Marius

Yes, I have seen this the same way - a very crude attempt to make a relatively short blade look like a Heian tachi with a pronounced koshi-zori resulting mainly from a slanted nakago. This, BTW, was a characteristic that the early tachi seems to have inherited from the kenukigata no tachi, which, in turn, seems to have inherited it from the warabite-tachi

For your enjoyment: http://www.ebay.com/itm/140990609342?ss ... K:MEWAX:IT

Three almost identical ko-kinko tsuba: http://yakiba.com/Tsuba_Ko-Kinko_Group.htm

David, this is not made of brass, just some cheap alloy.

Reuben, you have to distinguish between storing a blade and a lacquered koshirae. 1. Lacquer requires some degree of humidity and it hates central heating and temperature changes (in such a case wood shrinks/expands and lacquer crumbles). 2. Steel requires a dry environment. Usually a shirasaya and a (very light) coat of oil (high grade machine/gun oil or choji abura) will be sufficient. Honestly, no need for tansu, unless your climate is really humid. OTOH, there are always security concerns, so a gun safe can be a good solution.

Not nearly the quality, sorry. Not everything with nanako is Goto, BTW. Goto work has excellent nanako. On the topic of nanako - here are two threads: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15691&hilit=nanako viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12854

What about the technique - is that repoussé with carving? And what material is that?

I go with Pete, just that I say it is tinny, and not woody. To quote a classic: "Nothing beats wood!"

It is good to be wrong and to be able to learn form one's mistake. I still cannot stop thinking it is not repousse... Thanks Ford At least I was right - it is not superb! That was the child in me, sorry

Guys, this is not carved in soft metal, it is repoussé and chasing work on a copper sheet. No, it is not superb IMHO. Of course, among all the NMB members, Ford is the most qualified person to elaborate.

Gilles, Brian: Sweeeeet!

Boris, I think no one can confuse an important and ultra rare artefact - your Heian tsuba, with a late Edo or Meiji run of the mill guard. Don't cry I think that Matt L should look into Torigoye/Haynes "Tsuba An Aesthetic Study" and read about the Sakanoe Tamura-maro tsuba from the Nara period and find some similarities with your tsuba, which is a bit later, but still, probably as rare as the former. Attached is a drawing of this famous tsuba. When Boris' magnificent tsuba is compared to this guard, one can see that Boris' tsuba is the next step in the development of fighting tsuba mounted on early tachi. Enough said.

Fantastic link, Piers, many thanks! Now I know, I have an uchine. Wow! :D

@Robert: Just a style. Yakiotoshi. @Piers: Thanks for the uchine hint. I have found an interesting thread concerning a blade that was/is in your collection: http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessa ... fdc5b4ac4c

And here are the pictures of the saya.

Just wanted to add, that this blade came with a saya, a rather elaborate affair, with a surface finish to remind a pioece of old , withered wood. I'll post some pics later today.

Well, I presume it is cheap. Stay away, spend your money on tsuba books. Yeah, I know, that's boring... This tsuba could be made yesterday or late Edo/Meiji. Rusted, uninspiring, no reason to buy it. School? LOL

Gents, I have recently bought a yari from Ed Marshall (http://www.yakiba.com). Apart from the excellent service Ed provides (I can really recommend him as a no-nonsense, very honest and professional dealer), I wanted to raise another question: what were the smallest sizes of yari? How were they used (apart from a yari carried in a palanquin or kept beside the bed) The yari I have bought is simply cute and I could not resist. I know, this is a strange criterion for a purchase :D but I think this yari is somewhat different than most others. Nagasa is 13.5 cm, which is not much, but pretty normal. But the width of the blade is a bit over 1 cm! Now, that is odd and the yari could almost be confused with a yajiri (but the tang is too long and too massive). What kind of yari is that? Is it a makura yari? A te-yari? Here is the link to Ed's pics of the yari: http://yakiba.com/Yari_Ujisada.htm I have also attached a picture showing this yari with a ballpoint pen, just to make clear how slender it is. A charming little bugger, I must say

David, most people don't scroll down, they will see the Namban tsuba and get somewhat confused Here is a link to the pictures: http://dastiles1.wix.com/reflections-#! ... /image1v33 A very good tsuba BTW. And it is for sale And I don't have any money.

Here are another two Umetada tsuba (both from the late Muromachi period): http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/TSUBA86.htm http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/CH%20Tsuba%201.htm

some Mukansa smth with good connections.

Opening a can of worms, are we.

Alex, I must admit, I am a total snob and an elitist swine :D I simply had to use this wonderful opportunity to show it

Jimi, you have made the right decision to show it to someone who is qualified (a good polisher). I do not think this blade will take another polish, but maybe some "touch up". People here on this forum give their opinions based on pictures - that is the nature of an internet forum. But, the better the pics, the more meaningful the opinion (stating the obvious). Whether polish can or cannot be improved is a matter that has to be decided by the polisher. BTW, do you know the school and smith from a paper? If so, is this paper reliable? I presume not, since you want to get it papered (again?)

Guys, we all know that there is a procedure of selling shinsakuto outside the current restrictive system. Swordsmiths try to make a living, which for the "lesser" of them (i.e. those who ere not mukansa or otherwise recognized) is difficult. I think it has been discussed here....