Akitombo

Steve, This tsuba came from the Grey Doffin site around eight years ago, I purchased it this year. When you go on grey's site it has good photos of this one. Do all Norisuke have the top character right hand side missing? What about when the nakago has been extended to fit a new blade. I have a few more suspect one's which I will list in the morning. David

Hi , This is an example of a tsuba I have which although signed Yamakichibei, I have put into the Norisuke pot. It has the Tombo and kama design on each side. The iron is good. Tekkotsu on rim/surface. It is 6.4 x 7 x 0.3 cm What's your thoughts ? David

Thank you Christian

Hi Curran, It was some of the links between Norisuke II and the Yamakichibei copies I was most interested in. I already have a copy of your excellent article, Thankyou. I have a few tsuba which although signed Yamakichibei, I put in the Norisuke tag, but looking at Futogoyama, I do not believe that they copied as many as prehaps they were put down to. It needs a lot more investigation. David

Good Morning, A bit of a long shot, but has any member got a a translation of Futagoyama Norisuke Ko by NBTHK? Or point me towards one. David

Grev When and where is the exhibition please? David

Good Morning, Just started reading this thread and can add a few more Yamakichibei to the pot. David

Has the yamakichibei sold?

Thank you, Steve for a great article and Brian for sorting the download, I feel a few weeks of intense reading coming on. David

Brian, Any chance of putting Steve's article on here to download please? David

Thank you Steve. David

I wonder if I could ask a couple of questions for those on the board with knowledge of the two above schools. Robert Haynes in "Tsuba, An aesthetic study" writes that there were three generations of Yamakichibei to begin with. Then the later workers were classified into four generations, although Kazuyoshi divided these into seven later generations, Bob Haynes did not think there was sufficient evidence to justify this. A few years have now moved on, what are the thoughts today about those later generations and how does one go about trying to distinguish, if possible, between them? Is there yet, a proper, later family tree? My second question is regarding those tsuba with Yamakichibei signatures that have been attributed to Norisuke. Are there now grounds to revisit some of them as real Yamakichibei? David

Brian, Yes I did, it would not let me reset the password. David

Brian, I hope your feeling better. I could not get in on my old account, akitombo, so I've started this new one. Is there any chance of combining the two, so I get the old bits back or do I stay with this new virgin account? Take it easy. David

Cheers guys, it is now on it's way via UPS. David

Morning, Just a quick plea for help. I have a guy in the USA that has brought a swordstick from me. In the UK antique swordsticks are allowed to be collected, but to ship it to the States, do I need any forms. If I just put on the paperwork, antique Japanese swordstick, is that enough? Thanks in advance. David

Hi, Yes I thought that, as it is in shin-gunto mounts, prehaps put on after surrender. I understand swords were looked at by the US after the war. David

Hi, I have got a katana in shin-gunto mounts. The tang is unsigned, but has four characters in red lacquer. They are difficult to photograph, but I am hoping that at least a couple can be read. I thought the first one was Ko? and the third Yoshi. David

Thank you

Cheers, do these help? David

Hi, Please could I have some help with the translation of this Gunto sword please. I made the first two Bu Fuji-Wara, which does not make sense.... Regards David

Hi, yes thanks for confirming, it is rough and was silly cheap, but it had a real, iron open work tsuba on it, a bit worn, but interesting. The blade can be used as a garden fence post. David

This blade came at a local auction, it seems strange, I read it as Rokujin? Any help would be great. David

Hi, Is this what you require, found it in my odds box. David

Thank you Geraint, Now the fun begins, will help pass the dark winter nights. Regards David