Tsuba ID Request

[ncsammy]

I Googled the word Tsuba and came across your web site. I have been collecting Japanese militaria (mostly weapons) for several decades. Over the years, I came across other related Japanese items, including the three Tsuba pictured below, all of which were bought at flea markets. I would appreciate any information the experts on this site can provide about these items. I should note that #s 1 and 2 are iron, and #3 looks like it is made of copper. Thank you in advance.

 

Sam

[Marius]

Tsuba #1 and #2 look modern to me. #3 could be anything, but is likely late Edo/Meiji - at least a real tsuba. # 1 mimics an Akasaka tsuba, # 2 mimicks a tosho. Both look like pretty awful, should I say Chinese, or amateur?

 

# 3 has a shakudo rim and shows some age. Focus on it, the rest seem pretty hopeless and worthless...

[Brian]

I would hate to conclude anything about 1 and 2 without at least close up and in focus pics.

 

Brian

[Marius]

OK, I take back "awful", "Chinese" and "amateur". The rest of my opinon remains unchanged, awaiting better pics and more educated judgement.

 

Sorry, the seppa-dai on the sukashi and those little openings on the "tosho" look weird. Let us see if that changes with better pics.

[ncsammy]

Thanks for the info.

 

Brian, I've attached close-ups of Tsuba #1 and #2.

 

Sam

[Marius]

Brian was right. Better pics do help. Still, the sukahi seems late Edo, at best. The tosho tsuba... Could be anything. Any better ideas?

[ROKUJURO]

To my old eyes, No. 1 is cast. Look at the corners of the SUKASHI. There seems to remain some residue from casting.

[Marius]

I don't think it is cast. The residue could be just grime.

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

In my honest opinion the first two look modern circa at or around World War 2 as they look to have been made with mill (i.e. modern) steel. The second tsuba looks like it just came off a Gunto the first is a modern reproduction of an Edo Period open work tsuba. In terms of good antique tsuba the only I see in the set is the third one. The third tsuba I would date from the Edo Period (1616-1868). Would be nice to see more detail photos of it. I hope you find the information is helpful. Sam take a look at my website for examples of antique Japanese tsuba. The link is below.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Brian Ayres]

Thanks for sharing. One other thing, when taking a picture of tsuba, the Nakago-ana(center hole for the blade) is taken with the narrow part on the top.

 

Best Regards,

 

Brian Ayres

[ncsammy]

Thanks for your comments

 

Sam