kissakai

Thanks Peter Nice reference with as many fittings Ideal to have close ups of the mei. the descriptions are also useful If you click below the image is does go elsewhere so click inside the image and all should be OK Grev UK

Thanks Mauro - I will call it Six ken unless someone has a better description Grev UK

I'm surprised someone didn't answer this within minutes Do not polish the blade!!!!!!!! There are many posts on the NMB about sword care so have a read As you are in Australia it may help if you stated the area you live and maybe there is someone close to you that you can show it to for further advice Grev UK

Hi Does this design have a name? On my records I always use a description in the title but I've no idea what to call this one Grev UK

Thanks Joe for the pointer. I just bought the Katchushi or Onin school tsuba Grev UK

PM Sent Grev UK

Hi had a reply yesterday with images Grev UK

I've not heard anything yet Grev UK

I emailed Larry using his actual email address but haven't heard anything yet but it is less than a day Grev UK

Email sent for the tsuba Grev UK

I've sold most of my swords in a two week flurry and just a couple to go I wanted one reasonable example of a tanto, wakizashi and a katana I have the tanto and wakizashi but still looking for a katana (hint, hint) It was much easier than I thought as the responsibility of looking after them all was becoming quite onerous With my wives aversion to swords being on display it will be so much easier to look after just the three There must be some that are special to you so you may regret moving these on. Let your heart rule There will always be regrets but that life! Best of luck with a difficult decision Grev UK

Hi I have a cast Namban tsuba which is easy to see that it is cast If you look inside the opening for the blade (nakago ana) you will see a joint line. On mine it was easy to see but I can't see a joint line on your tsuba Grev UK

Lovely work - I look forward to see it in a couple of weeks Grev UK

Hi As Sal has had very bad news I thought it may help to say that I have bought his wakizashi It may save anyone sending him emails about purchasing this item when he has a lot of other tings on his mind I know he has appreciated every ones kind words Condolences Grev UK

Brian I'm happy to add two 'rice' books See link: http://www.militaria...099-rice-books/ They are 120 x 180mm and in poor condition, one has been partly coloured in They generated some interest when I posted them earlier but more for someone who understands Japanese If someone won these but didn't find them interesting I'm sure they could offer them to the NMB members in the link above Grev UK

PM sent Grev UK

Thank you Markus I'm sure you are correct with the missing kanji so the name would be Nagayoshi I was never happy with Nagaaki I couldn't find him in your book, Wakayama or Haynes so at the moment another unrecorded maker It has a nice patina and reasonably well made not nothing outstanding I would have preferred the birds to be more symmetrical This was sold at Bonhams in 2015 as one of a set of eight tsuba and described as 16-17th century and composed of three cranes in flight I would have guessed it to be more like 18th century Grev UK

Hi Thanks John I looked for this kanji in the Haynes and Wakayama books but without success All I could find was on the Jisho website = 旺 meaning flourishing, successful, beautiful, vigorous! Grev UK

Hi Can anyone give me the kanji for aki? I assume the mei attribution is correct but could anyone give me a school and approximate date I was one I bought from Alan Bale after reading his post a few days ago Mei: Buko (Bushu Edo) ju Nagaaki 武江住 長 Naga * aki Size: 70 x 69 x 5.3mm This was sold at Bonhams in 2015 as one of a set of eight tsuba. Described as 16-17th century and composed of three cranes in flight With thanks Grev UK

Hi Nick #14 tsuba arrived today - many thanks Great (for me anyway) tsuba as although I've seem similar I don't have one quite like this one 67 x 65 x 5.6 with a mimi width of 12.5mm this is one meaty tsuba Grev UK

Hi Brian Would it help if the donators were given the details of the winner as they could post the item direct I know you have to reject some items which can be difficult for the donator so you need to add guidelines It should be obvious that a low value donated item should never be offered for the raffle Also trying to cut down your workload if a donor offered an item and it was accepted they could post the item I think any comments to help you reduce your workload would be of benefit You need to charge for a raffle ticket and anyone could purchase as many as they wished Grev UK

Be careful Ford as Bob Haynes said this could send a nanako(er) mad Imagine a maker completing one and his patron saying there was a rush order for another ten! Grev UK

Hi Nick I'd like to buy: 14) Thick mimi Tetsy Tsuba (no box) - 6.7cm x 6.7 cm - $120 USD Grev UK

Hi I have done the images. There was a lot of muck in ito sukashi that was really stubborn to move The patina is very dark brown and in quite good condition I am convinced this is the same tsuba that is in the Behrens catalogue - was a collection or auction catalogue? Alan said this came from a auction of 6 tsuba so no idea of its history which is a same My other ito sukashi is Mito school around 1800 although the Mito tsuba has the ito sukashi at half the width of this one Any ideas on school and date? Grev

I will post better images tomorrow assuming it stops raining It is a cricket due to the long antennae Comparing the nakago ana deformations and the position and shape of the punch marks I'm sure this is the same tsuba that is in the Behren's catalogue If it is then I wonder where it has been. I'll ask Alan Bale where he got it from I was assured it was in good condition and how I have it in hand I'm very pleased with the tsuba Grev UK