Spartancrest

Just posting the image before it becomes lost forever.

Perhaps the early writers were getting confused with umabari (馬針)? They certainly have a sharp point. Regardless of the implement I still see problems using them to identify the body, it limits how many enemy you can claim in a day.

https://www.nihontoownersclub.com/tsuba3-1

If I have one 'problem' with it, it looks too good? Except for the paint job? Would an artist make this bad a mistake when applying the gilding? I know another Nagatsune - [Minamotono Nagatsune] a design that has been widely copied and mass produced, it has fooled museum "experts" for years. https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/231724343316551362/ https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/Japanese-tsuba-oni-and-priest-large-katana https://www.eldreds.com/auction-lot/inlaid-iron-nade-gaku-hokei-tsuba-by-sekizan-depi_75E43C99FB - This Fake sold for $1,300.00 https://www.catawiki.com/sv/l/63441801-tsuba-jarn-Japan-edoperioden-1600-1868 - this one sold for €500 https://www.ebay.com/itm/175279807811 - the basic un-coloured version For the Italian speakers out there - http://www.intk-token.it/forum/index.php?/topic/7940-unaltra-tsuba-e-un-pò-di-più/ I hope the facts don't upset the owner too much! Anyone interested I can find you twenty or thirty on ebay, Jauce, Buyee - you name it!

Yes Dan I have some old articles from the 19th century that state kogai were "often left stuck in the ankle of a defeated opponent" [with the head removed it was away of claiming ownership] - My only concern with this is, wouldn't you need at least a few spare kogai - you know, what if you manage to kill several of the enemy on the same day? Also how many kogai have family Mon or other identifiers on them so the family of the slain can work out who did the deed? I will wrestle up the articles, one I remember was quoting from the daughter of a samurai, but did her dad embellish his story to her? Interesting stuff and like most of this study it opens up lots of new avenues of research, thanks for posing the questions. I also remember there is a passage in "The Etiquette of Seppuku" that mentions the kogai was used to pick up the head of a victim.

There are a great deal of these rather poor reproductions, first thing is the Tagane-ato [punch marks] around the nakago-ana are all identical - this won't happen with two tsuba mounted on different swords. The nanako-ji [dot background] is patchy especially on the ura side. Also the ategane [metal fill in of the hitsu-ana] are not 'added' they are impressed in the design - try as you might you can't pop them out! Two versions are made one with one open hitsu the other with both 'closed'. Here is another to add to your image collection - a current auction of two guards [the rusty sukashi is the better buy!] https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1088277860 If you are looking for good Goto - avoid this pattern and really check the detailing. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/385491016393 This one is overpriced by at least $200 US. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/394448725570 overpriced by $190. US. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/325609461020 overpriced by $340. US. By the way the Haynes version is also a poor copy as is Ludolf Richter's - the "experts" can't always be right. How in hell did Haynes not see that his example was crap? Was he trying to get more money for it?

Do you mind if I put up the auctions on your last two examples? They weren't hard to find.

The Japanese have a strong 'Gaming' culture - no surprise there are upgrades in some games with Tsuba! https://game8.co/games/Genshin-Impact/archives/337893

I think the motif is 'Snow on Bamboo' leaves, with inome. The two leaves could also be "芦葉 ashi-ba" reed leaves said to be the vessel used when Daruma-daishi crossed the Yangtze River. This one is snow on mulberry leaf https://tsubakansho.com/tag/leaf/

Number [2] has made an appearance. I guess we can be thankful that only four designs were released, there might have been a lot more to be wary of.

Try these links - same tsuba sold by two different companies: https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/r1081411806 https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1081411806 The same 'object code' can get you into other sites, just use the last section of the web address, just try cut and paste. [ /r1081411806 ] I have the same problem some European and Asian sites won't open for me in Australia. [Nanny State?]

I have my doubts on Aizu and the thin one Miochin? - They are guesses at best, I can't translate the mei, perhaps that might give us a clue? Then we just have to worry if the signature is authentic or added later! Fern is likely - the 'grasses' usually seen with this design don't grow with that sort of unfolding curl.

