Spartancrest

Patrice L Here is something that started out not being a tsuba. I notice the nakago-ana are cut, in a counter-intuitive direction as for strength, on all the Kiri examples, I wonder why? [ is it insulting to have the blade edge pointing away from the old imperial family emblem?] The crane example would probably not work any other way.

These are a little less stressful.

Oh the humanity! What were they thinking?

Tom That's what I thought, Its been reworked but they didn't do all the sukashi. The hitsu look cleaner (difficult to see clearly) Would the two seppa (loose) reflect the tsuba has been changed from the original mounting? [i am not a sword person]

Stephen Yes good idea, they look like they are floating - but will get dusty! My open board displays need dusting probably more than they get!

Florian Sasano's book has the same guard listed as 'Hayashi' (Yotsu-hanabishi - four diamond-shaped flowers) Page 230 of his 'New Enlarged Edition' But you can't rule out Owari or Akasaka as they did some similar designs (as you have already seen on the link). What do people think about the high-lighted areas of the guard?

Just came across this display stand presumably in perspex or acrylic. little expensive - and the tsuba are not included [pity] https://www.jauce.com/auction/o387300197

Peter & Darrel Would super glue be safer or even wood glue, or would that be an infringement on tradition ? - has anyone got some really old boxes where the (中心 or 忠) nakago rest is held by some other means? [ Darrel you mixed the 'g' and 'k' around ] This could be a whole new thread. I have usually had good luck with shipped guards being packaged seperate to the box, from Japan, except once where the rest had come off and as you say the pins were exposed, lucky the guard was already in poor condition anyway [if you call that luck] Everyone should follow the experts advice [and don't include me in that list] and not ship their guards in the box [kiribako]. new boxes can be seen : https://www.ryujinswords.com/kiribako-boxes and from the same firm check out the reproduction tsuba : https://www.ryujinswords.com/search/products?keywords=tsuba Not an advocate!

Brian True.

Ken Let me know what you think when you get them, watch out for the kozuka, sharp and thin film don't usually go well together but Ok once mounted. I have had no rips so far.

Posted 09 April 2020 - 08:53 PM George M. [Just getting back to you, I have found a picture of a rather too common fuchi with kabuto decoration, I know its common because I had one just the same (for the life of me can't find it though) So there was/is a huge industry pushing out copies of all sorts of fittings and no doubt the sword collectors will include swords as well - just who when and where I don't know - the why is always money!] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Just come across another example of the common fuchi pattern on Feabay- I do hope it doesn't belong to a NMB member. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Antique-Japanese-Fuchi-Kabuto-Kuwagata-Sword-Fitting-Tsuka-Handle-Koshirae-Old/254566280821?hash=item3b45552e75:g:-E4AAOSwfaZZuK2S it is not identical but there is a definite trend here.

Grev That's always a good idea - especially if you can get free postage (not hard to find) If you can't it gets expensive.

Stephen The link should be there in the first post - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Clear-Jewelry-Suspended-Coins-Floating-Display-Case-Stand-Holder-Box-Easy-Use/352092267124?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Ken Goldstein Well I actually prefer brass brads or pins so they don't scratch the iron - driven in at an angle- but I ran out of the nice soft pins I prefer and the gong board uses the smallest straight cup hooks I could find, brass coated steel. Only part of my collection, about half in kiri boxes and perhaps 10 in the display frames. The taller display cases are good for kozuka (小柄) or kogai (笄) display as well.

