Okan

It's special ordered if I understood correctly. From whom I have no idea. You can watch the full video here, mini katana is at the end.

An old book I read depicted Tsuba as " Samurai's only jewellery that he could show"

I hate snakes.

Was just watching a sword show on NHK and this came up. Mini Katana! What she told is that this was made in the traditional way, tamahagane, real hamon, fittings and everything...Would you collect these?

Looks something in between I have no experience with these but want to learn the answer as well.

Not so scary but great work for sure. Check out the detail on how light reflects from the lantern.

Noah, if you have the budget and living in the states, why don't you buy a blade in polish from a member in the board?

Makes me happy seeing Bruce interested in these...Better late than never

Dear Bruce, it's called udenuki-no-ana. You can find many examples if you google it.

This is a wakizashi not katana. That saya is for a katana not for this wakizashi.

Yes and also the greyish veins around it

Here is a collection&collector that I envy with 270 swords

Thank you guys!

I live like 600meters to Rijksmuseum so scared

From western collectors point of view.."True Daisho" is known as matching smiths, matching koshirae & fittings..For me, matching koshiae & fittings ordered for 2 random blades from different smiths would do

A great article by Markus. https://nihonto.com/samurai-income/

I'm sure they had more important stuff to care about Also low-mid ranking samurai couldn't afford it.

Although posted many times, I was thinking of posting this again Thank you George!

It's on auction with an estimation between 1.5k - 3k.. And yes being upside-down makes it unique and original.(just joking )

This one is so cute!

Yes Barry probably that.

Here is a Tsuba I would never own. (I'm serious) I much prefer a dragon to a snake..

Hi fellas, Can you please take a look at the shinogi ji and tell me if you know how this veins would form? due to age? (it's an old blade)

Description of the second pic: Ohatsu (お初), faithful servant of the young court lady Onoe (尾上), cleans her sword with the zori (草履) sandal with which lady Iwafuji (岩藤) had beaten her beloved mistress. Onoe, in fact, unable to bear the humiliation suffered, took her own life and when Ohatsu learned of the suicide, through the letter testament that here she holds between the lips, decided to avenge the young lady by killing the despotic Iwafuji. Following the revenge, Ohatsu was rewarded for her loyalty and received as a reward the name and position at court of her mistress Onoe.

Maybe we are being too picky about it