Soshin

Hi Pete, Yes I listed a link to Jim Gilbert's website in my references. I also contact Jim to discuss this fine tsuba. I agree with not taking Sasano dating as orthodoxy but after comparing the published examples in his book, my tsuba, and what was written on the NTHK paper it all looks consistent. Just would like to see early to middle Muromachi Period Kanayama tsuba outside of the Sasano books to see how similar or different it is to my tsuba. I have some old English Token Bijutsubu issues in English I will check. I will also do more searching among my own reference library.

Hi Steve, Yes you did a great job with the kantei and was only a single point away from real point score on the worksheet. Talk about being able to quantify quality. The hyōan "bottle gourd" has a Chinese cultural origin and deep association with Taoism. I agree with you in terms of the tea taste of the Momyama Period. The thickness of the plate isn't as great as some Momoyama Period Kanayama and Owari examples I have seen. I also noticed that different layers of iron are visible along the inside surfaces of the sukashi. I have observed it in this Kanayama tsuba as well: http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/uploads/3/0/1/5/3015097/6061208_orig.jpg?225 Do you or anyone else have a Owari or Kanayama tsuba example from the early to middle Muromachi Period to share? It would be helpful for my study.

Hi Everyone, Attached are two photos of the tsuba along with the NTHK paper. Here is my write of the result of the tsuba kantei. Thanks for participating in the kantei and I hope your learned something. Feel free to discuss or ask questions.

Hi Everyone, As of tomorrow we are just one week away from the 2015 Tampa Show. Bob Haynes is going to be thier with a table I will likely being a copy of one of his books for him to sign. I will be there for all three days Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and sharing a table. Safe travels and see you at the show.

Hi, In answer to your question absolutely not. Please follow the advice already presented by Grey, Chris, Tom, and others. Check out the sales section of NMB I remember seeing a nice Ko-Uda katana in polish and new shira-saya with a NBTHK paper for sale at a reasonable price. More often then not these old blades are greatly shorted to be used as a katana in the Edo Period having once been a tachi or o-daichi this removes the sigurature, changes the shape, and overall length. I am very suspicious of what I am seeing on this now closed eBay auction. Buyer beware...

Hi Denis, Not a lawyer or anything so correct me if I am wrong but if the United States Postal Service was used in the commiting of a crime it is a federal offensive in USA. It is the responsibility of the Postal Inspection Service to investigate such cases.

Hi William, What a nice tanto. Sorry to hear you having so much trouble and I do hope you get back. Do you live in the same country as Mr. J.C. Perrin? If so might be able to contact the local and national law enforcement authorities. If you live in the USA and shipped the tanto via USPS to Mr. J.C. Perrin then I would contact the USPS postal inspection service with a fraud complain.

Hi Everyone, Agree with Steve and Chris comments. Nothing much left for me to say on this topic.

Hi, Very nice tsuba. Thanks for sharing the photo from Facebook.

Hi Everyone, A quick bump to the tsuba kantei topic. Thanks for everyone who has participated so far in the tsuba kantei. I will start to try and write something up tomorrow after work and have it posted by Thursday including a photo of the NTHK paper along with the tsuba.

Hi, Tampa, Florida Feburary 2016. The specific days have not been set. It is being run by NTHK-NPO. Chris Bowen is a director of the NTHK-NPO.

Hi Everyone, I have a signed o-tanto in good polish that I was advised to submit to the NTHK-NPO as well. I don't think it would be worth submitting it to the NBTHK in Japan. I will likely use the mail-in service being run by Chris in 2016. Not sure I will be attending the Tampa show next year.

Hi Everyone, Here is a scan of a photo of some of Yonemitsu Tahei work that was referenced by NBTHK in the magazine article (02-2010, No. 637) that Peter posted as a reference for Tanabe Yasuhira. Both wonderful tsuba examples are clearly done in a Hayashi School style. Sometime in the future I would love to have an example of Yonemitsu-sama fine work in my humble collection.

Ford, Yes I consider those type of things all the time when examining iron tsuba but will never do any type of destructive testing. The mass of the tsuba is 70.9 grams.

