Marius

This sword has a Hozon paper, NOT Tokubetsu Hozon. With the latter, the price would be much higher.

Phew I am glad to see that Amazing how photographing can distort the colour and texture of a tsuba...

David, I hope I am wrong, but it looks like cast iron. I would carefully look for casting seams inside the openings. Maybe it is just your photographs....

Joe, rough start, sorry. I must have misunderstood you, my bad.

But also a Japanese trained togishi, right? If not, there is no point in a further discussion. Whoever polishes swords without having been properly trained is an amateur "polisher" with the potential to screw up valuable pieces of art. I don't think we are going anywhere here. I told you, nobody here will sympathise with what we view as an activity which destroys nihonto.

Deleted by myslef, as post was related to a now locked thread.

Stephen Strauch, Obukan Kendo Club, Portland, Oregon. What does kendo have to do with polishing?

That's what you said, right? How do you know a sword is junk if it takes a polish to find that out? I am just curious, so please don't take this as an attack on your person.

This has been discussed countless times here, just search this Forum. We do not endorse amateur polishing here, on the contrary, we condemn it as an activity which destroys swords. You won't see a sympathetic reaction to what you have written here, and if anybody reacts, it will be in pretty harsh words. Your "I only polish junk"- excuse will not be accepted, as only a properly trained polisher is able to determine what is junk and what is not. We have heard it many times from amateur "polishers". Nothing personal, it is just that we care about the preservation of Japanese art swords. BTW, you are an AMATEUR polisher, and not A_MATURE polisher... (despite your ten years of "experience")

The "egg plant" seem to be pine needles.

Well, the price reflects rather the fact that the sword is suriage (not desirable for shinto). I would not worry about that kizu (it is pretty common), but then again, many people will. IMHO a nice blade for a good price if you like Kanbun shinto.

Thanks Brian :-)

Dear All, has anyone a harmonized tariff code for iaido swords? Thank you for your effort, I would search myself, but my internet connection is bad now and I need help ASAP.

OK, let us make this as simple as possible (and I mean that this is a real simplification): tachi - worn edge down, usually long katana - worn edge up thrust through the sash, usually shorter than tachi Until the 15th/16th c. most long swords were tachi. In the Sengoku period katana was widely used as the warfare changed. Old tachi were cut to make them shorter and more suitable for combat on foot. From the 17th c. tachi are ceremonial only (and katana have a regulated length). In the Edo period a sword made as katana would be used as tachi for ceremony, by mounting it in tachi koshirae. If you have a long sword sword which might look like a tachi, you have the following options: KOTO: - it is an ubu signed tachi ( with tachi mei) - very rare and desirable - it is an ubu unsigned (mumei) tachi (it will be long and have a nice curvature) - very rare but possible - it is an old tachi cut down to katana size (hence it is a katana now) - it is a long uchigatana (most likely from the 16th c.)- it will have a short nakago and is pretty common - you can't really confuse it with a tachi. SHINTO/SHINSHINTO: - it is a katana made to look like o-suriage/suriage tachi - it is an ubu katana (with katana mei) - you can't really confuse it with a tachi - it is an ubu mumei katana - usually hard to confuse with a tachi - it is a katana with tachi mei (Hizen smiths) - only absolute newbies will confuse it with a tachi - it is a tachi (with tachi mei) made for ceremonial use I guess that wraps it up, but it is a great simplification. And I guess, you really want to read some books :-)

Well, Ford's opinion settles the case I rest my case

From those pics: late Edo mix of styles and some rather poor workmanship (especially visible in the hammer work). An attribution to a particular school is nearly impossible. Then again, I might be wrong :-)

Mike, Danny is absolutely honest and upright, one of the top guys to buy from. He has a return policy and he will describe every sword very honestly down to the smallest details. A great guy to deal with. I have bought three swords from him and I was very happy with both the purchase and my customer experience. I will surely buy again and again from Danny. As to avoiding eBay, I must say I admire your common sense. You have done the right thing. Bravo!

A sword is better off in a shirasaya than in a haphazard koshirae. Unless you use an expert artisan (at a cost which would allow you to buy a pretty decent sword) you are going to end up with a some Frankenstein monster, which will neither increase the value nor enhance the appeal of your blade. (BTW, when seasoned collectors buy a good sword in such a koshirae they sell it for parts and keep the blade). Swords have been stored in shirasaya for centuries, their beauty having been admired regardless of changing fashion in mountings. You might want to learn to appreciate the blade a standalone work of art. A shirasaya is much better than a crappy koshirae. Of course it is your sword and you will do what you want. One word of caution, which I am sure is not necessary in your case, but it has to be said. "Modifying" either the sword or an original koshirae means destroying it. I am stating this just in case, so please don't be offended, even if that was obvious for you.

c'mon guys... This tsuba seems to be a fake. Never seen such awful mokko-shape.

Here it is: viewtopic.php?f=56&t=11428&hilit=show+your+room

Please allow a contrarian voice: Run of the mill, factory iron, late Edo work. Inlay... yes, but that is not a big deal. In other words - what is nice about this one? Frankly, I can't see anything

I would say that these tsuba are pretty average, but their prices are not. I can't give you a price, but I would not pay more than $300. But that is just my opinion, I am not interested in them anyway - as said, they are bland. A word of advice: stop rummaging through eBay, as you are going to find either trash/fakes or at best average/below average stuff at inflated prices. You will see good offers on this board (you may want to start browsing the sales ads here) and from reputable dealers.

Junichi, are you collecting tsuba with your mon only? Kinko? What kinko? Edo or ko-kinko (incl. those artificial appellations like kagamishi, tachi kanagushi etc.)? I am asking because I am considering a reduction in my old soft metal collection, but if you're into Goto style or the like, my stuff will not be for you :-)

Pity about the title, too. Somehow it reminds me of "Zombie Monster Chainsaw Massacre", which, BTW, is a title of a movie I have invented myself to poke fun at an over-protective mother (long story). An interesting documentary, though :-) Thanks for sharing!

Jean, the fukurin is in better condition than the plate, so it is likely a later addition. Other than that, the plate seems overcleaned at some point. I have no idea what on earth can interesting in this item...