Dan tsuba

Hey Scogg, So you stated that "I would refer to my comment on the top of page 2 of this same thread" which is good information (my opinion) about eBay. You also stated "I personally would not recommend eBay to new collectors." So, where would you advise new collectors to purchase their tsuba from? I have shown several pictures on this thread of tsuba that I have purchased on eBay. With some learning and insight, I believe new tsuba collectors can also make similar purchases of authentic Edo period tsuba on eBay, and even buy some bargains at a reasonable price from eBay. Your thoughts?

Well Scogg, that is great! Since this thread deals with purchasing tusba on eBay, members may be interested to know that a veteran member (such as yourself) who is also a moderator on this forum has also purchased tsuba on eBay. That information may just make new collectors (or other collectors) have another look at eBay. Thanks!

Thanks Scogg for the explanation (but I don't believe in coincidences!). So, what I get from what you are saying, is that some good bargains and purchases can still be had on eBay! Onward!

Well Scogg, Thanks for the information, I know that eBay dealer is knowledgable about what he sells and I have bought several (what I consider) nice tsuba from him in the past. But why is it that when I post something you usually respond within a cople of minutes? As a moderator, are you alerted when I post something? Just saying.

Jean, I can always count on you for your negative comments! You stated "E-Bay does not make presents!" So, do other dealers make presents? There are still several good bargains to be had on eBay, for those that can discern between actual Edo period tsuba from fakes or rerproductions. To each their own. Those that can spend whatever they want for a tsuba are the lucky ones, others have to search for bargains. My collection of tsuba is not museum quality, but it is still fun for me and a learning expierence to collect what I can afford. Are you suggesting that collectors of tusba should only buy museum qulatity tsuba? Damaged or not, my tsuba teach me a lot. And to me that is the important thing. You purchase what you can afford, and I will purchase what I can afford. Does that make my learning expierence from tsuba any less than your learning expierence? Don't be a tsuba snob. My opinion.

So, I think I found another bargain on eBay that I purchased. Price was $85 U.S. ($100 including shipping and taxes). Just saying if you search for bargains on eBay, you can sometimes find them! Pictures attached.

Hi Gary, and welcome to this great forum. I don't think your tsuba is cast iron. That is because the fan shapes on your tsuba are stamped onto and into the tsuba. You can't do that on cast iron because the cast iron will fracture and break. Just my opinion.

Are you kidding me! About $1350 for this tsuba, and it is a fake! Hence my philosophy, if you don't spend a lot you can't get bit for a lot! I will stick to eBay and my bargains! Just my opinion!

Hi members! So, I am trying to figure out what school this tsuba belongs to and who possibly made it. I looked at the Ashmolean Museum site at all the schools they listed and tusba pictured, and I couldn’t find anything like it. I think it may be an older tsuba because it has two hitsu-ana that are the three lobed type hitsu-ana. Unlike many tsuba that have one oval hitsu-ana and then a three lobed type hitsu-ana. This is one of my most treasured tsuba (pictures included below). And as a side note. I didn't spend my usual $150 dollars for this tsuba. I bought it in a package (lot) of 3 tsuba. I purchased the lot of 3 tsuba for about $260 dollars fron eBay (picture of the lot purchased shown in the last picture attached). So I figure my most prized tsuba cost me about $87 dollars. Any information about this tsuba would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I agree with Rawa and Spartancrest. Others can afford just to buy what they want. For me, with a limited budget (living from one social security check to the other) it is a major part of the hobby (for me) and is great fun trying to find the bargains on eBay! Sometimes, I luck out and add great pieces to my collection. To each their own! Onward!

I see, said the blind man! I went to the site again. You have to click on the image of the tsuba. Then below the image will be two small pictures. Click on those and you will see the omote and ura of the tsuba. But not all tsuba will show those two images. Sometimes the other picture will just show a close up of the mei. And sometimes there will not be those two pictures below the tsuba. They will only show that one picture of the tsuba.

Only one image of each tsuba is shown.

Hey Spartancrest, I checked the site and they show 39 pages of tsuba.

So, a lot of good advice and resources have been presented on this thread. Now, what is the best advice I can give a new tsuba collector about purchasing on eBay? First, study reference materials that have been presented on this thread. Next go on eBay and decide on a tsuba purchase that is within your budget. Perhaps use this forum to contact more knowledgeable individuals and send pictures of the tsuba that the new collector wishes to purchase to get opinions if the tsuba is an actual Edo period (or before) tsuba and is not a fake or a reproduction. And as I stated before, these are just opinions of the members and there are no guarantees. Eventually, the new collector will have to take a chance. But the new collector of tsuba should arm themselves with as much knowledge as they can before making the purchase. My opinion.

Hi Pin Yin, I just wanted to share with you what I consider my prized possession of my tsuba collection. I purchased it on eBay, but not for my usual $150 dollars! It is a finely carved tsuba with a crane above and a turtle below. Those two symbols have deep symbolism in the Japanese culture. Notice how wonderfully carved the crane is. You can see the beautiful feathers, and even the grainy textures in its legs. The turtle is also nicely carved. Then on the reverse of the tsuba (called the ura side of the tsuba), notice how beautifully the waves are carved and seem to be in motion. It is one of my treasures!

