Need some help

[budodeshi]

First off let me say hello to all members

Before i ask for your help I'd like to introduce myself.The name's david/budodeshi.

I've been interested in the Japanese culture sense i can remember 20 year or so.I studied Mainly Yoseikan Budo and dabbled in some aikido and Toyama ryu for a couple of years.For the last 6 year I've done as much research on Japanese culture,mainly weaponry as possible and I'm still very much a amateur.This is why I've come to this forum to further my studies of this wonderful culture.

 

Now for the help part

This is my first antique tsuba.Now i'm 99% sure its not a fake but there always that 1%.

There is no mei so that wont help.

The seller was out of Japan and stated that is from edo period(?)

A name for this style would be nice seeing as i have no clue what to call it.

All i know is that is a maru-gata shape with a maru-mimi rim.

Now are the kozuka and kogai ana considered Sukashi?

In the last pic you can see that theres a pattern of 4 dragons on the ura side mind you its verry faint.

And maby some silver painted kanji on the omote.

There seem to be some nice Tekkotsu tho like i said I'm a nube when it come to tsuba.

 

So if any one would like to share some info on what they know about this style of tsuba i would be very grateful.

David.d

 

 

 

 

 

[John A Stuart]

Hi David, I think in the case of this tsuba it is more a question of, what was it? It has been cleaned of all zogan whether by rusting out or mechanically or both. There seems to be remnants of kinzogan and design where it used to be. Originally it seems to have had a good plate. John

[cspage]

Welcome, David. There's lots to learn here and lots of terms to remember. One of the most entertaining issues with terms is the constant question of what's the ura side and what's the omote side of a tsuba. I believe your "dragon" is on the omote side of your tsuba, not the ura. But, as I noted, this is oft remembered incorrectly or mis-written, even by the "experts." I frequently have to look it up to remind myself which is which.

 

Also, from my own experience, there's little value in posting out-of-focus pics. So much of the information needed depends on minute detail that anything out of focus is either totally useless or incites guesswork which may simply confuse the issue. Just something to consider in future posts, which I look forward to seeing. Beginning a new area of interest is the really fun time.

 

While your tsuba may be somewhat "long in the tooth," as I've seen other tsuba described, that faint dragon or whatever it is intriguing and definitely worth appreciating. It adds a nice sense of depth to the visual aspect of the tsuba.

 

Colin

[budodeshi]

Thanks guy's for the friendly welcome.The more i read the more i seen i have much more road to cover before i can offer my services for restoration work .ie(saya ,tsuka ,tsuka-maki).As of now I've only work on Chinese production katana.I'd order the blade & fittings and make the rest.It was a good way to learn seeing the blade only cost 100$ or lest but you can only learn so much with the low end stuff.So i commissioned John Lundemo to make me a 26'' hira zukuri.

This will be my first higher end blade hopefully this project will give me the confidence to try my hand at restoring a nihonto

 

Oh and sorry for the blurry pic's I'm working with a 3.2mp dinosaurs of a cam 2 of the pics turned out not bad.

 

David.d