Prewar70 Posted August 15, 2016 Report Posted August 15, 2016 This is from a tanto. It has light oxidation in places where the seppa rested and also due to some rust from the iron fuchi. Any info on this type and what it's made from would be helpful. It's softer metal. Thanks. Quote
Ford Hallam Posted August 16, 2016 Report Posted August 16, 2016 Might be aluminium. I don't see any sulphides and that greenish/grey mottling 'feels' more like an aluminium oxide. 1 Quote
Prewar70 Posted August 16, 2016 Author Report Posted August 16, 2016 Ford, is there a layman's way to "test" for aluminum vs. silver? It feels heavier than alum would and has a silver coin like sound to it but I don't know. Quote
Ford Hallam Posted August 16, 2016 Report Posted August 16, 2016 James, silver is very nearly 4 times heavier than aluminium. If it was aluminium you'd barely feel any weight in your hand :-) so I reckon you could discount that possibility. Caustic soda is pretty corrosive on aluminium but won't effect silver. Quote
Prewar70 Posted August 16, 2016 Author Report Posted August 16, 2016 Sounds like it's probably silver then, as it's heavy given the size of it. I appreciate the help. Is it common to see silver used for a small tsuba like this and can anyone draw any generalizations, ie. someone spent extra $ for nicer fittings? I will follow up with some pics of the rest of the koshirae. The kozuka and fuchi kashira are iron, mumei, with a sunflower or rose theme. Bright gold with a copper/pink look to parts of it. If anyone is familiar with "Black Hills Gold" here in the states in South Dakota, it has a rose color to it. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted August 16, 2016 Report Posted August 16, 2016 James,are you sure it is a TSUBA? It looks much more like a SEPPA, but there is no way to compare the size on a photo. The material reminds me of German silver (a copper/nickel/zinc alloy), but I am not sure it was used in Japan. Quote
Ford Hallam Posted August 16, 2016 Report Posted August 16, 2016 Jean, nickel silver or German silver was actually 'invented' in China before it was known in Europe. It was known as Paktong, white copper. It's possible some made its way to Japan but I doubt it. I'm still not convinced it's silver though, perhaps nickel silver is another option. I have a sneaky suspicion it's a modern replacement too. Can we see the whole koshirae, please? It might offer some context. 1 Quote
Prewar70 Posted August 16, 2016 Author Report Posted August 16, 2016 Happy to take some pics tonight after work. 1 Quote
Stephen Posted August 17, 2016 Report Posted August 17, 2016 James think they wanted to see it together, tsuba mounted. Quote
Prewar70 Posted August 17, 2016 Author Report Posted August 17, 2016 Ok thanks Stephen. It all fits loose, not snug and tight. Quote
Stephen Posted August 17, 2016 Report Posted August 17, 2016 looks good, i like it, it can be fixed,little shim here in there... Quote
dominnimod Posted August 18, 2016 Report Posted August 18, 2016 According to what Jean said, i have a similar fitting but in brass,with work in the edge and sekigane, and i always thought it was just a super thick seppa,but seeing this kind of mounting,could i assume it is a tsuba? Is there a way to make the distinction for sure? Quote
kissakai Posted August 18, 2016 Report Posted August 18, 2016 Originaly from this post I wondered what all the fuss was about It was only a seppa! Then to see it mounted was amazing So Josh I wouldn't be surprised to find out yours was a tsuba Just leaming all the time 1 Quote
dominnimod Posted August 18, 2016 Report Posted August 18, 2016 Decided to mount it on a waki koshirae to see if its a tsuba. It seems indeed to be a tsuba of the same style, However,it doesn't look as good as the silver one,maybe it might be just the contrast with the rest of the koshirae, but gladly surprised overall with this find 1 Quote
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