Kent

Thank you all for the help - I think some lessons are learned the hard way. The condition of it should have been an indicator that it was not an authentic production. I really regret not choosing another tsuba as certainly there were some much older tsuba that were being sold at a similar price, and it should have been a red flag that the seller could offer any information on a lot of the tsuba. This was the first tsuba I handled and I think there was something very satisfying about the weight, that I let sway me. I almost certainly overpaid for it and it stings a bit - but I will use it as a learning experience to shop for another tsuba. If I were to start visiting antique sword shops around Tokyo what is a safe criteria to have when making a purchase - after a little research it seems like a traceable signature and Hozon Tosogu certificate would be a much safer bet. Thank you again -Kent

I bought my first Tsuba and am looking for someone knowledgeable to give me an idea of its authenticity. This was bought off of an expat collector in Japan who has a business sourcing and refitting Japanese swords. There was no information on it he was able to provide and it does not have a signature. I do not know the material, although the places where the patina has worn away shows a copper color. I know nothing about tsubas and it felt like a bit of an impulse buy. Really, I would be happy with the purchase just knowing if it is authentic, and if a craftsmen some long time ago put their labor into it. Thank you for your help