jlawson

Very flashy items for the most part that were made for Meiji export and unfortunately lots of Gimei. I bought a few that appeared to be correct.

Outstanding tsuba

The vast majority of signed pieces simply for signature validation and future sales. For mumei there is not much use unless it is an important piece etc.

The info online is correct. Going to be a weird schedule Nov 1,2,3rd. I got confirmation when I was in Tokyo.

BTW all, great book you should get it. Danny has done a great job in photographing and cataloging some great swords. Got mine and it has some beautiful blades in it.

The pictures are wonderful but I have to tell you in person and in hand these are incredible. I had a chance to look at them in Tokyo a few weeks ago.

Peter here is an example of a re-purposed older tsuba that great care was taken to preserve but also add an artistic element in later years. The original tsuba is a mokume tsuba that was likely pretty plain perhaps with the spider web but likely was just a plain mokume tsuba originally. Signed by Myochin Munesada who was famous for this work. Then many years later the entire tsuba was wrapped in shibuichi to create another side and a great spider demon was carved on it. Signed by Teruaki. It is anyones guess what may have happened to the other side. Was there damage to it or was it just plain and this was a way to "bling" it up.

Very good show in my opinion and a big thanks to Fred W. as it is a bunch of work to organize. Brought 6 blades, bought one at the show for resale and sold them all before the show was over. Flying home with an empty gun case. Bought some great tsuba, as well as some other artwork. Everyone is looking older and some familiar faces didn't attend but overall was the same suspects. Great lecture put on by the NBTHK and lots of catching up with old friends.

Sorry but I think you are about 26 hours too late to buy them......

Yes, great guy.

Not sure I can provide any better photos than Mike did on his site.

That tsuba is in my collection.

Have been dealing with them for many years. I bought a great Tsunenobu tsuba and neat Iron Okimono of a puppy signed by the same artist from them at the DTI in November. Very nice folks and have been always satisfied with my purchases from them.

It was reported that he died several years ago, the site is a phantom out there.

If you are attending the DTI and are unsure about attending these events please consider it as these are really fun and educational. Typically events that we all look forward to every year, relatively inexpensive, and hosted by Robert who does a fantastic job.

God Luck Kurt. I looked at this a couple of years ago and the main problem was timing since there are other shows throughout the year and event timing was difficult. We used to have a show in Dallas, one in San Antonio, and one in Houston but those were different times for sure. Today with the collector base and internet etc it is hard to think that we will ever get back to more than 3 regularly held domestic shows. Adding in the Dai Token Ichi that is one every few months which pretty well saturates the market.

The Toshiharu from Tetsugendo.com that you linked to was sold a long time ago and lives in Texas with a few others.... :-)

That Wakizashi looks familiar. Is that the one from Nihontocraft?

seems like pretty thin pressed type metal. I think we have all seen the wonderful ones that have been produced that are super detailed etc. This one is on the lower end of the spectrum and likely priced at high retail in my opinion. My opinion is worth about.02 though.

I heard today from a Japanese Dealer who participates that the 2017 dates will be November 17th, 18th, and 19th.

Could be lots of folks but I have seen a very similar pair by a craftsman in the Otsuki group so maybe. I also have a pair over very large Octopus that are somewhat similar in work that are mumei and attributed to Sekibun.

Fred is the best. Would not hesitate in recommending him to anyone at any level of collecting.

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I will play. Here is one of mine by Takechika and was published in last years KTK catalog. Photos by the excellent Richard George.

Stephen it depends on who made the tsuba and who it was made for. Particularly with Echizen Kinai, one of the kantei points is on what side it is signed on to determine generation of smith. Additionally to complicate matters if it was made as a presentation piece then it would be signed on the ura in some cases. The Kinai book goes into great detail about the kantei points around the signature and what side it is on to determine exactly what generation produced it. If you don't have the book you should look into getting it as we see a great many Kinai tsuba in the US, often with pleasing designs of dragon etc.