Hi Everyone, Decided to offer up a newly acquired and photographed tsuba of mine for a Kantei game. It has been issued a NTHK paper and I also have its original shinsa worksheet. Here is what I am looking for in the answers if possible along with some type of reasoning. The measurements of the tsuba are 7.5 cm wide by 7.4 cm high. The thickness at the rim is about 5.0 mm. What is the approximate age? [Examples: Late Edo Period or Early Jōmon Period] School or group that made the tsuba? [Examples: Goto School or Ko-Katchūshi] Province and/or major city where it was produced? [Examples: Settsu Province and/or Edo] What is the design(s)? [Examples: Rain Dragon or Shishi] What is the quality level of the piece as evaluated by the NTHK? Did tsuba received a shintesho, kanteisho, or yashu-saku level papers from the NTHK? What was the approximate point score? [Examples: kanteisho, 70 pts.] The tsuba is not listed on my website. If you have any questions please send me a PM as to leave space for replies to the topic for answers. The shinsa will run a week starting today and then I will post a detail answer to each question and include a photo of the NTHK paper along with the tsuba.

Hi Everyone, Quick update I will be sharing a table all three days of the Tampa Japanese Sword Show on Feburary 20, 21, and 22, 2015 at the Tampa Airport Marriott. Feel free to stop by, say hello, and see many of the tsuba on my website in person. Here is a link for more information about the show. http://www.southeastshowsauctions.com/tampa-2015.html

Hi Chris and James; Thanks for the posts full of very good points of consideration.

Hi Eveyone, Website update for February 2015 is now live. In terms of new sale items I have added a nice Kinko Kenjo tsuba gallery #1. I have also posted the full write up of a very nice Ko-Katchūshi tsuba that sold last month to a NMB member. The homepage has additional photos of a really nice menuki set that was discussed a few months ago. The link to my website is below.

Hi Everyone, I think I am starting to understand Junichi's convoluted topic a bit better. I agree with Guido and Brian but then again my experience in Japan is very limited to mostly buying pices at stores and going to museums. I hope to go back to Japan for a visit soon. I am fairly sure the dynamics of collector groups and shows in the USA is very different then Japan.

Hi Howard, In some sects of Buddhism Bishamonten is one of the four heavenly kings (I.e. gods) and is associated with the northern direction as well as war. He along with the three other kings are associated with and are the attendants for Kannon Butatsu. He like all the other heavenly kings has his own associated Bonji character that is the seed syllable of his mantra.

Hi Everyone, Clearly see what I think is worn black lacquer on the surface but then again the photos and lighting are not the best. Having the tsuba in hand in good lighting and it would be easy to tell.

Hi Guido, That makes sense. I have seen this Kanji for " ko 工" before it is also used in the very general terms "Ko-Kinko 古金工" and "Kinko 金工". It basically only means artisan...

Hi Hamish, Your tsuba is yamagane with nice patina and a few layers of kuro-urushi on it. I sold a similar tsuba a few weeks ago made for a kodachi that dated from the early to mid Muromachi Period. The kozuka hitsu-ana is likely not original. I like these types of early tsuba.

Hi Peter, My reply to your post have been lost. Thank you. Yonemitsu Tahei was the student of Tanabe Yasuhira who worked in a Hayashi School style. Still looking for references that link Tanabe Yasuhira as a student of the 5th generation Shimizu master Shigenaga who was active in the in the mid 1800s. From how the nakago hitsu-ana is finished on my tsuba it looks like the work of Shigenaga or one of this many students who were all know to copy his style down to the finish of the nakago hitsu-ana. Attached are some cropped photos of both sides of the nakago-hitsu ana for reference. Omote Ura

Hi Junichi, Here is something I found on the topic your posted about. It is from Elliott D. Long website (http://www.shibuiswords.com/tsuba.htm#tanko) and it quotes Robert E. Haynes. I have updated my website and added what I feel is a good example of a "Tanko" tsuba circa the Muromachi Period: http://www.tsubaotaku.com/#!gallery3/c211q. I put it in the category of Ko-Katchūshi tsuba but it also has some characteristics of Ko-Tôshô tsuba. It is the second tsuba from the top of the webpage. I had a very wonderful conversation with Robert Haynes back in November and he told me that he will be attending the Tampa show later this month. I am looking forward to meeting him and Elliott.