Bmac Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 Hello, My name is Brian and I have just gotten into tsuba collecting. I recently picked up two pieces from a flea market in Japan and would greatly appreciate help identifying and verifying the tsuba. The first tsuba has a mei, does anyone recognize it? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly welcomed. Thanks, 2 Quote
Spartancrest Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 Hi Brian, Welcome to the fun! Sorry to say that the first piece is a very common cast "replica" - Samurai crossing the river on horseback. There are two versions of this pattern. I would disregard any signature on it as it will be false. Your second one is more promising and would appear genuine if a little worn - not unexpected when you consider its possible age - 200 yrs? This is the other version to yours, the horses head is further under the seppa-dai This one is more like yours from the following thread. This one also has a cast in "tagane-ato" or punch mark at the bottom of the nakago-ana - both versions also can feature this little addition that was meant to "prove" it had been mounted. So two sizes, two versions. 4 Quote
Bmac Posted June 22 Author Report Posted June 22 Thanks for your response! As a cast does this mean it doesn’t date back to the Edo period, and was never used? Is there a way I can identify the school of the second tsuba as it has no mei? All the best 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 Remains of a 三五桐紋 3/5 paulownia crest mon top right, but heavily filed with rough rasp. Fairly generic tsuba, imho. Can it be narrowed down at all? I wonder… 3 Quote
Spartancrest Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 21 minutes ago, Bmac said: As a cast does this mean it doesn’t date back to the Edo period, and was never used? I will stay away from answering that question - but if you enjoy a day reading then see this thread - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/38416-tsuba-casting-molds/ Let's just say these cast pieces do turn up from collections at the beginning of the 20th century and that they are "antiques". But we think they were rarely used on swords other than tourist pieces or swapped over onto older blades. Your other guard I can't be sure of a school or date, but looks genuine to me. There is a solitary Kiri flower amongst the tendrils/branches [paulownia tree?] 1 o'clock position. Piers beat me to it. 3 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 Sorry Brian, can you show the other side of the Kiri one? The side we see is the back or "ura" and best guesses would be from the front or "omote" view which is usually the more elaborate design side. 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 Two Kiri, but I am not sure if the tagane-ato are real. A river crossing on ebay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/127185994228 Quote
Bmac Posted June 22 Author Report Posted June 22 What makes you question if the tagane- ato are real? Thanks for sharing the link of the river crossing will definitely be reading more into castings. 1 Quote
Bmac Posted June 22 Author Report Posted June 22 Upon closer inspection I think I have found casting lines but am not sure?🤔 Thanks for all the help Brian 1 Quote
Spartancrest Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 Similar designs. http://www.nihonto.us/KIRI TOSOGU SET.htm These top two look like a before and after clean. 4 Quote
Geraint Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 Dear Brian. Hard to see from these pictures but I think you are right. Bear in mind that tsuba are often made by folding and fire welding steel so that sometimes a weld line is visible in the nakago ana or ryo hitsu, the distinguishing characteristic is that seam lines caused by casting are raised from the surface, weld lines tend to dip into the surface. All the best. 2 1 Quote
Rawa Posted June 22 Report Posted June 22 I have screenshot describing probably this samurai on horseback motive. 1 Quote
Jesta Posted June 23 Report Posted June 23 4 hours ago, Rawa said: I have screenshot describing probably this samurai on horseback motive. More information on the battle of Uji here https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/51989-race-across-the-uji-river-1180-tsuba-and-fuchi-kashira/ Quote
Bmac Posted June 23 Author Report Posted June 23 Any advice on how to clean them? I have clove oil to keep the rust off once cleaned. Thanks, Quote
Spartancrest Posted June 23 Report Posted June 23 3 hours ago, Bmac said: Any advice on how to clean them? I have clove oil to keep the rust off once cleaned. A few "formulas" for rust removal here : : 1 Quote
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