Tcat

Found an example of it here...so judging by this construction I belive there to be a considerable amount of 'true inlay' used to create a better base for adhesion with other mixed/soft metals.

Ah-ha...humps. In this case no I dont think so. Not iron anyway, but on more worn examples of Kyo-Kenjo tsuba I have seen what looks like a sort of wide copper wire inlay exposed underneath where thicker parts of the nunome used to be. An example would be the ho-o birds' tails in the first tsuba I posted, which I suspect uses the same method to improve adherance. Keep in mind that inlay of any kind is still likely to last longer than nunome when it comes to handling. Which is another reason why I suspect we dont see many Kyo-Kenjo koshirea. Great info about the wolves. Will have a look.

That’s a great closeup and lovely kao. I commented earlier that I think all the work on your tsuba appears to be nunome. I think I haven't been clear enough so I’ll include some additional closeups below. Here is a kozuka with the same theme: If we take a closer look we can see four sizes/gradients of gold used to create the design. I number them from smallest to largest to illustrate: It was always my belief that 1 and 2 are nunome while 3 is punched and inlayed, and 4 is channel carved and inlayed. You will notice that the nunome crosshatching which is quite visible under macro does not extend into those areas with the thicker gold “lines”. It was of my understanding that they don’t need to, because those parts are inlayed. I am open to the idea that I am completely misunderstanding the manufacturing process however…

No sorry, youve got the wrong dragon, I was referring to the Komai dragons and clouds I posted above. See the thickness of the metal used for the body of the dragon, I dont think this will adhere correctly with nunome crosshatching alone. All of the images I have shared, aside from the Komai dragons and clouds, use nunome. I am looking for examples of kodogu other than tsuba which carry the same or similar theme and style of execution.

That’s a beautiful example and thank you for posting. The work on your example is all nunome. I think the Komai example I posted above is not. See the thickness of the body of the dragon? I believe this mass of metal won’t adhere correctly with just the nunome crosshatching technique.

Are you thinking of later Komai work? I I was referring in particular to this style below which is made by Komai and surely includes inlay. Agree, except for the double vines which I believe could be inlayed but am not sure.

Gold not brass.

I have been trying to get hold of one of these with this motif...there are a few out there. Theres one on yahoo Japan now but with sakura motif. A collector in the US has one but its out of my reach. Here's a matching set for the kozuka...

This one is fairly similar but has the double vines. I include another example below, hamidashi tsuba.

I was wondering what that creature was... I thought it could be a fox as in the above example posted by Dale. Good to know. There's a similar one to the above on ebay with the double wire thread vines and phoenix. I have yet to find any other fittings aside from tsuba in this style...

Great menuki Dale never seen one like it...what school would it be?

Happy lunar new year! Beautiful tsuba John. Good luck to all in the year of the dragon.

Gentlemen, I was wondering if anyone can produce photo examples of matching nunome work fittings by the Kenjō / Kyo-Kenjō artists. I'm mostly referring to the flat / hira inlay type seen here under Kenjo work - http://jameelcentre....ection/7/10237/10370 rather than the heavier more deeply inlayed work like Komai's dragons and clouds. I am particularly looking for examples of F/K, kozuka and kogai or complete fittings which match the style of the images below, theres also a kurigata and kojiri but not pictured. I wonder if it is possible to pinpoint a school or some schools who did this kind of work, rather than the general 'Kyo-Kenjō' attribution. None of the tsuba I can find in this style are signed, and I can find no other examples of similar F/K, kozuka, kokgai, kurigata, kojiiri etc online. I expect that far more tsuba were made in these shops than any other kind of sword fitting. The smoking samurai website is marvellous but so far I cant find a match.

Nice examples. Maybe a forumite can confirm if it's true that in the case of tsuba and other tosogu, animals depicted with open mouths are to be taken as female?

I sure have missed this hobby.

Some really fantastic photos in there....

I have seen a sword like this before and believe it is considered horimono rather than bohi. I have seen a few examples of swords with horimono moving from omote to ura, with the design continuing unbroken across the mune. Regards,

Well, it had to be done sometime. Well done Brian for forging ahead! Progress. Chat feature has me excited :D I would like to return to the old color scheme but I know this is planned. Good luck with the new layout!

Everything I read about Col Hartley and his adventures in the world of Japanese swords is fascinating and inspirational. Legend!

WOW

Very interesting pair of blades Nick, thanks for sharing. The joke has been cracked before but one wouldn't want to start messing around doing iai with these forgetting what they are and what they are noto.. Ken, no yokote on moroha zukuri aka kogarasu maru zukuri blades that I have seen. I wonder if one has ever been made with a "ken" style yokote... You raise a good "point" though. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to where the kissaki technically begins on such a blade. (enough puns for the day I think...)

Dear Johnny, Show me said levels? Yes, according to you I should shut up and kowtow to my royal elite superiors and the wailings of animal rights protesters regardless of my personal beliefs and value system. Do please tell me where lies the sense in destroying beautiful artifacts? To clarify, I am all for a ban on the poaching / hunting / unethical killing of animals under threat of extinction, regional or global. I am also against ANY cruel treatment / torture / abuse of animals in general. I am not however against hunting, nor the use of animal products. I eat meat and wear leather more or less every day. Incidentally, African/Asian elephants are far from endangered. The LEGAL hunting and tourism industries generate far too much money for anyone to allow that (much more than the illegal ivory trade, go do the research, your concern in about 25 years out of date). IMHO cowardly is refusing to face clear and present threats to humankind and the global ecosystem potentially caused by the proliferation of nuclear armaments and the potential for a 100 year nuclear winter and the destruction of nearly all life on earth, including your precious ellyfants in favor of irrelevant populist throwaway comments designed to give warm fuzzies to ignoramuses. If I had a royal soapbox to preach from that would be my number one sermon. Peace. 'Nuff said.

Well done Wales. Forget about promoting international peace and nuclear disarmament, that's far too political, far easier to win the adoration of the masses by making sure the last remaining remnants of poor old ellyfants and skilled artists are lost for ever. Well done. On a "happier" note...the Chinese are now collecting Okimono and regardless of laws will pay through the nose for a nicely carved piece of old ivory.

So they had climate change significant enough to affect geopolitics back then too hey? Well who wouldda thunk...