Nuts4re

Thank you Brian, there are 3 copper seppa shims still on the tang. My issue has been finding a tsuba with a smaller nakago to take out the aforementioned side /forwards/ backwards movement. Will do reading on sekigane ASAP ! I greatly appreciate the history old swords and blades exude. Not that "new" blades are not interesting, but I swear there is a "vibration" to something very old especially weapons. Thank you all. Been reading on here for months and finally had the courage to ask for help. My others:

Mark thank you, will update my file / spreadsheet i have my data in! Thank you! Michael.

Thank you all. My intention has been to display this and get it out of my dark safe. I do have a collection of sword and firearms, but Japanese blades take a reverent and long earned devotion to understand, from what I have been able to read. I was told by a gentleman named Robert on a sword forum that is no longer operating that my Hizen character is correct for 4th generation Tadayoshi signature due to the lack of "Saku and presence of "(No)-Kuni". Ref: 肥 前 国 住 八 忠 吉 Hizen, No-Kuni, Ju, Omi, Nin, Tada, Yoshi Still does not change the the poor kissaki and that I have no clue how to fit anything to accommodate the nakago-ana spacing. A few last pics, in case anyone has any ideas how to shim this. The small broken cast tsuba is what was on the blade when I found it. Thank you all for your time, your help, and your patience. I usually just read! Michael.

I have a short sword (wak or uchigatana) that was allegedly cut down from a longer sword some time ago. It had a cast tsuba on it that is broken and I have purchased two tsubas over the years without any planning or forethought and am coming to the conclusion none will fit this blade. The blade thickness at the tsuba mounting area is 8.30mm or .2620 inches. The blade width is 24.64mm or .9720 inches. Were these shimmed somehow? My blade is "old" but in poor condition and not collectable from what I have been told at gun shows. Will add some pics to help, and thank you in advance for any help. The mei area is kept covered and I have been very careful to not touch it with bare hands nor clean it, sort of training myself if I get a legit collectable blade one day! Thank you. Michael.