Fake tsubas on eBay, but are they not getting better?

[Marius]

Dear All,

 

I have noticed a new seller on eBay, with quite a few tusbas. They all look fake to me, but I wanted to ask you if they ideed are alloy copies. If they are fake, they have gotten really better in terms of how they look. A novice (like me) could be easily decived:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-18th-Centur ... dZViewItem

 

Best regards

[Martin]

Hi Mariusz,

 

what makes you think these are fakes?

 

cheers,

[Brian]

Not fakes.

Not everything at a low starting price with no reserve is a fake

 

Hmm...I am watching quite a few of these now.

 

Brian

[Marius]

Martin,

 

the reasons for my guess were:

 

1. bad pictures

2. scarce eBay feedback

3. "Mixed material" in the description,

4. one description for all tsubas

5. "fishy" seppa-dai on some of the tsubas

6. cast alloy look on some tsubas

OVERALL: Too good to be true?

 

Some of this seller's tsubas do look good, if real, they would be really worth a lot. But the combination of the factors listed above makes me suspicious.

 

And, I am asking experts because I am not sure if the tsubas are real or fake. i don't know enough to make an educated guess.

 

What is your opinion?

 

Best regards

[Marius]

Not fakes.

Not everything at a low starting price with no reserve is a fake

 

Hmm...I am watching quite a few of these now.

 

Brian

 

Wow! Then they are real. What a treasure trove!

 

Best regards

[Brian]

Well..I'm not a tsuba expert, but from the few I looked at, yes they appear real to me. Nothing top class though, just low to medium tsuba.

From the lack of descriptions, I would say the seller just came into a small collection and is selling them off. He does seem to have a history of selling Japanese goods.

Nothing on eBay is a bargain until it ends. Starting prices mean very little.

 

Brian

[Marius]

Well..I'm not a tsuba expert, but from the few I looked at, yes they appear real to me.

 

Brian,

 

I won't insist, but look at this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-18th-Centur ... dZViewItem

it looks like alloy, doesn't it?

 

Or take this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-18th-Centur ... dZViewItem

That's some coper aloy shining through the "patina"?

 

Just being paranoid....

 

Best regards

[John A Stuart]

Hi Mariusz, That is gold overlay. John

[AndreasU]

Hi Mariusz,

 

both are Iron in my eyes. Patina is somewhat strange because of the situation that a flash was used. On the second on some refinement is left (maybe gold)

 

Nothing strange with all of his offers at all!

[Brian]

Mariusz,

 

Judging by the bidding now..I think the seller owes you some commission :D

Wonder how many of those bidders are forum members? Pre-book your tsuba now folks..before Milt hauls out the sniper rifle :lol:

 

Brian

[Bungo]

Mariusz,

 

Judging by the bidding now..I think the seller owes you some commission :D

Wonder how many of those bidders are forum members? Pre-book your tsuba now folks..before Milt hauls out the sniper rifle :lol:

 

Brian

 

already locked und loaded

[Stephen]

by Muramasaiii already....guess ill back off

[Brian]

I won't :D

I am a pretty mean sniper myself. One of us is going to be paying too much :D

 

Brian

[Bungo]

I won't :D

I am a pretty mean sniper myself. One of us is going to be paying too much :D

 

Brian

probably not...none scream that I must have it at any price.

Some has possibility though.

 

while at ole po's..... someone must think that tsuba could be a ( fill in the blank ) ??

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=017

 

 

milt

[AndreasU]

Ähhhh,

 

Bingo Bongo Bungo ?? :lol:

[AndreasU]

Hi Milt,

 

as I am a novice and have no nada zero knowledge of Tsubas (even more less than of swords) can you do a recommendation for me to use for my Waki? You can PM me, not to give to many hints....... :D

[Guest reinhard]

E-bay again on this (sub-)forum? Can't you stay in your corner?

 

reinhard

[Brian]

Reinhard actually has a good point there. It completely slipped past me that this wasn't in the eBay section. My apologies..since I did say I would tighten up on that. Moving it now.

 

Btw..don't let the discussion of these tsuba fool anyone. They aren't anything to get too excited over. Mediocre tsuba in the line of the average Po-Edo stuff. Most would be nice to get for 100 bucks or so for a mounting project or similar, but not in the same league as most we discuss in the tosogu forum.

Some ok ones, but not the stuff you buy to study great tsuba as the tsuba guys here will tell you.

 

Brian

[Bungo]

Hi Milt,

 

as I am a novice and have no nada zero knowledge of Tsubas (even more less than of swords) can you do a recommendation for me to use for my Waki? You can PM me, not to give to many hints....... :D

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-18th-Centur ... 0190945029

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-18th-Centur ... 0190955166

there's another one with a single bid, I'd better not link that one, he's a Budoka !!

 

 

 

As Brian said, no " national treasure " here, but some very good trading stocks for the sword shows ( if the price stay below 200, that is......)

 

p.s. holder of the almighty EURO, go for it, 40 % off, geezzzzzzz

 

 

milt

[Brian]

Item 180190955166 is about 5cm across...so more likely for a tanto?

He really needs to add pics of the other sides and give the measurements. These are a risk you take I guess.

 

Brian

[Bungo]

so anyone managed to score at " below fair market value " ?

There were a few interesting ones....one I like particularly is that sukashi of musashi grass ( looks over 8 cm ) won by the user name " whatalawyer " at 240 + ( I was the under bidder ).

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0190972401

There's an unsigned AKASAKA ( ginger/geese design ) that went for reasonable price..........

The signed one ( with the gold circle ) was over 400 + days before auction ended so I didn't bother, wonder what the mei is ?

 

I only bought one ...the anchor ( cut out ) and the chidori/wave tsuba for future " horse trading ".

 

milt