Alex A

Hello, cant tell from the pics but is the Shinogi-ji Masame ?

Certain people seem to use it a lot. If they use it a lot without giving reason, it reflects badly on them rather than whoever it is aimed at. Saying that though, since referring to them as the "Red arrow Brigade", they don't seem to be as trigger happy lately.

Used to think that Michael, now aware. Its like i took the pill that got me out of the Matrix

Always to belittle. im afraid. For at least a second i thought Jacques was starting a genuine thread to help beginners but then came to my senses reading a bit further on when he referred to "armchair experts" for no apparent reason. He is talking to folks like they are stupid. never seen, held or owned swords. Like they own swords and have not yet worked out how to see them, like they are thick. Yet folks still take him on Some of us have him sussed.

Personally, tend to think subjects can be overanalysed, i guess that comes with human nature and repetition.

Pierre, I collect other stuff and im often clueless, Your doing the right thing asking here, that's what i do with stuff i know little about. You have already learned something today, id say a lot. Good to see someone ask before, rather than after a purchase, where often they have made a mistake. Look through dealer websites and get to know what appeals. Age, hamon, hada, sugata etc etc etc. Take some time, then im sure you will buy something you like. Also, as mentioned above, look at swords in hand if you can, though know its not easy for many.

Hi Pierre They are wrong on occasion. Sometimes you see a sword with two different attributions from two different organisations, sometimes the same organisation but different dates. That's not my issue though, my issue lies around relying on attributions. I want to see an ubu TEXTBOOK sword with a mei to match. Had my fair share of mumei swords, i dont like swords that still have questions that need answering or have me wondering which generation it is that made it. Got a little pedantic lol Im not saying i don't appreciate any good quality sword, i do, whether signed or not. Its what i can live with that matters. People build different collecting habits, we are all different You need to understand what you can live with, this will only come with time and experience.

Correct Lewis. You live within the realms you can afford. Still plenty to go at.

That's why signed swords are important to me, history, as in known history. Not forever contemplating on "attributions" As are wrong on occasion.

Its a good blade and healthy and sturdy for its age. You have to like a blade to buy it and obviously know why you like it, if you don't know then don't buy it. Have you read books?, learned for a while?. Learned to know what you like and why ? Would bet most folks 1st sword purchase they later sell. Also. you will get numerous opinions that are not your own. Personally, im not interested much in unsigned swords these days, would that opinion put you off? If it does, your not ready to buy this sword. Its only your own opinion that matters.

You don't need to say a lot more about, no doubt many here will know it from Aoi Art Why do you like it?

With the title, expected to see a junk wall hanger but its far from it. Looks ok to me and good that it is signed.

Thanks Jussi, as always some folks get it right, well done to those.

John had it right with the trolling. This is ridiculous. Assume like others here, they gave Dan the benefit of the doubt out of decency but he keeps coming back on the same subject and being wrong, like a misguided boomerang. Its boring now. No doubt if you have written a book Dan, you really have gone about it the wrong way in promoting yourself. All the best anyways.

Dan, your tsuka looks like what i expect untouched and used Edo tsuka to look like

Agree John, though given the ones above a look over for appropriate wear, for the most part i am convinced. Pictures are not good and maybe some restoration to some saya. Also assume Kozuka are just something paired up at a later date. The only reason i really look in the Lanes is to see what koshirae comes in, try and avoid write-ups lol.

Misses watching masked singer, so perfect opportunity look through the Lanes, as one thing they seem to have a knack for is finding good old Edo fittings, they do it well. A quick fly through The Lanes Armoury | A Beautiful Samurai Shinto Kirin Based Tanto Fabulous Signed Blade by Echizen Ju Yasutsugu The Lanes Armoury | A Delightful Armour Piercing Sengoku Period Samurai’s Dagger. A Period That Commenced in 1468. A Samurai Tanto From The Koto Era, Made Around 500 Years Old. Fully Mounted And Fitted With Original Edo Period Mountings {Koshirae} The Lanes Armoury | An Opportunity to Acquire An Original Almost 700 Year Old, Ancient & Beautiful Samurai Dagger, A Signed, 14th Century Nambokochu Period Ancient Samurai Tanto The Lanes Armoury | A Superb Antique, Shinto Era, Unokubi (鵜首) Zukuri Blade Tantō, Late 16th To Early 17th Century, from the Battle of Sekigahara, Shinjitai: 関ヶ原の戦い; Kyūjitai: 關ヶ原の戰い The Lanes Armoury | A Beautiful & Impressive Shinto Period Long Samurai Tanto Circa 1650 The Lanes Armoury | Koto Tanto By Masaiye With A Full Matching Suite of Edo Mounts, & a Fabulous Oni Demon Mount on The Saya The Lanes Armoury | A Very Good & Beautiful, Late Koto Samurai Katana, Mounted With A Full Suite of Higo Mounts The Lanes Armoury | A Magnificent and Large Horse Mounted Samurai's Battle Sword Katana, With A Simply Stunning Shinto Blade In Near Mint Condition for Age. The Mounts Are All Completely Original Edo Period.

Don't remember ever seeing inlay like that on a saya Steve, a lot of work obviously went into it, cheers.

Was also looking at what is about online. Tsuka with Wasps and Chrysanthemums | The Walters Art Museum Tsuka with a Dragon | The Walters Art Museum Tsuka with Dragons and Waves | The Walters Art Museum 15 Tsuka, Artwork Images: PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search Engine Public Domain Search baleen whale / OAI - Open Art Images Sword Grip (Tsuka) with Hilt Collar and Pommel (Fuchigashira) | Japanese | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Hello, yes that was wonderful koshirare, real nice package with the blade, shame it has gone.

Every now and again i think back to a wakizashi in the Bolton museum. The koshirae is something you rarely see and you just know its original and untouched. Been looking online and cant find it, been saying one day will go back in just to take a picture. From memory, stocky and had that dark lacquered kind of a Tensho look about it. Real museum piece, not as in high quality glitz, just basic utilitarian and even the first time i saw it i knew it was the real deal. Not seen it for many years but have always remembered it, presume its still there. There was a suit of armour as well and other bits and bobs. Just looking if anyone has koshirae or is aware of koshirae online that is totally as it was back when they were owned by someone in the Edo period. Quality don't matter and neither does it matter if look tatty as hell with the fuchi kashira hanging off or whatever. I know some folks collect old tsuka, so maybe they could post here. Not looking for anything restored.

In my humble experience Dan, when looking for answers and finding answers that are "too complicated" just to find an answer, sounds kind of an overly desperate quest for validation. Maybe time throw in the towel

Spent a bit of time on this the other day and was leaning towards Ko Aoe, maybe later. Though then read somewhere that horimono were pretty rare with this school, which kind of put me off. Anyways, thats where i was at.

Stephen, did consider that, good point. Dan. They are cast and were sat in an outdoor brick toilet at the bottom of my Grand folks garden for many years. They saw many variations in temp and conditions, as old tsuba do. Funnily enough, bumped into a video on youtube about how Japanese houses don't have central heating, apart from one small part of Japan. The guy was saying the houses in old times were murder in winter to keep warm. So if you have old iron like tsuba knocking about, you have to think about what they might of been through. Personally, i think your overthinking it.

Would suggest water has got into pores, corroded, frozen, expanded and pushed an hole in the surface. Like when your shocks on your car always brake in winter. Its what iron does.