TheGermanBastard

Thank you for your thoughts

I wonder what knowledgeable people think about this Tsuba? I would tend to say Edo Akassake? Maybe a bit clumsy work? (The Japanese note says Sukashi I thik but is of no help)

Mike Virgadamo

Hello Steve, I was thinlking about adding images of the sword in question but was afraid it would lead the general discussion on Shinsa & Flaws away to Kantei on the specific swod which was not my intention. However I consider your point and may add some images.

What is your oppinion on this Hirata school Tsuba? I am not in the position to make a judgment. Export work or the real deal?

I would like to seek some oppinions / expirience please on the consideration of fatal flaws and (NBTHK) Shinsa process. I am aware that there are papered swords with dipping Hamon, missing Boshi or Hagire. Of course this is not the common rule but the exception. So what are the condition to warrant a Hozon paper for a sword with a basically fatal flaw? Well, in general I would answer myself by saying that the sword just needs to be important enough. But what does this mean more precisely? I can imagine for example a rare signed example by an important smith. I am asking because I have a very unfortunate sword in my posession which has seen sever abuse. Likely by children playing sword fighting with it. As a result he blade is badly nicked. All of the nicks could be eliminated but this would take away too much metal and thus also the workmanship in the blade. Most unfortunate there are severe nicks on the Kissaki, One may or may not be through the Boshi. But when wanting to remove those the Boshi would be gone for sure. So I see presently these options: 1. Remove all nicks => Lossig Boshi and rendering Hamon very thin & close to the edge. 2. Keep some nicks and fix uop Kissaki loosing most or all of the Boshi 3. Only remove minor nicks keeping most of the temper in the blade Personally I tend to option 3 The blade in question is Aoe work to the best of my knowledge and after having consulted some dealers / collectors who should know better than I do. Wheter it is early or late Aoe I do not know and it would need to be polished and see Shinsa. However and this leads to my intitial question it would not make sense to send to Shinsa when it comes get pinked hence without oppinion. It would then be just an additional waste of money wher ethis whole project is some sort of economic Harakiri. This sword is more of a heart affair than a wise investment. Having been collecting and buying out of the woodwork swords it is just so hard to find something like Aoe ... and then once it happens it comes in such a bad condition due to abuse, Cynical. Stll I thik the sword is just too good to go and should be preserved for what good workmanship can still be observed in it. Then as a family father I may one day have to sell it again and I think a paper would very much help in this special case as it would prove that it is really somthing wortyh of preservation. Thank you for your thoughts

You have some points there. But do you really think it is carved into the plate? I looked again and to me it seemed like a raised design on the surface?

Hello Bob, I thought that Soshufly used to be your eBay handle? You sure outbid me anyways I remeber your fine Guri Bori Daisho Koshiae. Excellent piece, I have only encountered Guri Bori this way with carvig that was inlaid with the softmetal but never yet in a raised 3d pattern as in the above Tsuba?

Bob, with all due respect! This is getting old! I had my fair share of Soshufly outbidding me Well, I thought you would have been aware of it ... and hey you allready got that Nobukuni with amazing mounts some years ago

This one got the highest bidding and fetched over 5k including premium ... https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/sentoku-hand-guard-signed-shumei-hogen-51-c-5144ba39bd

Hello Geraint, maybe I am just having a splendid taste, but the ones I thought to be good went for high prices. Well, I can not really say if the prices were high. There were some very nice pieces which feel were well worth what the hammer went down at - while the added premium is just a pain in the ass. I liked the monkey general, Namban with flute and the above one the most. My impression was that the above average but not excellent stuff went at very reasonable prices. For example that Tsuba displaying a cock fight was much bang for the buck. Pretty nice work on it. I always wonder if the floor bidders are dealers, collectors or just bored guys with deep pockets.

Hello Sebastien, the design is Guri Bori. But it is not carved as we usually see it on Guri Bori - but again I am no expert and given how rare Guri Bori is per se, there is not that mich reference I have seen. The openings for the Kozuka being perfectly symetrical and their design along with the plate rather let me to Umetada going by the feeling of reference work I have seen. However I may be plain wrong. No matter what I think this is a very good Tsuba and I would have been very happy to be its new keeper. It will need some TLC but this is really good stuff in my oppinion.

Yes, Guri Bori was my first reaction but I do think that it is rather Umetada.

Unfortunately not mine. I suppose Umetada? A lovely piece imho. There were some excellent Tsuba in this auction: https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/2cpste30v6 Congratulations to whoever may be the new owner of some of those!

Thank you. Yesm I want to make it go away but have no clue on this stuff. I was expecting it to be worth somewhere between 40 and 120 USD ... not my cup of tea.

How much do you think is not much? 50 USD?

More images

I'm seeking some information / Pricing on this lacquer box please. I suspect it is about Meiji periode. Came with some Tsuba some time ago and I have no knowledge on this stuff. Thank you

Oh thank you for this insight. I was able to see the Kuni character but could not find an associated smith. He is an unknown smith to me. I could not find any records for him on the web? Interesting to see that once in a while blades by smithes from the Showa periode do show up which are hardly known

.. atleast it is difficukt to me: https://www.ebay.com/itm/233567682986?_trksid=p2471758.m4704 While I did not participate, I think this looked interesting and was made very late in the war. I would love to know who made it.

mishina school .... late Edo

Very cheap! Some makers would almost take that amount for the Shirasaya only! Getting a new Saya and copper Habaki made will exceed the asking price allready. What a crazy market!

I am happy my Tsuba found such a good new home and keeper! A very nice Koshirae

Indeed very nice Menuki that should carry some vaue on their own

Thank you for your thoughts. It did not seem right to me and way to shiny to be silver.