A thinner design like yours. https://www.flickr.com/photos/thekevinz/ They have described it as Myochin/Miochin Feelers are so thin I would be scared to breathe on them! The Yahoo auction says the design is Aizu. https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r1081411806

It must be the crest of a wave going through now! https://www.jauce.com/auction/c1087876054 this one with some English https://www.jauce.com/auction/t1087868048 this one another more expensive version of one in the last post. This link has a lot of sword books as well - all in Japanese - https://www.jauce.com/user/raywind32?search=tsuba

Where is the love for cats? How about the love of cash! Wish I had some! https://www.jauce.com/auction/j1087841412 - Starting off at 195,000 yen

Richard you are so right, and they do come through in 'waves', likely some heir is selling off Dad's/Grandfather's collection. What I find a little funny is how some of these books go through the auctions without a single bid for time after time, are the Japanese themselves not interested in these earlier works? Or is it that they are partly in English? The few I have managed to get hold of were generally in great condition, covers a little faded, slightly musty smell the usual for 50+ year old books, but what strikes me most is the quality of the paper and the fantastic binding that most European books can't match. You might want to add these to your list [all in Japanese] https://www.jauce.com/auction/w1087777704 or https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/w1087777704 https://www.jauce.com/auction/o1087652227 or https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/o1087652227

I can recommend these two volumes, lifesize images with English captions - I also recommend you shop around as prices are all over the place and often much cheaper coming out of Japan directly. Marcus's book has been superceded by his "Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords" https://www.amazon.com.au/Encyclopedia-Japanese-Swords-Markus-Sesko/dp/131256315X It has all the same information as "Handbook" with a lot more added.

Great early piece Robert! I thought I would go a little 'Festive' with your image [hope you don't mind] Can you tell us the dimensions? It looks pretty big!

I stumbled upon this little gem? - Hidden away in the Ashmolean Museum, I hope you can make out the hollow pocket at the top of the guard. From the way it looks it has been made from an embossed thin sheet folded over and crimped at the sides. Although it is listed as a tsuba in their collection I wonder if it was actually a netsuke? The museum's site does not provide any useful information on the piece. Anyone ever see something like it before? https://collections.ashmolean.org/collection/search/per_page/100/offset/0/sort_by/relevance/object/108212 INTRIGUED!

Yes it is very modern but nice design. https://www.jauce.com/auction/p1087517204

Yes I believe it is a kendo medal possibly pre-war. I noticed some of the responses on the link thought it was Chinese from the characters used, but Chinese characters were often used in a formal way on Japanese items [tsuba included] Another Dragon badge from roughly the same time[?] in the middle, Image with a Sakura emblem from the first image and military badge WWII

This "Classic" cast namban/nanban tsuba [nice example John B ] shows features of annealing [softening] with the tagane-ato, re-working with the fine kebori around the dragons heads and the addition of 'nunome'. I can show you a hundred just like it in various 'grades' but what I can't prove is where they were made. Are they Japanese or Chinese in manufacture [not design]? Have we been barking up the wrong tree all along? Were the numerous cast tsuba made offshore and imported to Japan - not unlike todays influx of Chinese fakes? The Chinese had a longer history of casting iron objects than the Japanese did and they were trading for centuries back and forth. Just another theory thrown into the mix - I think perhaps our search has been too narrow concentrating strictly on Japanese casting methods. As I say just a theory.

I prefer the real thing but whatever floats your boat! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4092345.stm

I have no idea which 'School' [of thought] is correct - but there are many Ito School guards of a solid plate. I think most people equate Ito with fine openwork guards but the school did just about every type of decoration. Have a look at the A.H. Church collection section on Ito work, you will be surprised at the variations in style. http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/collection/7/10237/10355 This hobby is never clear cut - thank goodness! - or it would get boring in no time.

The tassel on yours is a different colour - it must be at a different "Dan" level