Hello pin yin, About reliable eBay sellers. I sent you a personal message through the forum. I don't want to tie up this thread, and we can discuss stuff. In the meantime, my friend, maybe you could review the below thread-

Hi Charlie C., welcome to this great forum. I appreciate what you stated in your post. It was well stated and is a good guide for those that are starting a collection of tsuba. I agree that the money one wishes to spend most likely has to do with the eventual reselling of the piece. Since I have about 200 tsuba in my collection, my objective is for me to keep them and enjoy them and not resell them. There is a lot of learning to be had from even inexpensive tsuba. My philosopy is don't change a winning game, always change a losing game. I beleive that I am winning with my inexpensive purchases of tsuba on eBay. For me it is all about what one can afford at the time of purchase and what new motifs and designs can be added to the collection. Onward my friend!

So, pin yin. Here are some more tsuba in my collection that I purchased on eBay for about $150.00 U.S. I think you get the idea that there are still values to be had on eBay! The first picture shown below is a daisho (small and large sword) tsuba set.

Alex, And there is the difference between you and I. You stated- "My advice to newbies is if you plan on buying lots of mediocre tsuba for $150 (or less) a piece, don't, save and buy better examples. You will appreciate them more and probably re- sell them an hell of a lot faster." Also ypu stated- "Think maybe you are in for one hell of a learning curve when one day you sell some of your collection, that's being honest." I don't collect tsuba to resell them (or anything else that I collect). The "one hell of a learning curve" that you stated is not my concern. I am not looking for a profit from my collection. I collect to enjoy and keep what I have. Obviously, that is not what you do. You probably colllect to resell and make a profit. For you, I think it is all about the dollar bill. My opinion.

Alex, You stated- "Know enough to know that no amount of money should be wasted." What you consider a waste of money by others is not your decision to make. You are entitled to your opinion, just as other are entitled to consider what they determine as a waste of money. Have you seen my post on this thread of the tsuba I purchased on eBay? I would not consider those purchases a waste of money. Again, I was just trying to help the new guy out. What are you doing to help him? Are you advising him to spend his bankroll? My opinion

Well Alex, I was just trying to help the new guy out. You stated- "I was laughing at your buying tactic, not my reply. Its ridiculous logic. Anyways, not going to go around in circles again about wasting money and encouraging others to do the same." It may be ridiculous logic to you, but maybe not to a new collector that may have limited funds. I am not encouraging others to waste their money. From what I can derive from your statements, you think a new collector should waste their entire bankroll on a perfect tsuba that may end up being a fake or a reproduction. Like I stated before, I have seen where even knowledgeable collectors on this forum have gotten ripped off. Perhaps maybe with some judicious looking on eBay, a new collector of tsuba can find some great values like I have over the years. They can always ask for help and assistance from members of this forum before making a purchase. Are you a dealer of tsuba? You sure reply like you are. My opinion.

So Alex, From my entire post, once again someone picks out one sentence and comments on it (and then places what they consider a funny emoji about their reply). What are your thoughts about the rest of my post? Any comments on that?

Hey pin yin, Like jawob stated- “Seems the best way to come ahead is arm yourself with a lot of knowledge, time and patience. Very difficult hobby.” But then again I have seen over the years on various threads on this forum that even knowledgeable collectors are sometimes ripped off. Remember, there are no guarantees (that I have seen) given along with any tsuba purchase. Even the NBTHK papers that a collector will pay a lot extra for that may come with a tsuba could be incorrect or misleading in their description of the tsuba. Eventually, if you wish to collect tsuba you are going to have to make a purchase. I found that a good thing to do is find a highly experienced member on this forum where you can send pictures of the tsuba that you want to purchase and get their opinion of the tsuba before you purchase it. But it is only their opinion and again there is no guarantee that they are 100% correct. Perhaps finding what you consider a reputable dealer is good. But that will take some purchases of tsuba and time to figure that out (unless you can make contact with some very experienced members who maybe can direct you to a reputable dealer that sells tsuba in you price range – whatever that price range is). I have found that there are (what I consider to be) reputable sellers on eBay. But they will not consistently post tsuba on Ebay, it varies (of course) on what they purchase and then post on Ebay. So, it can take weeks before an Ebay seller that you determine as reputable will post his tsuba for sale. Again, my personal saying is if I don't spend a lot I can't get ripped off for a lot! Anyway, these are just my thoughts. Good luck and have fun with the hobby!

Hello pin yin! Welcome to this great forum. I have included some pictures of a small portion of my collection as you requested. I have bought all the tsuba shown on eBay for about $150.00 U.S. or less within about the last 3 years. Many members would probably not even consider collecting these type of tsuba because they probably wouldn't consider them high end enough. But I enjoy collecting these low end tsuba (they don't strain my wallet, and if I do get bit with purchasing a fake or reproduction I don't lose a lot of money!). If you know how to discern an actual Edo period tsuba from a fake or reproduction tsuba, I think there are still deals to be had on Ebay! And someone has to give these tsuba a good home!

Well, to finally address some of Jean’s last post. He stated- “But I have come to the insight that the whole discussion has nothing to do with Japanese culture or TSUBA.” I, on the other hand, think this whole thread and discussion has everything to do with TSUBA. I will refrain from answering the other parts of his post since the last time I did that my post was eliminated and I received a warning and a 7-day suspension on the forum. Onward!