ChrisW

Then you're in luck, there is a Texas Token Kai I believe. Search the forum and you should be able to find them!

This would make an excellent blade for a beginner because it has a lot of activity, it is from one of the better-known Yamato schools, and would be an easy candidate to receive Hozon. The blade is in appreciable condition with solid koshirae. Don't let this one slip by!

You'll have to share what state you reside in to find someone closeby or the nearest token kai! If you're in the midwest, I suggest myself/the Indiana Token Kai. If its on the eastern seaboard, then the NY Token Kai. We have members/token kai scattered throughout the country!

If you live near someone on the board, you should get some in person opinions! Or visit a token kai meeting.

When a yari from the kubi to kissaki meets or exceeds 12 inches.

Hello again ladies and gentlemen, here is one more for the evening. Type (Tachi, Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto, Naginata, Other) : omi yari Ubu, Suriage or O-Suriage : Ubu Mei : (Mumei, Signature) : Signed two kanji Kanenori, by the workmanship, mainline Mino, one nakago-ana. Papered or not and by whom? : No Era/Age : Late Muromachi, circa 1530 Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : partial koshirae. Nagasa/Blade Length : 28cm or just over 11 inches, with kubi it is 12 inches Sori : none Hamon Type : Chu-suguha Jihada : Running itame with mokume and masame elements. Other Hataraki Visible : Kinsuji, inazuma. This blade has A LOT of activity and is an eyeful! Flaws : a few small ware, one small fukure midway on one side, five kirikomi, a few pits. Sword Location : Indiana, USA Will ship to : USA primarily, international contingent on laws of destination country. Payment Methods Accepted : Paypal, Cashapp. Shipping options discussed at time of purchase. Price and Currency : $1400 USD or reasonable offers. Other Info and Full Description : Comes in a saya. The smith is likely to be one of the mainline Mino Kanenori of the late Muromachi period judging by the workmanship. This is a very petite 'omi yari' as with the kubi included, it just comes in at 12". Despite its size, it has FIVE kirikomi or 'battle scars' and is in great condition for its age. Another lovely yari in fine condition for its age. It sports a ryo-shinogi (double ridge) which is rather uncommon provides for a very distinctive look compared to many other yari. Enjoy!

Hello again ladies and gentlemen, I am submitting another item for sale here on the board. Type (Tachi, Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto, Naginata, Other) : Yari Ubu, Suriage or O-Suriage : Ubu Mei : (Mumei, Signature) : Signed Yamato Daijo Fujiwara Masanori, the mei being filled in with gold lacquer, one nakago-ana. Papered or not and by whom? : No Era/Age : Early Edo, approx. 1600-1624 Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : in shirasaya. Nagasa/Blade Length : 16.2cm or just under 5 inches Sori : none Hamon Type : Chu-suguha Jihada : Dense itame/masame. Flaws : a few aesthetic scratches, a minor stain near the tip. Sword Location : Indiana, USA Will ship to : USA primarily, international contingent on laws of destination country. Payment Methods Accepted : Paypal, Cashapp. Shipping options discussed at time of purchase. Price and Currency : $1200 USD or reasonable offers. Other Info and Full Description : Comes in shirasaya. The smith Yamato Masanori worked from 1600 to 1624 and is a 50-point smith. This is the shodai in my opinion, as opposed to the nidai because yari made by shodai were done in a Hizen-esque style with the suguha/itame combination. The mei on this yari is infilled with gold lacquer that really does help make the mei pop in my opinion A very well-preserved makura or "pillow" yari with a very nice gold lacquer filled mei in shirasaya at a very nice price.

Open to reasonable offers.

Open to reasonable offers.

Hey guys, just submitting this for sale here on the board. If it sells here, I'll pay $50 out of the final price to the board. Thanks to Brian for providing a solid experience for us sellers! Type (Tachi, Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto, Naginata, Other) : Wakizashi Ubu, Suriage or O-Suriage : Suriage Mei : (Mumei, Signature) : Mumei, two nakago-ana. Papered or not and by whom? : No, but a copy of the torokusho. This blade is textbook Yamato Mihara school and I would be surprised if it was named otherwise. Era/Age : Muromachi, approx. 1420-1450 Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : in full koshirae Nagasa/Blade Length : 53.3cm or 20.98 inches, around 24" originally. Sori : 1.3cm (0.51 inches) Hamon Type : Chu-suguha Jihada : Dense ko-itame, with some mokume and masame elements. Other Hataraki Visible : Kinsuji, inazuma, slight hakikake in the boshi, and more activity than I can remember the terminology for! This one is a real looker! Flaws : a few aesthetic scratches, light dimpling/staining on the edge for a few inches, stains under the habaki -- otherwise very clean and appreciable. Sword Location : Indiana, USA Will ship to : USA primarily, international contingent on laws of destination country. Payment Methods Accepted : Paypal, Cashapp. Shipping options discussed at time of purchase. Price and Currency : $1500 USD or reasonable offers. Will only take up to $300 in trade value. Other Info and Full Description : Comes in full koshirae with fine shakudo and gold trimmed elements. The fuchi shows a gold rabbit leaping over shakudo waves, combined with the dual mon menuki and the restrained elements of the koshirae, it leads me to believe this was meant as a bridal/wedding gift between two clans. The rabbit leaping over waves is a common fertility theme. Tsuba is a floral motif done in copper with gold highlights. Habaki is a gold-plated two piece. Saya is black lacquer in good condition, has sageo attached in a nice ornamental knot. A copy of the torokusho is rubber-banded onto the saya. This is a lovely blade for sale at a more than reasonable price. It is priced for far less than what you would pay to get a blade of this size polished, plus it comes in full koshirae!

