Pete Klein

It would have been nice to have had those pictures along with your question above. As far as I'm concerned your case is closed.

Michael - Go to the top of this page and to the right you'll see a 'Donate' tab in the black bar. Pete

IMHO all three tsuba shown above are legitimate - not cast. I believe the confusion is coming from their having been rusted and re-patinated or colored in some way (which could explain the pitting on the mimis). There also looks to be some type of coating on the one to the right directly above. I seem to see what could be some fire scale on the one to the left but not certain on that. Judging from pictures is difficult at best but don't assume something is cast simply because it doesn't look like some perfect specimen with papers. It takes a long time to learn and best done with items in hand with direct cross comparisons to known legitimate items. This is where shows/meetings can really help.

Done and done.

Ok - ok - I knew it was a bit of a stretch...

SADO tsuba...

Guido -- THANK YOU!

For many years now I've followed the philosophy of finding, learning and letting go so I never have any emotional issues with what I have let go forward or that which I could not acquire. The only 'missstep' I have questioned myself on was one tsuba which I probably should have held onto longer instead of selling to purchase something else. I think in this case I could have come to learn more by keeping it but that is water past the bridge so it is what it is. I have good recollection of it so that is helpful. Unfortunately I lost the pictures in a computer crash a number of years ago but this is a picture from, 'Tsuba Kanshoki'. It was an interesting piece:

Funny - I've always used 'prosit'.

OK - here's a couple for you to try on: http://www.tsuruginoya.com/mn1_3/mn3_6_1.html

According to Haynes it's, 'Guiundo'.

"Buy the sword not the signature". Capon's lament...

Mr. Dennis -- I believe this is cast and modern. Here is an example of a real kogai - this one rather high end but the design concepts are pretty much standard:

"sent picture via BM" Must have been a shitty picture...

Hi Jean - yes, I would imagine. I did some sleuthing and if what I found is correct the sword was by Ieyoshi but the sales page has been removed which with Aoi generally means it was sold or possibly removed from consignment. Asking couldn't hurt but please remember they are closed on Mondays.

Perhaps ask: info@aoijapan.jp

Hi Ed - I don't see anything wrong here. Shoami, Kyo Shoami - looks like a tsuba which has seen wear and rust pitting but nothing wrong. Pete

Genealogy can be found in, 'The Japanese toso-kinko Schools' by Sesko, pg. 88 -> 103.

Well, quite nice! Masatora was working in the second half of the 17th century and one can begin to see the cross-over from Higo concepts in style. I've found the shape of the kogai hitsuana to be rather individual to Masatora, being somewhat larger than his predecessors. I like to refer to it as, 'Capezzoli di Venere (Nipples of Venus)'...! LOL I must have been watching, 'Amadeus' when I though of it...never know! LOL

I'd love to see a pic if at all possible. The third had a somewhat distinctive style. Pete

Sorry...

I have read several contradictory explanations on this but from my experience the hakogaki with two seals are usually the most legitimate and higher quality. I believe this one is to third generation and looks legitimate. PS: There are so many forgeries of these hakogaki I couldn't begin to count, even with fake hanko.

Gunbai - signal fan:

Zanshin