Baba Yaga

May I suggest you look into doing a Video and Audio book on your website which can be monetized on a subscription. Printing especially in a low volume marketing plan is way too costly. I've seen this done many- many times and it works very well. This is the future for exactly what you're trying yo accomplish. Thanks for all your hard work

The J/K after the comment was for joke. The Tsuba is just brushed with something foreign. It's no joke that tsubas have been "touched up".

Old fingernail polish, wouldn't want to bite those nails. Should of used the gold flake color, price would of gone up. ooopps, giving away old dealer secrets. J/K could always be exception 10001, and that just what it may be.

That's a great example of Suriage I've never seen before. Kind of like the optical illusion picture of the young lady, or old witch. Which do you see? https://www.pinterest.com/pin/510666045218753518/

The Yen was 30% higher to the dollar back then. The Yen keeps falling to the dollar so...

The Yari , Ken and other PoleArms were the weapon of choice. I used to see a lot of them years back, but not anymore. They should of outnumbered swords by far. The Yanone was another high volume item I rarely see anymore. I'm quite proficient with a recurve and used to shot at the Archery club, now I walk out my door. I "guess" the Yari is like the $2 bill and everyone holds onto them.

For a few hundred I would keep it, but for a few grand it would hit my wallet. Will see what the other Tsuba collectors I trust in hand will say. Bunny on Easter is pretty clever

It's not your fault at all. I can't take a good photo of something to save my life. There are some people who have mastered the art of photography where you can zoom in 10x, but very few of us can.

Don't you have enough to worry about in SF? They want all your guns, knives and spoons just like UK land.

Making judgement on bad lighting and poor photos is for a keyboard jockey. Also old, or poor polish, as in a juvenile Togi is also pragmatic.

Light's not good on the photo. With that said, I can see the file marks VERY easily. What does that tell you.

I shipped the Nobuie Tsuba off yesterday for Authentication and photos with a big insurance price. I'm terrible at photos and I mean terrible. When and if it's authenticated, I'll post.

Kamikaze sword j/k

It's $18k The way I purchased this 18 years ago was really strange too. Me and the wife were driving down antique alley in Marin County. I pulled into this old army depot store and asked the owner if he had any Japanese swords. He said no, but he had some parts he thought went to a sword. He pulled out this old box and there was this old Tsube with fuchi kashira. I asked how much, he said $65 and I bought it. At the very minute an Asian couple came in all excited giggling and ask to buy said Tsuba. The owner pointed at me and told them I just bought it. You should of seen the look on the Asians couples face. The Asian man walked right up to my face ( not the thing to do with me) say's, "that belongs to me". Again ( not the thing to do with me). My wife gave me that look of don't do it. I told the Asian man my gain, your loss and walked out the door. If he would of been nice to me, I would of sold it to him for $100 and not thought twice. I never studied Tsuba, I like Edo soten tsuba like most.

WOW WOW WOW $$$$$$$ I can't be this lucky. I thought it was some scam, or something. It's deep in a box with some bubble wrap along with others that are probably worth a barrel of cash.

Thanks Marco and I hear you.

Cool, I'd tell you how much that sword is worth and a lot more, but it's probably against forum rule 1001

Did the dealer acknowledge all the Kizu before you asked, because the photos supplied don't show. Always buy the sword not the papers.

There are several kizu/kitaeware flaws on the blade and they are visible through the images. However, I can tell you that there is no serious flaw. Considering the history, current conditions are quite natural and tolerable. This blade was forged in the Nambokucho era, over 600 years ago. It has a rich history and compared with other swords with the same tachi, it is natural. The Hamon and the Boshi are clear and the faint Utsuri is visible. In hand, this blade appears to be mature and robust. This answer was in response to a question about the partially erased Kikumon/Ichi: It is not a Kikumon, but someone probably engraved Kikkumon and ichi to try to be recognized as a Kikugosaku. Kikugosaku swords mostly became national treasures, which were forged for the Gotoba Emperor in the early Kamakura Period. I think the style and shape of the sword resembles that. Later, it appears as if someone tried to grind the non-legitimate Kikugosaku, but you can still see a little of the symbol. NBTHK recognized it as Mumei and not Kikugosaku. That answers all the question for me NOT buying the sword. Why go any further in picking it apart?

I own one which Jim Gilbert authenticated 18 years ago. Maybe I should send it for papers. Looks as good as the one AOI sold. Bought it for $65 at a military depot. I never was into tsuba but for that price YA.

you are correct about what I mean by welding. I came to nihonto appreciation through bladesmithing, and in that world “welding” primarily refers to bonding two surfaces by forging, so both folding of tamahagane and final construction (kobuse, etc) would be called welding. I understood what you were speaking of. I have been involved with fabrication at a very high degree. I'm glad to see you've done the research and understand the processes.

Looks like I mentioned it.

Welding is an acronym for bonding AKA melting together. He doesn't mean Mig tig gas stick plasma. I hope!

Check out a few youtube videos on TAMAHAGANE and sword forging. That may put you into the right direction. I think what you're seeing is what we call Kizo but really can't tell because of photos http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kizu.htm Here in another on laminations http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/laminate.htm Read that, so we can understand each other more and get back with any questions.

Are you interested in what looks like the soft core underneath the polished hard core finish?