as in my opinion it was my fault After a couple of weeks I thought I'd ask the seller if I could return it as I believed the images were enhanced The seller agreed straight away to accept the return and also refund my shipping A lucky result Grev UK