Marius

Looks like katabami with sasa...

I love the aesthetics of the film - very fitting for this topic. Also, just like in "Katsuchka's tiger:, we actually see how a tsubako goes about creating a tsuba. Needless to say, that the quality of Ford's work is unrivalled. A feast!

Uh... Sorry Brian, but Ford has posted it in the Tosogu section. I haven't noticed that: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20021

Ford, I have just posted this excellent movie in another section Thanks for sharing, it is beautiful! I have enjoyed it thoroughly.

Guys, for those of you who haven't still seen this excellent movie by Mr Brad Schaffer, here is a link: http://bradshawschaffer.com/Bradshaw_Sc ... Yugen.html The movie is excellent, a great pleasure to watch. The atmosphere of it is very serene and the movie captures the process of making a tsuba. Ford's work is as always absolutely amazing. Bravo! BTW, Ford, you have a very elegant workshop!

Kevin, I had the same impression - Sahari. An interesting tsuba, that is for sure :-)

C'mon gus, that is cheap as dirt! John, what is the color on this tsuba, does it have some patina or is it striped of patination (that's how the first pic looks like)? In the latter case, the patina will come back, just that some time may be needed. I any case, an interesting tsuba with a woodgrain burl produced using two metals or alloys. Is it copper and silver or something else?

@Jimi-san As you have noted, the sword in the picture is a shinogizukuri blade :-) @Jean I'd love to see pics, please (katana understood as a blade close to 60cm nagasa). Again, an opportunity to learn something :-) Would have thought of shorter uchigatana, but longer hirazukuri blades... Very interesting, thanks :-)

1300s and a hirazukuri KATANA? This seems odd, to say the least. You could give us the measurements, at least. Like nagasa...

Yes, they do overlap a lot.

I would recommend the "gold" book of Sasano-sensei. Although older, the photography is better, and the contents is basically the same (perhaps a few tsuba less): http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.c ... uba-sasano

I second Steve's advice. Look up the silver book or the golden book by Sasano. Tell you what, Evan, it is just a hunch. If Sasano has put one into tye Owari basket and another one into the Shoami grab bag, I won't say I know better. So treat this just as a feeling, intuition that cannot be confirmed, nor concusively denied. And, BTW, an eventual NBTHK origami to Owari or Shoami will be... just an opinion. Get the Sasano books, read about Kanayama, for that matter. An interesting study in speculation. Attributions of old tsuba should always be treated with a grain of salt - they are in most cases just the result of an understandable desire to categorise, but, frankly, they are meaningless in cases where there are no documented lineages of tsubako. In this sense, my opinion does not matter at all. Try to pinpoint the aetshetics, without getting bogged down in all those seppa-dai and rim shapes. In the case of this tsuba it will be an exercise in futility. Enjoy it, understand the iron, look at the workmanship, but don't insist on "boxes". Just my two cents...

Evan, Honestly, I fail to see Owari in your tsuba. Just about everything tells me it is some other school. Many would use the shoami grab bag... Judging by the slightly "rustic" charm, I'd say this could be some provincial, undocumented school. And long live those provincial schools - they have produced many wonderful tsuba.

Second one seems three water lillies, a family crest.

Jean, According to these sources, Bizen Kanemitsu later works have scarce niku, but we must look at this in connection with other parameters of these blades. A very long and very broad blade might have less niku, because otherwise it would be too heavy. Just a thought. As you said, nihonto is all about exceptions.

Jason, interesting topic, I am sure this will be a good discussion You have certainly seen this article: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/shaping.html

No offence, but the wrapping on your sword looks rather sloppy, David. Or are my eyes failing me?

Arnold, I feel the same about Nakahara - a source of knowledge, one of many. I would love to see the sword - it could turn out to be Tegai (a hunch on my part) - it definitely needs to be seen in hand :-)

Arnold, I agree, but some swords seem to have been originally mumei, like the tachi in the Kasuga-Taisha... I guess there are other examples in other shrines... I am probably stating the obvious... I like Bob's sword and I think it was created mumei (but who am I to make any statements...)

Arnold, Do I recall correctly that Nakahara writes primarily about mumei ubu swords made to look like older o-suriage swords? This is obviously not the case here. Well, mumei is a controversial subject, I guess

Robert, I think that is a good way to go. If the state of the polish allows it, submit it to a local shinsa, by all means. Good swords have been made in all periods, and this does not look like a kazuuchimono (look at that length!). It is ubu, it looks good, and if there are no fatal flaws (might be hard to tell), it is definitely worth restoring. Side schools have also produced very good swords. It is just that they are less popular with collectors, most likely because they were flexible regarding style. You know, you get that lovely Bizen sword, you are all excited, and shinsa says "Bungo Takada" With Uda, some look like Norishige, some look like Taema, etc...

Precisely Stephen, precisely In tsuba the rule is: If in doubt, go Shoami

I think it does not look like Hosho (not pure masame - see below). What do we have here: Hada is coarse itame nagare with some masame, some o-hada can be seen (?), hamon is nie-based, there seems to be a turnback in the boshi (?), the nakagojiri i bulbous and nakago mune is maru. Sugata is indeed suggesting an early sword, but as already has said here, such sugata was also used in the early Muromachi period. I could imagine the NBTHK attributing this one to Uda, a Yamato offshoot, and a popular grab-bag for wakimono with Yamato characteristics. As for me, I have no idea what school Whatever it is, certainly an excellent find. Congratulations :-) It deserves a polish and shinsa (if your finances allow). Well done!

Doug, this is a forum, where people simply help each other. I have recaieved some very generous help from Ian C. and I am just trying to pass on at least part of it to you :-)

Doug, I have an orphan fuchi, iron with remnants of gold zogan (or iroe). It is 3.8 cm but if the usual shape. Yu can have it for free, I'd only ask you to pay for shipping. I got it for free, I am passing that favour on, if you want it. PM me, please, if interested.