Steves87

excellent Grev, very good job! I am also another fan of up cycling. I did my own version with an old cutlery canteen I won at auction very very cheap. I removed all the old linings and re-installed some new velour replacements, created some timber partitions and then sewed up some little fabric baggies (light blue shown under the guards). the front was "decorated" with a few metal Tsuba looking things too. admittedly the Tsuba are on display most of the time, but it has been great for moving the collection or safe housing when needed. not as nice as your own, but it does the job cheers

There is an excellent book coming out very soon on this collection, I suggest not frustrating yourself with the website and to purchase the book :-)

I have this Sakura themed guard in similar fashion with the water carvings in the seppa dai area. The centres are ten zogan. There is a similar version in one of Gary Murtha's books too

someone named Irina Solo claims she has won this on the Facebook?

Stephen, your example is one of the better conditioned Jakushi Dragons around, so congratulations! Don't mind my example in the link, as a bit of a joke I upped the price considerably when I saw Dale had linked it (all my stuff is overpriced for a reason which I won't post about right now). I have been looking for a second as good as your example to form a daisho, but actually, thinking more about it, the guard I have is too small, more of a Tanto size so I'd have to get a full Kat and Wak size still. My problem half the time is having the excess funds at the right time!! Again, nice pick-up

I guess to close this out, here is the last piece I purchased/they sold, cheers!

It looks like a centipede, possibly the story of Tawara Toda?

That's it! looks like they are done, no items for sale. I got one last item from them, there was still another two I was going to try get... wonder where they will end up now, maybe an auction house?

Best one so far Bruce, gourd sukashi on double habaki. Thank you for sharing!

They may be struggling, I made a purchase after some semi persistent (but I was nice and respectful) messaging and now they seem to have pulled all their Soten/Hikone items. Hope I didn't cause trouble!?

$22 from Amazon is a bargain, jump on it asap

Just a quick update, I have no further answers to my questions (which are just for my info anyway) but I have had replies from them, which is great.

I see some (flattened) ten zogan (and some areas where missing). This looks like one of Artur's pieces he has for sale. If you decide to buy I can confirm he is excellent to deal with

SIGNED Wave KATANA TSUBA Japan Original Edo Sword Antique | eBay Looks like the last link of Yas's post (#131) is being re-sold by a reputable (imo) dealer. everyone is being fooled these days!

Sorry to hear it confirmed Barry, Do you know who is in control of the ebay store? I had contact with them probably early January this year, but have not been able to get a reply from them this last week.

hello, I have been trying to contact seller finearts29mv on eBay who I have had good dealings with in the past. I have sent a few messages and have had no replies. does anyone know the status of the seller? I understand it was run by a late Mr Chaffe (sp) who passed away a couple of years ago and is now being run by the estate?? cheers

Just to add to the Utsushi list of examples, I have a similar guard to show

if there are any west Australian collectors out there, there is an auction tomorrow night with a few Kozuka that may go cheap Welcome - Todd's Auctions

You know what, now that I think about it, the menuki is positioned correctly, but on the wrong side, perhaps the Tsuka has been forced on "upsidedown" which would account for the odd shape. If you put on the other way, the Tsuka shape would match the curve and the menuki would be placed in the "correct" position. If true, that is a worry

Jean is right, the Tsuka does look off. The kashira end does not continue the curve. This could mean a damaged core, or not as likely, could be a botched job at a Tsuka core?

Wow, that is interesting to me for two reasons, the first being I have never seen the "one sided" shingen before, and the other being I had never seen a shingen weave without a lacquer binding? Was this usual? I would have thought the wire would be susceptible to bending and breaking without the binding material. Coming from an actual use point of view here

Hello! From what I can gather there, it seems your scabbard saya is a military Gunto of sorts as it looks like its has a leather skin and the gold fitting to me, seems to be a mass produced military issue (original or not I have no idea). As for the Tsuba, it looks far too big to be for Tanto and as far as I am aware, a Katana Tsuba can have 1, 2 or no hitsu ana. I would have thought size is more of a deciding factor when it comes to classing a Tsuba to be for a Kat, Wak or Tanto? Tanto and Wakizashi can also have Kogai and Kozuka in their scabbard. Even having said that, a smaller Tsuba on a larger blade is not unheard of and can look pretty good in my opinion. I don't mind being corrected for those that know infinitely more!?

Here is another Dale, you probably haven't seen this from me as I no longer own it

I cant read it either, but from memory there is some typical Soten Kanji in it