So, i'm a complete greenhorn at these things, to be honest i've never even held one in my hands so to make a judgment call from afar is always a tricky thing, especially if you have no experience to rely on. I want to start out small, so i figured Tsuba's are proper. Before i buy anything i thought a forum like this is the best place to be. Since this is my first post, it's a pleasure to be here! Since i suck with nicknames, I've picked this one as an homage to our old VOC trading post in Edo period Nagasaki. With my nationality it seems fitting.
Now before you scream bloody murder, i don't have any pointers yet and the spots people usually go to for reliability, there isn't much to look for in the Netherlands as far as antiques go. That means... Yes, i explored Ebay first (nonono i didn't buy anything yet!). I did have the common sense to search only for those with NBTHK papers, especially modern Hozon. Some of them have old green ones, which from my understanding raise a few eyebrows if they were issued during the late 70's. To be frank, i don't even have a clue how easy it is to fake even the modern ones, though i am aware of their increased measures to make it very difficult.
While i can perfectly understand the site to be seen as something you can best stay away from, i'm not fully convinced that everything out there is bad from the getgo. And some of them do look nice to my untrained eye, whether they are truly authentic is another thing entirely. So i grabbed a couple, and i was wondering if anyone out there could take the effort and time to point out if they are authentic or not, and for what particular reasons.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Japanese-Katana-tsuba-iron-edo-era-Sansui-Doku-Aizu-Shoami-School-NBTHK-/321829517648?hash=item4aee88b950(Even though it's an Aizu Shoami)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Japanese-Katana-Sign-tsuba-iron-edo-Shigehiro-Akita-Shoami-School-NBTHK-/321790037422?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aec2e4dae(Akita School, It's Tokubetsu Kicho was issued in 1973, you don't see that many with seashells)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Japanese-Katana-tsuba-iron-edo-Myogu-Sukashi-Zogan-Onin-School-NBTHK-/221808411339?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a4cfc2cb(Onin School, it's Tokubetsu was issued in 1962. For it's age it looks very... Extravagant)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-tsuba-Momoyama-Period-signed-Kaneiye-/331628831483?hash=item4d369e62fb(Okay, just for the hell of it, a Momoyama/Early Edo Kaneiye school for $312. No NBTHK... I guess there's no doubt it's a fake and the very reason why it hasn't sold yet after 2/3 new listings)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Japanese-Katana-tsuba-Sakura-Kuku-Marugata-Saru-Tanko-Tosho-School-NBTHK-/221808410863?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33a4cfc0ef(Tosho school, Kamakura period. It's certificate is there... But the actual item looks entirely different than the one in the photograph, chipped off iron, Hitsu Ana missing/plugged)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Japanese-Katana-Edo-Tsuba-Motohiro-Shokatei-Nakagami-Shakudo-NBTHK-/321829519175?hash=item4aee88bf47(Has both a Shokatei club/NBTHK certificate)
So... Are any of these worthy of attention and their pricetags? Just look at them first before "NO! EBAAAY!", You have my thanks.