Tohagi

Maybe a training incident during Batodo or Iaï, it happens... looks a blade cut to me. Best regards, Éric

...in the second picture, in the habaki side, it seems shallows white utsuri (before the hitatsura coming from the mune). I don't think it is hadori made, but I still a beginer. The sword have been given as Sue Koto.? I could search in books... Best regards Éric VD

Just 50, I had my first nihonto at 27 ... Best, Éric VD

I'll surely do, thank you. Best regards, Éric VD

Yes, it's possible. The difficult point is to find an old enough piece of "same" with the same shade of cream white and the same size of nodes. The repair have to be very carefull to be invisible. To find the right"same " you probably have to ask to a sayashi or a tsukashi... In that case, you'll probably give him the job to do. Best regards, Éric VD

I like the color and general atmosphere (wabi sabi) of this tsuba. I would be personaly happy to have it in my collection even if it's not a masterpiece. You have good taste IMO. Best regards, Éric VD

Very interesting composition, maybe 3 foxes playing? It reminds me western "Nanban" style hunting compositions... First time I see something like that on a Japanese tsuba. Hope to learn more. Best regards, Éric VD

You can use it as an umbrela... OK, I go best Éric

...could have been an old horimono wear off by over polishing but the nakago does not look suriage... The blade is very very tired... Best Éric

Very, very intersting and nicely done Tsuba ! Do you know what school is it ? Best, Éric

Dear David, Thank you so much, this is helping a lot . It seems that Myochin could be a solid clue, it was Kissakai first impression too. The nunome zogan work could be a later work, even if the Tachibana Kamon should have been plated from the begining IMO.... The overall size is 7,8 /7,9 cm it's still à big tsuba, I confirm no tekkotsu like the one you can see in Akasaka's, just the iron normal deformation in curving the ring (upper inside). Wish you the best, Éric VD

Hello, Very sharp Topic! In my very poor opinion, a bohi added later change the structure of the sword, the jigane is usualy different from the core soft steel. It could be made to take out a flaw like a fukure... sometimes horimono are used in that way. Good maru bohi are difficult to carve, generaly you can spot from the general position and shape if it's a later work... For me it is not suitable unless it is a very fine work... Best regards, Éric VD

Dear Geraint, Thank you, it's a relieve ! I was quite desapointed, I realy like this strange tsuba. Best, Éric VD

Strange... I didn't knew that it was possible to cast (magnetic) iron tsuba. In this one there is no cast mark, flaw or inclusion... Instead, there is regular file marks inside the ring... Well, you certainly know better,that sounds a bad news. Late 1800 cast iron tsuba so... Best regards, Éric VD

Thank you for your very instructive answer, do you have a guess on this unusual work? I realy don't have a clue... Best regards, Éric VEGAS DANGLA

... it looks a little "Too much" to me. Usualy a professionnal Togishi will choose an elegant contrast between hamon and Ji gane: first time I see such a flashy pop up hada... Is that an effect of the picture or the blade looks the same in hand?

Here is my little contribution : Unknown carver on a mumei shinshinto blade that looks Bizen or Soden-Bizen utsushi...

Could my Tsuba be Ono School ? They are known to make heavy and thick iron sukashi tsubas... Here another thick iron Tsuba I found on line (7.2mm). At least, this Tsuba can be used as an anchor ! https://japaneseswor...n-tsuba-with-anchor/

Very close work on the ring ! No higo zogan in this one... Best, Éric VD

Thank you, Yes it's Tachibana(kuse) family crest. It's a cort (curt?) high ranck family, not samourai... and quite enemis/politics oponents of the fujiwara's. Best regards, Éric

Hello, and thanks Bruce... Here is a topic about a very unusual Tsuba for me. First time I see such a massive heavy iron tsuba : The thickness of the mimi is almost 1 cm (exactly 9.4mm). The main Kamon is Tachibana (kuse), the copper is added recently... What do you think about it ? is it for nagamaki naoshi or other kind of blade? Did you saw this before?

I wish you the better luck possible ! It happened to me, I finally found mine in a post office where it has been dropped under myscelanus in dirt 6 month later... It was EMS express service. Hope you will find out soon Best, Éric VD

I understand your point of view, this nakago des not look showa at all. Not even shinto IMO.... Artificialy elder? ... Black rust FeO3 takes usualy 300 years or more... Best, Éric VD

Musqueter's speaking, judging from a recent picture with your daughter Best regards, Éric VD

The tsuba is unusual and interesting, I will post it soon to have opinions... Best regards, Éric VD