Matsunoki

Spot on Piers! Many thanks. I’d never have got that.

Thanks Piers…yes it is Takafusa….a late Edo Kinko tsuba maker. Second one anyone? Thanks!

Please may I ask for help with these two Mei? Many thanks in advance. All the best. Colin

Hi Robert. They vary within the £2200-£2900 range. That isn’t really much use to you without seeing the blades but they are all very decent pieces and everything I’m selling is way below what they cost me especially with nice quality koshirae. The ones in shirasaya are less . “priced to sell” is the expression I believe!

Just a few images and descriptions of some of what I am taking to the 15th Sept Birmingham Arms Fair. As a reminder, I am NOT a sword dealer but have decided to sell the majority of my collection. Obviously this is more relevant to UK members as it is not currently viable to post overseas. By all means pm me if you need further info. We can always discuss on the phone if necessary. There will also be some tsuba. I am happy to consider any sensible part exchange on quality mixed metal tsuba or good Japanese metalwork. Donations to NMB will be made on any sales/trades although I am not actually offering things for sale here. Hope to see you at the Fair. See below. Best Colin

Thanks Piers, you’ve nailed it. I just could not see the second Kanji (nothing new there!) He is Hamano school very late Edo per Haynes.

Many thanks indeed in advance for any help on this. All the best. Colin

Hi Bruce…yes, had a couple of these years ago….search Efu no Tachi. ….. https://www.sothebys...ma-minamoto-masatomo

Katana? Wakizashi? Tanto? Tachi? Age? I am selling my collection and have some papered signed pieces. Depends what you are looking for. By all means PM me. Best Colin

And what did you learn there Piers during your presumably short stay? Doubtless your fellow guests had interesting skills🙂

Whether we knew him or not, and obviously I did not, the loss of such an artisan as described by Piers is very sad and also very sobering. RIP.

That is far far better than many of our citizens enjoy, especially the elderly or disabled. That just shows how screwed we are. Where is that image of?

No room in our prisons so you’re safe Brian.

Thanks Alex. Your persistence has clarified the issue and proves that it’s best not to assume anything. It’s not the answer we wanted but at least we now know. The issue of how Customs/Border Force will interpret these various laws and guidances is another matter entirely. They after all are Govt. employees and are not likely to “take any chances”. There may be (more) trouble ahead.

I first came across Ford around 40 years ago when my wife and I started dealing in Meiji metalwork. Back then he was devoting much of his time to restoring such pieces for one of the Worlds top dealers. As such I was very surprised when he said to me….yep, send stuff and I’ll see what I can do. At that time I had no first hand experience of his skill and knowledge. Many parcels travelled between East Anglia and his home in Chippenham. Each one came back showing no signs whatsoever of the damages or of his unbelievable undetectable touch. Nothing ever look like it had ever had any problems, nothing ever looked restored. Missing inlay, dents and deformations, depatination etc etc…..all magically disappeared. He welcomed me to his home a few times, mostly to collect finished pieces that were best not left to the postal system. Once he told me not to send something as he was wheelchair bound. I was shocked, he had never mentioned his serious health issues to me. We lost touch when he moved to SA but upon his return we exchanged via a few emails. I was no longer dealing. It was sad that he was troubled by some of his experiences on this Forum, he asked me not to use it as a communication route. I count myself privileged that he helped me. A metalwork magician. RIP Ford, and thank you.

Just for a very quick comparison, here are 3 wakizashi with similar sized tsuba to yours. Actually one is smaller than yours. Of course yours is far finer quality ……more likely for the sword of a wealthy late Edo merchant? Anyway, it’s not an abnormal size but it is a lovely tsuba.

Nice quality very attractive tsuba. Probably for a compact wakizashi. I’ve got similar sized tsuba on original wakizashi koshirae. Could be for a Tanto but maybe a little bit too big.

Nope, never……but that does not look like Japanese workmanship to me. Nakago ana.???

Shouldn’t they be updating us? Incompetence and a “couldn’t care less” attitude. Someone is trying to buy Royal Mail (and thus also Parceforce)….hope he succeeds and wakes them up a bit (after sacking most of the useless management)

Yep it’s Fukurokujo. He is laying down looking skywards. His vastly elongated forehead gives him away.

Hi Yoon yes…menuki can be a bit of a challenge sometimes. I'm pretty certain the top one depicts Hotei, one of the “seven lucky gods” often depicted with children and his sack of treasure…as on this menuki. I see Jay has suggested Fukurokuju for the second - also a “lucky god” so that would make sense as a pair.

Not looking for a fight (don’t want to end up on my back) but I do think that all the advice re values, saleability, quality etc etc was given with the best interest of the OP at heart. OK it got a bit off track and heated but let’s remember the intention was always very obviously to help and guide someone and save them making possible “mistakes”. At least the OP has a better idea of what he is buying. If he choses to continue down the same path that’s up to him but at least he is armed with a degree of harsh reality. Hell I’d have welcomed that 40 years ago!

Long time since I shot a 45. Please excuse my lack of ammo knowledge. Can’t even remember what we had way back….I think it and the farm 1911 originally came from a USA WW2 bomber base!…..probably through a hole in the hedge

Do you have any idea how childish that sounds?, and you are the first person I’ve seen on this forum telling someone you’d put him “flat on his back”. Reminds me of the school playground. We don’t need crap like that on the Forum.

Maybe something like the one on the left hitting at an angle. Guesswork….we’ll never know.