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Hi Simon, Nice Tsuba, I do like the design. I have a similar one that I attributed to 8th generation Akasaka, Tadatoki. It’s smaller than yours, 59mm x 59mm and 4mm thick and has some mokume folds. All the best Colin

Could be WW2? I have a similar plain mokko-gata steel tsuba that came on a civilian mounted showato blade. Looks like it has been mounted with the shadow of the seppa visible.

Hi Florian and Jean, Thanks for your comments, I will study further. I agree looking at it again the sharpness of the cut outs make it younger than at first glance. Many thanks

Hi Soren, Thanks for the response. You are correct the reference books I've looked at do state that the hitsu-ana tend to be asymmetrical. I'd like to hear from the experts as well. Thanks again.

Dear NMB, A little help please. I picked this tsuba up recently and whilst not great condition I thought it had an air of Ko-Akasaka and worth investigation, tsuba dimensions below: Maru-gata Maru-gata mimi H: 74.5mm W: 73mm Mimi: 7.2mm Seppa dai: 6.1mm Nakago-ana: 27mm x 9mm What drew me to it was the narrow, relatively pointed seppa dai, possible early saya shape and it seems to have a classic Akasaka thick maru gata mimi. Seems to show engraved leaves and clouds?, not sure what the two pointed sukashi elements are with dots and carving to either side of the hitsu-ana, I'm sure I've seen this somewhere else but can't think where? Any help and thoughts would be appreciated?

Thanks Curran.

Thanks for the responses. Agree it is a difficult one to pigeon hole.

Any comment on this one?

Evening, Picked this small mokko tsuba up recently and would appreciate some advice on potential school please? My thoughts are Yamakichibei or Katchushi, with the Amida yasurime and quite thin plate? Tsuba size: Height: 65mm Width: 61mm Mimi thk: 2.6mm - 2.8mm Seppa dai thk: 2.8mm - 2.95mm Nakago ana: 26.5mm x 7.5mm Hitsu-ana plugged with gold foil on copper. Many thanks

Alan/Dale, Thanks for the responses. I agree Alan that was my first impression when I saw the one in the catalogue but there are some differences as Dale has pointed out. The one in the catalogue also shows the dragons tail pocking out of the waves at about 8 o'clock next to the seppa-dai. They are so alike hence my attribution to the same artist, Yasumitsu. Close up of the tiger who may need to see a dentist at some point!!

Hi, I picked this up recently, I was a bit unsure about it from the pictures from the auction I bought it from, it was a mixed lot along with a set of 200lb scales!, but there was something about it. Having received it and given it a bit of a clean with soap and water, it was pretty dirty, I had a look through the reference books I have and think this is from the Nukagawa Mito school. More specifically I think this is by Yasumitsu, who worked around the 1800, according to Haynes - 11197.0. I came to this conclusion from finding an almost identical, but smaller tsuba in the Carlo Monzino collection catalogue, Lot 345, image below. Both these tsuba seem to be in the style of the Nara school, Lot 116 in the catalogue shows another of similar style attributed to Toshinaga. The tsuba looks like it has been cleaned with polish at some time in the past, given the white deposit on the faces of the nakago-ana and sukashi elements, plus what had built up in the wave and cloud grooves that I cleaned out. I feel it’s lost its patina as well, with the only original bit on the back of the tiger where it’s not been polished, but luckily not too much definition. It still needs a bit of attention and any advice on how to do this would be welcome, I seem to have read somewhere denatured alcohol could help to clean out the awkward grooves? If anyone has any further information on the Nukagawa school or images of Yasumitsu’s work I would be grateful? Tsuba dimensions: Height: 72mm Width: 68mm Mimi thk: 4.8mm Seppa dai thk: 5.5mm Nakago ana: 24.5mm x 6mm It looks like it’s been mounted at some point, as well as the tagane, one of the clouds below the dragon has been trimmed to accept a seppa. Thanks

Hi Ford, That's a very generous offer and I can't refuse, PM sent. It will be of real interest to the NMB members to see the transformation.

All, Thanks for all the comments and discussion added to this thread, I didn't expect to gain so much information on metallurgy or chemistry but that's the benefits of having experts on the Board. I've added some further shots showing what could be gaps (layering) within the nakago, consistent on both sides in the same area exposed by fitting adjustments? The pictures also show that the corrosion (sorry I'm using this term) within the sukashi elements looks to be the same as on the surface. I do believe this is now due to rusting over time but still can't quite explain the seppa dai unless the seppa have been very tight against each side of the tsuba from the tsuka/habaki, giving some form of protection?

Thanks Piers. Found this Saito kamon.

Jean, I have to agree, when I first received it I thought it had some form of hammer finish! I'll see what I can do, at least it won't get any worse. Still not sure which school it's from? Thanks again.

Thanks John and Grev. I'll keep giving it a rub on/with a cotton cloth to try and improve the appearance.

Here's a couple of closer shots of the item.

Hi Jean, Thanks for the quick response, you are absolutely correct about the tekkotsu, my thought was the corrosion had exposed some form of crystaline structure within the lump but I like your theory of a piece of blade stuck in the mimi from a blow! I'll try get some closer shots of the item, but it does actually look like it would fit the shape of the dings you see in blades.

Hi, A recent purchase from a UK auction house, along with another tsuba which I may post later. Unfortunately it's a bit corroded except for the seppa dai but I liked the design of waves and Chidori and thought I would 'save' it (didn't pay a lot for both). As for school I'm not too sure, Kyo-Shoami possibly, any help here welcome, I'm sure I've seen this design before? You can still see some of the carving on the waves, in the right light. What's also interesting, as a result of the pitting is what I think is a tekkotsu that has been exposed on the mimi, at 9 o'clock on the second image below and about the same position in the third, is this correct? Dimensions: Height: 72.5mm Width: 72.5mm Mimi thk: 5.5mm Seppa dai thk: 5.95mm Nakago ana: 29mm x 9mm As the title of this thread says it's been loved by someone over the years given the number of tagane-ato on the front and back, indicating re-mounting several times. Many thanks for any insight, I'll keep working on the TLC!

Thanks for replying Glen. Yes, silhouette of ginger is a good call. Bob Haynes entry for the lot states 'the fine rope rim shows the skill of the Sado smiths who favoured this style'. Would also be interested to see any other examples out there?

Hi, A nice recent purchase from Grev (Kissakai) which didn't have the school identified. After some research I'm leaning towards Sado Island school, Sado Sanzaemon (1711 - 1735). There's a similar Kyo-sukashi style, with the rope mimi identified as a Sado Island example in Haynes catalogue #5, page 40/41, lot 127, image at below. I also think the carvings around the hitsu-ana on my tsuba are some form of bean pod? Thoughts welcome, thanks. The tsuba dimensions: H - 69.5mm W - 64mm Mimi thk - 4.85mm Seppa dai thk - 4.65mm

Just received my third tsuba from Grev, very pleased. Delivered within a day. Thanks Grev

Agree Dale, there's something rustic about them. Thanks again for your help.

Hi Dale, Thanks for the response, you've hit the nail on the head! There are a couple of pieces of ten-zogan on the tsuba. One at 9 o'clock in the first image and another at 10 in the second. Wasn't sure about these at first but now makes sense. Thanks again.

Thanks Jean, maybe my rose tinted glasses are a wee bit too strong!!!