Joe Buffardi Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 Well these beautiful pieces of art keep finding me. This is an interesting one and I am studying as much as I can to see what I have here. I am by all means no expert and any and all knowledge is highly appreciated. 26 inches overall length 21 blade length Quote
Ray Singer Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 Your wakizashi is signed Soshu ju Tsunahiro. Best regards, Ray Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 4, 2016 Author Report Posted December 4, 2016 Hello Ray! Thank you very much for your info! I will start research! Quote
Dave R Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 Was it just a bare blade or was it mounted? Quote
Brian Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 The mei looks very newly cut. Just an observation. It certainly isn't THE Soshu Tsunahiro. Quote
Stephen Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 I think it was overly cleaned, why the top edges of the cuts are shiney Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 4, 2016 Author Report Posted December 4, 2016 The edges of the Mei are shiny from handling. The tang is almost black in color. I dont see any signs of cleaning. Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 4, 2016 Author Report Posted December 4, 2016 I only have the bare blade. Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 4, 2016 Author Report Posted December 4, 2016 Here are some better pics after cleaning with mineral oil. Amazing hamon! 1 Quote
Stephen Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 I wasn't implying you did it Joe, someone had to hand rub it to remove the aged patina. Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 4, 2016 Author Report Posted December 4, 2016 Yes of course! I agree. Quote
Brian Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 It's not about the shiny parts, it is about how high the "pillows" or edges stand proud. They rust and wear down over time. Not done many hundreds of years ago. 1 1 Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 4, 2016 Author Report Posted December 4, 2016 Im studying the pattern to see if it falls under the makers style. There isnt much shine to the blade. Quote
Stephen Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 many gens of Tsunahiro i had a gendai daito Quote
Mark S. Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 I guess I'll ask... Did you get the story behind how this ended up at an "old toy shop"? Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 4, 2016 Author Report Posted December 4, 2016 It was bought out of a huge estate of antique toys and there were a couple of military items that went with the sale. The gentleman I bought it from has owned it since 1966. His name is Orville and he is one of the biggest toy collectors in California. I collect tin toys also and we were sharing stories about how things find owners. 1 Quote
Mark S. Posted December 4, 2016 Report Posted December 4, 2016 Must have been quite the 'double take' when you saw it in the store! One of those "Hey... wait a minute!" moments. Closest I have had was finding a tall wooden box (like the kind used for Japanese tea ceremony bowls) in a resale shop. There was a Shino-ware vase I also noticed sitting on the front counter. I walked over to look at the vase because I thought the vase and box were a match. A lady speaks up and says "I am buying that vase". So because I hate to see things split up, I explain that the box and vase 'might' go together thinking I will give up the box. She kindly says "It seems like you know more about this than I do... would you like the vase?" After the usual back and forth of "you don't have to", etc., I happily accept. I then payed for her items as well. So for $2 for the box, $5 for the vase and $5 for her items, I walked away with a very nice vase/box combo. Later learned the box and vase DID belong together. 5 minutes later and the vase would have walked out of the store with someone else... and without its box. Love these stories... 5 Quote
Jamie Posted December 5, 2016 Report Posted December 5, 2016 Many generations of Tsunahiro and many known for tempering hitatsura. This does look hitatsura based on the cleaned up pics. Obviously more research needed but might be a good looking sword at the very least. 1 Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 5, 2016 Author Report Posted December 5, 2016 Any and all info is very much appeeciated! I have been reading about the swordsmith all day and all the generations! Quote
Dave R Posted December 5, 2016 Report Posted December 5, 2016 My double take was seeing a Yari for sale as a 20th Cent. African spear head, and priced accordingly. The cheapest signed blade I ever bought. 1 Quote
Stephen Posted December 5, 2016 Report Posted December 5, 2016 (edited) lots and lots of Tsunahiro hits in search , this is just one, check out the hamon http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18844-soshu-tsunahiro/?hl=tsunahiro http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1 Edited December 5, 2016 by Stephen Quote
Joe Buffardi Posted December 5, 2016 Author Report Posted December 5, 2016 Wow! Stunning! Thank you for sharing! Quote
Stephen Posted December 7, 2016 Report Posted December 7, 2016 http://www.nihontocraft.com/Soshu_Tsunahiro_Wakizashi.htm Quote
Stephen Posted December 15, 2016 Report Posted December 15, 2016 http://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-soshu-jyu-tsunahiro-shodai http://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-soshu-ju-tsunahiro Quote
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