John C

Jeff: Hello. Not sure what is going on with this one. I do not think the handle is from a late model 95 (see pic). The knurls should be flat not rounded and the decorative "menuki" used as a screw set is missing. No habaki but a pierced tsuba. Seems cobbled together to me. But need shots of the tang to be sure. If it were a type 95, it would have a serial number near the tang. The leather cover and brown tassel, if original, makes me think gunzoku if the rig is legit. More pictures of the entire blade would be helpful.

Hoshi: I would also add as a control the particular judges for any given shinsa, as their evaluation is subjective, this could influence the number of K or TJ issued. It is possible one set of judges are more forgiving than another set. John C.

Very nice display of everyday natural items being used for a utilitarian purpose. John C.

Not sure about the blade, however I find the cover unusual. The burlap seems new and the use of suede leather is very unusual. In addition, the end of the cover is not finished like I would expect (just cut and sewn rather than rounded). To me, the cover looks newer than ww2. And the steel barely passes the magnet test? That would concern me. Even an island sword would be real steel, albeit roughly processed. As for the mold smell, I find it common for things from Japan. I have multiple books from the 70s and 80s that all smell like that. Maybe the seller's estimate that it is a reproduction is correct. Just my two cents, of course. John C.

Thank you, Ron. This gives me a good reference for distinguishing between the two. John C.

Ronald: I've heard of toggles, however never studied them. Are there any key indicators of the differences between toggles and netsuke? I have seen some toggles online but cannot tell the difference straight away. John C.

Hey Colin: I'm not arguing the point just want to offer a definition. In sociology circles, we call this "conspicuous consumption." The goal of the rich here is, not to own and admire an artistic object, but rather to display their wealth to the rest of the "proletariate" as they see us. John C.

Adam: I have some that have the assembly number written on them and I have seen them with the maker's name. My guess on this one would be maker's name. John C.

@Iaido dude Steve: You may be interested in this piece. John C.

Pete: I realize this is just nickpicking, however it may help in your research. I know nothing of saddles, however it could either be Edo period if it were for samurai or Meiji if were not. The Meiji restoration disbanded the samurai class in 1868. So the saddle could be made in the Meiji period, however it would not technically be made for a samurai. If it is indeed legitimate (made for a samurai), then it would probably date from the Edo period. John C.

I believe Tadatsuna (upside down) showa 19 (1944). Please wait for confirmation, however. Could be the first listing on the attached. John C.

Yes. The daiji writing. John C.

Ah. Didn't look closely enough. John C.

Oh I have no intention of buying. Just testing my judging skills on real vs fake. But I also thought 400 was over the top for these. John C.

Unless recent, I would also guess the stain used on the box. Blood oxidizes and the fingerprints would turn a light brown or gray color over time. John C.

Could the OP smith be this one? John C.

I think you are right, Sam. It's not just late, it's too late. The casting is so poor I could not imagine it being put on a sword to be carried into battle. I also beleve it to be cast from another late tsuba. John C.

Could you be more specific? The inscription or the branch decoration? John C.

Here is another example from a thread a couple of years ago. John C.

Ouch. Four tsuba for sale on Shopgoodwill already at 400 dollars. At least one is a clear fake. Two might be real. But 400 dollars??? One has a weird cutout around the nakago ana. https://shopgoodwill.com/item/267845520 John C.

I'm getting better. But still not confident enough to pull the trigger on one. I take a pessimistic view and assume everything is a fake, so not sure I will ever get one. John C.

Bryan: I'm not 100 percent sure, however I think the white paint is katakana for Katsube. Possibly the owner? John C.

# 3 looks the roughest. John C.

Jonathan: I'm sure you have already seen the info on the Hosho lineage, however here are a couple of snipets that may help your research, one from Jussi. The maker's name Kunikane lasted thirteen generations until the early Meiji period. And they all served the Date clan exclusively, forging high-quality blades. And they pursued their ancestor's sword-forging styles from Hosho school in Yamato province (Today's Nara prefecture). And in Shinto tradition Sendai Kunikane lineage is usually listed under Öshu due to their geographical location. So I think easier format might be - Shinto → Öshu → Sendai Kunikane School → lesada John C.

A military sword from Japan? It could be an island-made sword from ww2. If so, there could be a reason it was labeled as reproduction. John C.