New group rate is $1900 for all 19 with $300 of that still going to the board. Cheers!

Hi Brian, If you're looking to meet up with someone from Indiana, I might be your guy. I am in the Indianapolis area and would be happy to assist. I'll send you a DM here shortly! ~Chris

You could always talk to Bill Rannow! He knows his stuff about tassels and has a lot of them for sale, many new in box that he bought years and years ago.

Tsuba 1, 4, and 11 have sold offsite. I can rework a group price for the rest, or continue to sell individually! New image of the remaining ones:

The signed tsuba:

Hello everyone! I am posting up a collection of tsuba for sale on behalf of a friend. He is trying to move this lot of tsuba onto others who will have the time to restore them as he doesn't have enough hours in the day to deal with all of them. The price is $120 each, + $10 shipping within the US (flatrate USPS box) for as many that will fit. I do believe they would all fix in one box! International shipping I would have to investigate further. Shipping insurance is extra past $100 I believe but wholly recommended if you buy more than one. IF you buy 5 or more, I'll knock $10 off the price per tsuba OR donate $10 to the message board per tsuba, your pick! If you buy the whole lot of 22 pieces for a group price of $2300, then I will donate $300 to the board. This group rate can change if others sell before then. As for the tsuba themselves, they are all good iron pieces in solid but soiled condition. Some will need gentle cleaning and rust removal. Three of them are signed and they all vary in age from early Muromachi to Edo. I have seen them all in person at the last Indiana Token Kai meeting and there's quite a few good ones in this lot! Treat them as numbered in rows, top row = 1 - 6, and so on. The ones circled in blue are signed and are posted in the next post. If you want a closeup of any other one in particular, just ask, but please, serious inquiries only as I have to ask my friend to send me said closeups. The second photo is the same photo, but with the signed tsuba circled in blue. Respond to this thread as my message box gets full often! ~Chris

Definitely since the overwhelming majority of 'blue' topaz is lab-created by radiating or heating regular topaz and is a fairly recent innovation. Technically aquamarine is the blue specie of beryl, the family to which both emerald, aquamarine and topaz belong to, among others. But the lab created is done to fill in for colors that don't exist since most aquamarine is a very pale blue and as the supply of quality aquamarine is fairly low compared to topaz.

I have a kashira that has an inset amethyst stone. I am away from home for a few days, but when I return, I shall post some pictures of it. Heavy iron, gold wire trim.. overall a nice piece. Wish I had the fuchi for it!

Traditionally made yes.. but buffing wheel'ed to hell. I am not sure if there's even enough meat on the boshi for it to be salvageable.

I've reached out to Eric and at some point, he and I will be meeting. I'll give it a good long hard look when I see it in person. Photographs just don't typically do nihonto justice. I think people just need to calm down a bit. Passions have run a bit hot and it has come to personal attacks, which is unbecoming of such a distinguished collection of people. Let's all agree to drop the attitudes and just stick to well-educated opinions predicated on observable facts, yeah? We're here for the swords, let's keep it that way!

Mantetsu Kitae Tsukuru Kore

Shame that screw ruined what would have otherwise been a rather nice fuchigashira set. Blade looks to be ubu Shinto. Can't tell much more without evidence of hamon/hada.

I agree with Brian. The quality of the carving suggests atobori. To the uninitiated, this means that it was done long after the sword was forged. And sometimes, but not always, atobori is done to conceal open flaws on the surface of the metal. However, all opinions are secondary to an opinion rendered in hand. Photos can only do so much. Speaking from personal experience, cell phone cameras just can't do a sword justice!

Message sent, check your DMs at the top right with the letter icon next to your name!

Hello Eric! To be sure, you have an interesting piece, but photos on the internet make it difficult to ascertain much. Since I am local, I'll reach out to you in DM to help you get assistance locally. ~Chris