Hector

Hi there Fujidog, I would say it's definitely a gendaito and not a Showato. When I first started looking for a sword of my own, I was considering a gunto with a blade by this maker. So I did a lot of research on him and I've never seen one of his with a stamp. Good resource here: Japanese SWORDSMITH ISHIDO TERUHIDE

Steve, I know it seems like I'm always busting your balls but you really should try to use the resources on this forum before asking for help. If you go to the bottom of the index page there is a section called "Translating Mei" with all the Chinese characters you needed to decipher this name and date. I've taken screenshots and ringed everything for you to show you how it works. I know the dates can be very confusing but that two character name was really easy if you'd bothered to look. Best, Hector (No idea why this lettering all appears so big!)

WHOA! I just signed back in and this thread has gone in a completely different direction to what I originally envisioned. As it's obviously created some unintentional conflict then I'm happy for the admins to lock it any time. Best, Hector

Last night I was bidding on this tsuba but lost my nerve in the end. It was going steadily up in price and, even if it did prove to be the genuine article (which was almost impossible to tell from the bad photos), it was in such a rusty condition I didn't have faith in myself that I could restore it - no matter how much bone or Ivory I used.

Presumably Kanamoto den (school) by the sambonsugi (3 cedar zigzag) hamon?

Many thanks to everyone who came back to me with observations and advice! I only login every one or two weeks so I've just seen your comments. Best, Hector

"This piece comes with a Kichō Tōken (Precious Sword) certificate, but it does not guarantee a passing the Hozon Tōken designation." That's stating he thinks/knows it's gimei and the old papers are worthless. What else is he supposed to say?

Happened to me with a blade. If the bidding is vigorous enough, the seller gets greedy. 😡

Hi, I'm still considering dipping my toe into the vast, deep, unknown of tsuba acquisition and I'm too dumb on the subject to know what I'm looking at - beyond whether it appeals to me or not. I've read here and other places that Nobuie is the tsuba god and so virtually anything you find with that signature will be gimei. However, I like this guard anyway because of its rugged, wabi sabi aesthetic and the Nobuie mei is so worn down as to be hardly legible anyway. All thoughts are welcome, even those that point out my obvious ignorance and deficiencies. Best, Hector

I wanted to thank everyone for their contributions! This is the first time I've logged in for a few days so I'm sorry to be tardy in expressing my gratitude. So, like many abstract designs, this one remains uncertain. Any ideas on a possible school would once again be very welcome. 🙏 Thank you once again! Hector

Hi, I am considering this katana tsuba (around 8 cm in diameter). I like the simple tsukashi, surface steel structure and even color but have no idea what the actual design symbolises. So all thoughts are most welcome! Best, Hector

It states that this young man is "the first non-Japanese swordsmith". That was Keith Nobuhira Austin. Keith Nobuhira Austin | NCJSC

An unread book is just a block of paper. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sorry, I've been kind of guilty of this recently. I posted about an old sword magazine I found and also asked advice on a wakizashi which I ended up buying. Unfortunately, I haven't posted updates or photos of either yet because the end of year vacation has seen me on the move between various friends and relatives. As soon as I'm back home, I'll update those two threads with pictures.

Hi Mal @mecox, My wife is also Showa vintage so, as you undoubtedly know, it's best not to argue with those ladies! 😂

Well, I just asked my Japanese wife "Look at these three kanji and read the name out as you see it" 信四郎 Reply "Nobushiro".

Thanks Piers - but he appears to be a tea master. 🤔

Thank you so much for your help, gentlemen! It does indeed seem to describe the tsuba within the box. However, it's strange that it doesn't have the 'twisted rope' mimi associated with the Tochibata school. Unsurprisingly, I'm not familiar with the appraiser, Sōkan.

Thank you Dan! I could certainly see a familiar style in this example.

This is inscribed inside the lid of a tsuba box and I'd like to know what it says to see if it actually corresponds to the actual tsuba or whether it's been swapped out. Thank you, Hector

Please don't be offended at the directness of some of these replies, Glen - it's just the style of this forum and these are all good guys. The trouble is these obvious Chinese fakes show up on here every week, often with an accompanying story claiming some provenance from WW2. If you were given this sword by your son's friend, I'd advise keeping quiet and accept it as a well intended gift. If, however, you spent good money on it, I would consider having a word about getting reimbursed. Best, Hector

Hi George, Using the best translator I have at my disposal, this is the result I got. Best, Hector

Another Yuletide tsuba I'm mulling over. it's .....well, square. In every sense of the word. I'd like to know whether you think this is as it is because the craftsman just couldn't handle cutting out curves or that it represents some abstract design - whether simple geometric shapes or perhaps a hidden martial philosophy (like the Yagyu school with its triangle)? Best, Hector

The guy with the big, round drill has produced another masterpiece - this one looks like a bubble bath. 😳

@Curran and @Michael 101, thank you both for your insights - they're much appreciated! Another point which seemed suspicious to me was that the lines in the design - which you would expect to be chiselled - seem to lack any evidence of chisel marks in close up. Even a brass kiseru (pipe) I own with an engraving of a tiger in long grass shows clear chisel marks as shown below.