I often receive my tsuba purchases without a storage box. This may offend the purists but I refuse to spend more money than the guard is worth on what can be expensive kiri boxes and they dont exactly lend themselves to good display. I came across some clear jewellery cases that are both protective and inexpensive as well as designed for displaying both sides of an object. At first I thought the tsuba metal would 'sweat' being sealed up, but actually the cling film stops any moisture or dust getting in and I have seen no damage at all in four or five years. Various sizes and colours are available but unfortunately some of my really large guards don't fit. I send a link, but check out other related sites because I am not advertsing for any particular manufacturer. I realize this topic has been touched on before but perhaps some newer members are not aware. Also include some standard display boards I made myself. The odd shaped one is based on a Chinese gong shaped tsuba I wish I had (It's a bit too pale for my taste but my wife said she wouldn't let me put up another dark piece of wood!). https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Clear-Jewelry-Suspended-Coins-Floating-Display-Case-Stand-Holder-Box-Easy-Use/352092267124?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Piers D Yes I have two examples of both, rather large for stamps and printed in 'gold' foil (these are stock photos, my examples are mint with no damage). The other design of tachi type I can find no trace of but the image proves they exist - just can't find.

Has anyone come across any postage stamps depicting tosogu, specifically tsuba? The only two examples I have found are the two issues shown. I realize stamps are not strictly tosogu but my interest includes all things tsuba related. The Nippon stamps must be rare, possibly issued in only one prefecture unlike most postage stamps issued nationally in other countries.

Remember those heady hot days when all you needed was a good cold one! But darn forgot your bottle opener - well tsuba to the rescue! The tragedy for this century are screw tops! Ps. Not a drinker myself! Oh and so the sword collectors can feel nostalgic.

George M. 'Post in haste repent at leisure' I spotted that guard on fleabay - catfish - yes that fits the thread - post. Funny I took in the fake nakago-ana and missed the gourd, well it was way past my bed time when I posted it and that's my excuse. You would pass out if you saw the list price on it & its many companions!

Here is a modern copy of the two catfish - it loses something in translation don't you think? That nakago-ana just isn't right!

Well back to the thread, Now these examples below are a slightly different problem. The Kinai school seems to have ended its days by students churning out copies of that schools classic designs and we are left to determine if the resultant horde of guards were originals, copies or castings. Many of the Aoi leaf designs were embelished with gold scrolls or tendrils and signed by various masters. However even some cast examples were reworked and many of the signatures were faked. By the way there are copies of this design being factory produced as we speak. I do not contend that all these images are of fakes or copies but it is very difficult to judge just from an image on an auction site, so particular attention to detail is necessary to avoid buying a dud. I just checked a Japanese auction site that I look at regularly and noticed that three guards of this design were listed just today. The image below is only about a quarter of the examples I have on record - so many in fact I have given up collecting anymore images of these. I bought one myself rather cheap and rusty likely a copy never mounted but don't believe it is cast. - My house has tiled floors so if I drop it maybe it will survive, not sure I want to find out though!

Roger d. Seems like I am following you around the forums. There is a legend that a giant catfish causes earth quakes - from Wikipedia: "In Japanese mythology, the Namazu (鯰) or Ōnamazu (大鯰) is a giant catfish who causes earthquakes. He lives in the mud under the islands of Japan and is guarded by the god Kashima who restrains the catfish with a stone. When Kashima lets his guard fall, Namazu thrashes about, causing violent earthquakes". Old, I can remember when the milkman came to the house with a horse cart and we got letters delivered twice a day. And don't get me started on the size of chocolate Wagon Wheels they were twice the size for 6 pence! I do laugh at the tech nerds who say without the internet we would go back to the stoneage- ever hear of the sixties and seventies, no computers, no internet, no mobile phones and Dad went off to work and mum stayed at home and everyone owned their own home. What went wrong?

Jose L. Ubaldo That seppa could do with a replacement, don't you think ! Jean. The rabbits have been at it as well - sorry the pic is a bit grainy.

Stephen K. Like it or not - Everyone is on the 'spectrum' the only thing is most people don't know it - it's called being human. Knew this subject (thread) would not make everyone happy - " You can't tell a Mother her child is ugly." My own collection has quiet a few "Elephant Man" ugly pieces but I love them just the same and they all have a history, checkered or not.

Chris S. You are right, not here to discredit - I would not have stayed a collector for so long if I didn't see the beauty in it. If we knew it all why are we here? Proud to say not an expert just observant.