Akitombo

This is a great book, from the era before the internet and a pile of books on Nihonto in English. Joly may have made mistakes, but so have they all. I may be shot down in flames here by fellow board members, but any book by Joly is worth reading and the big ones, Hawkshaw, Naunton, Etc are great learning tombs. Time spent with books and handling as many examples as possible is never wasted time. Regards David (A Joly fan)

It still is eight and a half hours before Great Britain greets 2012. I hope it is the year we all find that hidden treasure lurking in the dark. We all keep good health, whats left of our wealth and that we can still smile. Happy New Year David

Any ideas for bringing it back to life. I put iron tsuba into cotton pockets to help the rubbing. I have never used oil, as I fear it may cover rust up. In the "Good ole days", boiling in tea used to be done to get colour back. Ideas anybody? David

To add to this thread, the side has been filed, you can see the remains of the arm. If you look at the Halberstadt Collection book, item 76 has a very near example, again with the side arm removed to allow a kozuka. Size are as follows 2.82 inchs wide, 0.19 inchs thick on the mimi. Regards David

Cheers guys, as always a library of knowledge. It is a subject which needs further research. As far as the tsuba itself is concerned, I have no plans to sell it, as it is one of my best loved. I found it last year in a Paris flea market, buried under a ton of rubbish. When asked, the stallholder said ten Euros, I could not get the note quickely enough out of my pocket. It was worth the EuroStar ticket, hotel bill and my wife trying to eat her way through France. It just shows that these items still lay awaiting us to rescue them. Happy HUnting David

Can some of the fellow members of this board help with the identification of the characters on this Owari tsuba. In Henri Joly's Inscriptions on Japanese Sword fittings, one of the plates shows the main character, but not what its meaning is. Regards David

Could the Hitsu Ana be original or added later, that is if we are talking early Edo period? David

Thankyou David

Hi, It is 0.169inchs David

Guys, Please can you assist me with the school and period of this solid iron tsuba. It is 3.18 inchs wide and 0.19 inchs thick at the mimi. As always, thankyou for your help Regards David

This is one based on Spanish leather work designs David

How about a kozuka David

Hows that? David

Any old iron? David

Sorry, this may be a better picture David

Hi Guys, Once again I am trapped under a pile of books, but admit to being a little out of my depth on this one. It did make me get down my copy of Japanese Polearms by Knutsen, which I have not opened for at least six months Any help would be super. Regards David

Best to add the picture..sorry

Hi Guys, I have just brought a Showa stamped blade, but the signiture has thrown me. I read the first two as Zen Shu...... But I can find no smith starting with Zen...is it my poor reading or an unknown smith?? Regards David

Hi, The style looks like Kyoto Umetada, but I agree that it also looks rather cast and new. Reagrds David

Hi Ford, Is this any help? David

Hi All, As a Namban fan, I would agree with the others on the undercut issue. Heres one not too far away from Brian's. I have always felt that this school has been overlooked for many years, because there was so many "Pot Boilers" produced. It was a great joy when Dr John Lissendens book came out. It is a group of tsuba that need to be given more thought. Regards David

Yes, this is not one of the Yasukuni. It is well made, no stamps, but no cigar. This is why I never bet on horses, my ones always end up as hamburgers Still a sword that needs research David

Thankyou Chris. One day I will get to a higher level David

Hi, I have just brought a shin gunto with the following on the tang. I think it reads as follows: Chiku Ka Yasu Kuni Saku But it does not make any sense, so I have read it wrong, as normal..... Any help, as always is of great help Kind Regards David

Ian, I would agree with you that Chiddingstone has a super collection of not only swords, but armour as well. You can spend a long time in the Japanese section, but if your down in Kent for the day, hop over to Maidstone Museum for part of it. They also have a great collection of swords, armour, Etc,. I feel sure Clive Sinclair, who is also down this way, can put more detail about both collections, but it was Victor Harris who first directed me to visit both and learn from just looking. Regards David