roger dundas

Dale (and Glen) and anyone else if you care to respond- Just where do these old relics figure in the scheme of things? I well appreciate that many and possibly most collectors here would shun these somewhat disfigured tsuba, damaged by neglect and lack of care. I personally don't mind some of them and sometimes in a museum collection a less than well cared for tsuba will appear (not often I must admit). Earlier on, two or three years back, I posted a rough old piece on the NMB here and one very knowledgeable member said that he could see merit in some of them but he had an appreciation and first hand knowledge of excavated, archaeological tools and weapons from earlier European times. Just wondering. Roger j

Further to the use of cowrie shells like these for decoration-( just like these which have tops removed), I have seen used by Baluch carpet makers to adorn their woven salt bags, all purpose woven carrying bags etc. The Baluch live in the south of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan (Baluchistan). No Japanese invasion in WW11 there. I presume other people use them too. Roger j

The best depiction of a horse I have seen but I suppose so many have been produced, there could be others. Never the less, a great creation for mine (not usually a fan of these). Roger j

I can't help but wonder about the cowries overlaying the hilt ? They are somewhat fragile to begin with, then are only held to the sacking by thread, possibly but unlikely a glue as well so are they really meant to be on the hilt at all (which is where they are now) but just put there later by someone else ? The native Dayak people of Borneo used cowrie shells just like these to sometimes decorate their items- but never their all purpose bush knives-headhunting parangs that I know of. And Borneo was invaded by the Japanese. Roger j

Those holes cut for a Gunto latch have a lot to answer for- many a good tsuba disfigured I'll bet. Roger j

You have a great talent for fossicking out some wonderful items Mark plus you are kind to deal with. Congratulations. Roger j

An old posting that I enjoyed going over because I am not sure if the question of tsuba condition, brass inlay loss has been resolved. It has certainly been discussed. Personally I liked what Luca showed and would be pleased to have, the rest were even more appealing of course. I hope Members enjoy seeing again, maybe commenting? Roger j

Nothing covert/secretive about that one Bruce so it would be pre 'prohibition' one would think? I like it. Roger j

We took photos of the whole sword, new hilt etc- then realised only the actual damaged area was wanted ? Do you want the rest " Roger j

Thank you and 'much obliged' Kyle. Roger j

Currently on a WW11 katana with civilian hilt fittings but hilt destroyed by bullet damage, and later replaced in Japan. Replaced fittigs look to my eyes to be later reproductions but seppa are antique , solid silver habaki is original and I presume the tsuba (this one) is original; BUSHU JU MASA ?NAO. I know nothing of this maker or period- would anyone be interested in commenting ? Thank you, Roger j

Bullet damage to the tang/nakago, a complete hilt replacement in Japan in 1967. Part of a bullet embedded in Scabbard. Blade : Bishu Osafune Suka Sada Saku / August 1567 was not damaged and good order. Leather combat covered scabbard also in good order. Roger j

Looks like a scene from Macbeth but without any witches. Roger j

I am hesitant about putting my nose in here but could the holes be for rivets that might have held a seppa or some such overlayed attachment. The tsuba below has two rivets each side of the hitsu ana holding an inlayed copper sisc to an iron plate. OR, I have read here (I think) that sometimes a tsuba has been used as a keyhole plate. Roger j

BaZZa knows him well, they are friends. Roger j

Hope you don't mind my pennys worth- a really lovely thing to have. Without being flippant- I would hate to have someone after me, wielding one of those. Seriously. Roger j

As someone here remarked once before- I think (Stephen) is"joking us". Quaintly said but possibly accurate ? Roger j

You certainly have been in the wars Ford! Didn't know about the Covid as well so good luck with your lung improvement. Just by the way- I trust I don't sound sycophantic ? I am a few weeks off 82, with one foot in the grave, nothing to gain but just acknowledging the very high value of the input from you lot. Keeps so many of us interested in tomorrow. Roger j

Really glad this post was resurrected just to see the great 'Owari' crab tsuba in the Tokyo National museum put up by Steve Waszak back in 2010 plus another, a Jingo tsuba,C 1600, put up in 2019 by Steven K (Tetsugendo). Great to see for mine. Roger j

If you don't mind me asking Ford, have you completely recovered from your heart set back ? It is certainly always good to get your input here with your not to be surpassed 'hands on' knowledge. Loved your 'ginko' tsuba posted here - as did stacks of other members. Roger j

I thought that possibly not many were interested in these 'clunky' old tsuba but apparently a few are ? This one is 65.5 x 60.5 x 3.8 and as I have a katana sized version c 80 x 80 that is generally in excellent condition, then the condition of this smaller version would seem to be caused by neglect, being stored in less than benign conditions? Do they dig them up from old battlegrounds ? I thought that as it had remnant fine brass wire inlay that it would be kosher and the asking price of around US$50 was reasonable' The recurring argument about a $50 tsuba versus a $50 bottle of whisky comes to mind. But the all up cost was much more than that as it turned out. Purchased in March 2020 from Japan it got caught up in the postage quagmire caused by the Covid virus. Eleven months later- February 2021 it arrived after a further postage imposition. It wasn't cheap in the end at all and was the price of a very expensive Scotch whisky. The question is: Is something like this worth having around ?

To my mind Dale, your continuing input with your evaluations have been outstanding. But I miss those from our knowledgeable Japanese contributor who recently took leave from this forum, unfortunately. Roger j

"Sunny"- but at least with the courage to put your opinion out there for others to consider. To be honest I wanted to ask why would anyone bother to fake the ageing of the first one (there could be many reasons) but backed away when I saw who else was commenting. I lacked a little courage, Roger j

Am I seeing things clearly- have these fish or eels got a split fish like tail ? Eels tails are are not like that of a fish, are not split- at least not Australian eels- long fin and short finned. Roger j

Thank you Geraint for your post and clarification. You are quite correct- what I saw as some sort of surface damage between the hitsu and kogai (and kodzuka) ana is indeed where cushions have been inserted ( and the punch marks I saw instead as damage ). Probably brass cushions but now discoloured to a copper hue ? Yes it looks like brass cushions. The cushions certainly appear to go right through, covering the iron core. As to some tachi tsuba having seppa attached and aligned using pins, I had no knowledge of this so thanks for pointing it out. Does it mean that this is a tachi tsuba ? Probably impossible to tell ? Again I want to thank you, Piers and Geraint for responding and for your information. Roger j