Cookie_Monstah

Greetings, I acquired this tsuba yesterday. Can I get some help with identifying the maker? Also if you can confirm the object of artwork. It seems as though it is a monkey. Hope all is well, Khalid

They would have to upload their whole archive into the LLM as the basis of reference material. Doing so makes the information no longer proprietary putting them out of business.

I am hoping for Tokubetsu Hozon level papers. I want it to look how it should (blackened by the oxide) not rusted.

Hi Jean, The tsuba looks like this now. I'm pleased with how it looks. It is going out for shinsa now and I figured less is more for that purpose. I don't want to damage the oxide and have it turn bare metal. Let me know how it looks. It's glistening because I put a light coat of choji oil on it. I used (dawn) dishwashing soap on it with a dishwashing sponge (the soft sponge side), then i oiled it, let it sit and used a nylon brush (slightly rougher than a tooth brush. I soaked it in oil and rubbed it with a microfiber cloth.

How long should iron fittings be left to boil in distilled water? I would do just plain dishwashing soap overnight. Then boil to get whatever is left off. I assume the fittings will turn a reddish-brown once the red rust is exposed.

Greetings everyone, Can a sword be mounted after it is polished? I thought it was recommended to do it before it is polished. This packaged beautifully. Best, Khalid

Greetings everyone, I would like to find out what is the best way to take care of loose habaki and koshirae. The objective is not to restore but to preserve and remove excess brown rust and preservative oil and/or grease that may have discolored them. My best, Khalid

Greetings everyone, Just like the title says I would like to draw on your feedback on a correlation between mount and blade quality. Are they usually consistent with one another? I've found some interesting swords in lieutenant and above ranked Type 94 and Type 98 mounts. I still get excited when I see them come out of the woodwork because you never know. I've been offered two o-suriage tachi blades so far. They are drying up state side. All the best, Khalid

It is a wakizashi. It took me a while to understand the significance of length in value. Jimmy plans on evaluating it at the San Fransisco sword show. As with any sword I look to see if it is "good enough" to warrant an exceptional polish. I've also come to find that mumei swords are usually of lesser pedigree than zaimei ones. Then there's mumei, suriage or o-suriage ones. And, ultimately taste is a factor as well.

Hi Lex, The sword appears to be metallurgically sound. I found it appealing due to its Miji-hada like appearance. I do not know if that really is the hada because the sword is out of polish and might reveal something that is hidden. This can be a good and/or bad thing.

Greetings everyone, I while back I was fortunate enough to be able to acquire a sword from a gun and coin shop that features signatures of two smiths. The signatures are believed to read as Kii Kuni Tsunahiro and Kami Minamoto Norihiro from around 1650-1700. The sword is in exceptional condition and will be sent to Jimmy Hayashi for polishing. Do I have a papering advantage given that it is signed by two smiths? I would be psyched if it papers above tokubetsu hozon. It came with a modest copper habaki in excellent condition. I'd be more than happy to feature it in the San Francisco sword show after it is restored. I'd really like to have it professionally photographed as well. Let us know what you think, Khalid

Dear forum, Moses did my first restoration on a sword several years back. I was in my late 20s at the time. I am now 31 years old. Age wise almost the entire forum and Moses knew and still know more than me. This was the sword that I picked to restore (see link bellow). The sword was a beginners level sword and the restoration was commensurate to that. I believe that Moses is capable of substantial work through his experience more so than by formal training. I wouldn't send him anything capable of papering as juyo or above because what he charges does not reflect the same level of skill as that can be found in Japan. He's a gentleman to deal with and is straight forward in his work. Would I use him again, yes, but not for the caliber of swords in my crosshairs. https://nihontoantiques.com/project/bizen-sword-fss-896/ Be well, Khalid

2nd picture

Greetings, This is my 1st tsuba ever. What can you guys tell me about it?

Hi Brian, Can you describe the sori and hamon on yours? Was it made in emulation of an older style work? Thanks, Khalid

I looked at this again and the wear is too uniform and indicative of emulation. I do not advise traveling to for further examination.

Habaki is yucky at best. Saya might be WW2 (check inside stitching). Newer stitching is no bueno and would indicate sword is dead on arrival and not worth discussing further.

This I will read later.

I am under the impression that these are indicative of off-site manufactured blades that are vetted for military acceptance. The scabbard is dented an did not come with an officer's tassel to indicate rank of ownership. I had a monster O-suriage blade with 4 mekugi-ana spaced out over about 20 cm apart. It came with a near mint but dirty blue and brown (lieutenant level) tassel. The sword was sold to someone deserving of it as I thought the metal was too thin to risk restoration on. I still have the tassel and sketch of the nakago. I can't wait to find out what happened with it.

Hi again, I would have to look at it in hand to examine the fittings. I'm perplexed as to why someone would take a Heian sword to war. Also the oxidation looks newer on the tang. Could it be a newer blade made in the older style?

Hi Sam, Define interesting in this context please. I have to wait until at least August for it to get looked at. Hopefully it's flawless.

No star stamp or a trace of one. They are usually a pronounced marking.

If you know you know. This is assumed to be a loosing gamble. Listing agent: Zev Antiques. If it made it to war mounts then...

Any sword photographers near Boston? Asking for future reference.