I'd like to learn more about this piece. I don't know anything.

[Alv]

I appreciate every bit of Info I can get.

Thanks in Advance.

[Spartancrest]

Welcome Alves. 

I believe your tsuba is by the Shoami school, [someone may come in with a translation of the signature] Aoi-tachi-mokko shape? Or at least tachi style. 

 

Mandarin Mansion says,  Tachi-mokkō-gata (太刀木瓜形) literally means "Tachi cross shape". This style of tsuba was since ancient times mounted on tachi (太刀), large swords that were worn edge downwards, slung from a belt, mainly by cavalry. It is also known as aoi-gata (葵形) or "hollyhock shape".

The style dates back to Tachi swords but continued as a formal shape fitted to Katana blades - tachi did not have the hitsu-ana [holes for kozuka and kogai] originally, though many tachi tsuba had the holes cut in later. Alves, yours is made at a time for a Katana from the design and the direction of the nakago-ana [tang hole]

 

 

[Alv]

Thank you very much for the answer. The Signature appears to say Kanenori Shoami. I'd like to know how old my sword might be. It's a quite short sword maybe a Wakizashi, and has a little knife hidden in the scabbard.  

[Jesta]

My initial instinct was that this was a modern copy. I’m glad to have been wrong 😀

[Alv]

22 minutes ago, Jesta said:

My initial instinct was that this was a modern copy. I’m glad to have been wrong 😀

Nice to see you again. Thanks for the advice to ask here😁 I am also glad you are wrong. But I'd still like to learn more about it's origin.

[Jesta]

Post some more photos, close-ups and other side. Also search up the terms that Dale mentioned. There will be a lot of info in other threads on the board. 

[Alv]

5 minutes ago, Jesta said:

Post some more photos, close-ups and other side. Also search up the terms that Dale mentioned. There will be a lot of info in other threads on the board. 

I will thanks a lot👍

[Alv]

2 hours ago, Spartancrest said:

Welcome Alves. 

I believe your tsuba is by the Shoami school, [someone may come in with a translation of the signature] Aoi-tachi-mokko shape? Or at least tachi style. 

 

Mandarin Mansion says,  Tachi-mokkō-gata (太刀木瓜形) literally means "Tachi cross shape". This style of tsuba was since ancient times mounted on tachi (太刀), large swords that were worn edge downwards, slung from a belt, mainly by cavalry. It is also known as aoi-gata (葵形) or "hollyhock shape".

The style dates back to Tachi swords but continued as a formal shape fitted to Katana blades - tachi did not have the hitsu-ana [holes for kozuka and kogai] originally, though many tachi tsuba had the holes cut in later. Alves, yours is made at a time for a Katana from the design and the direction of the nakago-ana [tang hole]

 

 

It does belong to a small Katana. I believe those are called wakizashi. I will post a picture after I come home from Work. Thank u for ur Answer.

[Geraint]

Dear Alves. 

 

Just to tease out some more detail, the tsuba of a sword has little to do with the blade itself in most cases so we would need pictures of the blade to tell you what we can about that.

 

As far as the tsuba itself goes then Shoami is the school and Kanenori the name of the maker, for comparison here is a somewhat similar one, https://searchcollection.asianart.org/people/260/shoami-kanenori

And another here, 

 

It seems that he was quite fond of this style.

 

All the best.

 

 

[MauroP]

The signature is indeed compatible with Shōami Kanenori. The shape is better described as kurikomi-aoi-mokkō-gata (刳込葵木瓜形).

 

[Alv]

11 hours ago, Geraint said:

Dear Alves. 

 

Just to tease out some more detail, the tsuba of a sword has little to do with the blade itself in most cases so we would need pictures of the blade to tell you what we can about that.

 

As far as the tsuba itself goes then Shoami is the school and Kanenori the name of the maker, for comparison here is a somewhat similar one, https://searchcollection.asianart.org/people/260/shoami-kanenori

And another here, 

 

It seems that he was quite fond of this style.

 

All the best.

 

 

Thanks for the answer I'll post some more pictures now. 

[Alv]

Thanks ill post more pictures now

[Alv]

[ChrisW]

As I stated in your other thread; the koshirae while simple are very nice and warrant a look at restoration by a professional.