Spartancrest

First off I have to disagree with Jesse. [please forgive me!] There is the evidence of a small tagane-ato at the top of the nakago-ana so likely mounted once, but I agree it is ubu. I would say the guard is Shoami, in the style of Shoami Kanenori [ura] but it also has some features found in Kaneie {omote} a blended design? Of a low end or quickly made variety. This Shoami gimei example is similar to the ura side. A more elaborate one here https://www.samuraim...samurai-sword-t-161/ [but I think it is still not what it is made out to be] A large number of these exist, as with most the quality varies a lot and they often appear hurried.

Menuki - I am not sure if this pattern may mean "Kakine" # a sacred border. https://world.seiyud...m/product/me-081223/ Fuchi - https://www.jauce.com/auction/m1124742393

Just what could they have been trying to make this tsuba into? The only thing I can come up with is perhaps a Maedate? https://www.jauce.com/auction/k1124661934 or https://buyee.jp/ite.../auction/k1124661934

The phoenix is replaced with a smaller bird but hey they throw in a snake! https://collections.mfa.org/objects/15202 Not sure if I can find your original but I will give my books a going over and see what I can find. Nice Tiger- shame about the face

I believe the "Cockerel" tsuba type is related as far as manufacture goes with these two more common "replicas" https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/315148884742 This one is of a lesser grade than many others [Also editions can have detailed iroe] https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/386742112308 [Sorry a rushed example, there are better editions with iroe ] I have no proof but these all have the same age "feel" and a certain technical skill, and like the 'Cockerel' they can come in varied coloured "patinas". My guess is they are [or were] all made by the same factory along with a number of other designs. They are generally so well made they would pass most casual inspection if not for the fact that they appear in substantial numbers. I don't know if they were made as souvenirs or as something to be fitted to imitation swords or even intended simply to separate the novice from their money.

One on Christies March 29, 2005 https://www.invaluab...6a16609d9c37c0b073d8 signed jumyo oite Koishigawa Hisanori saku The shakudo migakiji mokkogata tsuba, decorated with a rooster spreading its wings by a tree in iroe takazogan 3 1/8in. (7.9cm.) long. Wood storage box inscribed by Homma Junji (Kunzan) It is not the same guard as Christies 12 May 2010 https://www.christie...m/en/lot/lot-5316579 Mokko-Shaped Shinchu Tsuba. Signed Koishikawa (ni) oite Hisanori kore (wo) tsukuru, Meiji Period (late 19th century) Inlaid in shinchu takazogan with a cockerel, the reverse with a peach tree 7.8cm. high [The minute size difference is likely measurement inaccuracy.]

There appears to be several colour variations with the rooster design, I don't see inlays but rather overlay. The base metal underneath is very difficult to pin down - not iron, not shakudo?

Some tsuba matching your Kozuka here from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

For me the nakago-ana is always an important part of the guard to watch, the one you have Bjorn shows all the features of the copies. They may be copies but darn, some of them are good workmanship.

Having read through the cost of obtaining Shinsa papers and knowing our members give away "valuable" information for free - I can't help feeling we are undervaluing our worth. This is not a criticism of the forum, rather it is criticism of the monetary incentive with obtaining papers - papers that as we know are not always correct at times. Anyone know if there is a moneyback guarantee on shinsa papers? JMHO

Wow, very thick for nunome, you would think it was more susceptible to damage being that high but being under the seppa I suppose protects it. [I would go crazy just cutting all the lines in the iron to start with!]

Not so modest IMHO How about the Kao? Is that inlay or nunome as well?

Theme looks familiar? Uji-bashi bridge? https://www.legacysw...-kinko-school-tsuba/

Identical guard found on X https://twitter.com/...s/818951085306081280 This one with a fake signature [gimei] cleaner than the original post but actually of the two I prefer Riley's. His is not trying to be something it is not.

https://www.lot-art....ba-10.11.18-catawiki the general 'Kyo-Kenjō' attribution. [not great image] https://www.willishe...-2015/lot-126-tsuba/

I wonder if this tsuba is related to the pieces shown by Alex? https://www.willishe...2014/lot-51-tsuba-2/

IDHACAA - [I don't have a clue at all. ] An even more intriguing one. I wish someone had kept the mates to both of them. Single menuki only give you half the answers. And lets not forget the rain dragon tsuba [115 examples on record and counting]

Rain dragon fuchi and a menuki.

I was very interested to see the changes of a recurring auction item over the span of more than twenty years - at first you might think there are four 'copies' or utsushi but one little detail on the birds head shows the same scratch in all images though the focus on some could be better. I can't explain why the third image [taken in 2015] has the darkest patina [a little spotty] unless there has been 'cleaning' done in the meantime.

Not this little brown monkey. I can only find two hats in the snow and nothing like the one pictured http://jameelcentre....y/seqn./object/20120 and to be honest the "hats" could just as easily be umbrellas.

Genuine bargain Jason! The gold 'nunome' will make cleaning it a little difficult. Kiku-gata, that is 'Chrysanthemum flower shape' or alternatively it could be viewed as Amida-yasuri 'radiating lines' also 'Halo of the Buddha'. Well considering you could have purchased a brand new made yesterday replica for $108 https://www.shapeway...A6Y/tsuba-solid-kiku I think your $25 was a darn good investment! [and you didn't have to pay shipping!] Almost identical one on ebay - but it is no bargain https://www.ebay.com/itm/275712832220 - So where is this shop and how long a line out the door is the crowd?

Well lots of bids [43] on the 'Wood panel" tsuba but I was expecting a higher auction price than $850 USD. Someone liked it!

Welcome to the forum. Some more threads for you to look at Clement. They all involve bone or ivory awls or scrapers. From the look of your pieces only number 1 and number 5 have active rust. The others have either lost their patina or have patchy patina possibly from previous 'over-cleaning'. Put them in your pocket [preferably cotton] and just "fuss" with them from time to time [rub them about]. There are patination formulas but I would try the cotton cloth method first. At the very least none of your pieces has inlays to worry about, which should mean easier work.

Yagua are an Amazonian indigenous tribe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yagua [I don't think they make tsuba ] I like mine well done. Wagyu that is, not Yagyu [ bit hard on the digestion]