What to you seems to be the most underrated tsuba and why?

[Alex A]

My curiosity is due to observing tsuba for sale and what appears to be a lower than expected price?, maybe that's a particular school or tsuba of a certain era or whatever.

 

You see some tsuba with very good carving and a price that doesn't seem to match, anyone else notice?.

 

May be many other reasons why someone thinks a certain type of tsuba is underrated.

 

Interested to see what others think before i mention my ideas.

 

Might give me more perspective as not really a serious tsuba collector. Over a period of time, one can build an opinion, though that opinion may be limited.

[Spartancrest]

Perhaps it might be a generalization but I think tanto sized tsuba are underrated - they require as much [or even more] work to construct, but most collectors tend to concentrate on larger guards.  Bigger is not necessarily better. 

Maybe we need a magnifying lens mounted over these little fellows to give them the credit they deserve?

Edited April 4 by Spartancrest

[Alex A]

Agree Dale, it seems collectors tend to avoid or look past them. Shame really, as sometimes it gives people the opportunity to pick up good quality at a lower price. Snapped a few up over the years that seemed to have sat around in the sales section, didn't pay much and wont expect much when i eventually sell. One in particular, small copper Kiku tsuba that would look wonderful mounted on a tanto. Beautiful old dark patina, really like it.

 

I guess beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. Also, i guess ones perspective changes as time moves on.

[Alex A]

Will get to the point, Bushu tsuba.

 

Over the years you can form opinions for one reason or another, i don't know why, it just happens. I seemed to have develop a dislike of Bushu tsuba, maybe its the Gold decoration you find on some of them, maybe its the style with the outer ring and carving within. I dont know, even got this idea whether right or not that generally, they are not that desireable.

 

Some are mediocre with regards carving, some are finely carved and there is a lot in the middle.

 

Anyways, recently i started to take a closer look, especially the carving and have to say it seems i have unfairly judged them as a whole. Bought a few over the last year at very reasonable prices, similar design but one is better carved than the other.

 

Have to say, im by no means qualified to have an in-depth opinion on these tsuba, never had 100s in hand and have only ever seen them online.

 

An example of a good one in case some folks are wondering what im going on about. Bushu Tsuba - Tosogu - Nihonto Message Board

 

 

To me, they really do nature like no other tsuba and in future will try and keep an open mind before forming opinions.

 

Be interesting to see what others think, regarding any tsuba. Though it seems everyone is content with their views.

[Hokke]

9 minutes ago, Alex A said:

maybe its the Gold decoration you find on some of them, maybe its the style with the outer ring and carving within. I dont know, even got this idea whether right or not that generally, they are not that desireable.

 

Some are mediocre with regards carving, some are finely carved and there is a lot in the middle.

 

 

 

For me, it's the exact opposite. Plate tsuba like sukashi where there is only a piercing and little to no texture or dimensional geometry, have little visual appeal to me. As someone who has to engrave on a regular basis, but on a MUCH smaller scale, im amazed at the level of smooth curves and fine detail that was achieved with handmade tools.

[Alex A]

I understand your opinion, Calabrese. 

 

Many people cant appreciate tsuba such as Tosho or Katchushi and many other tsuba from the Muromachi thrown in for good measure. 

 

Over the years it feels like the same bunch of collectors own these type of tsuba at various times and they all travel in the same circles between them, me included. Right or wrongly, that's another opinion ive formed.

 

They have to be appreciated in a different way and not everyone is on board with the notion.

 

 

[Hokke]

48 minutes ago, Alex A said:

I understand your opinion, Calabrese. 

 

Many people cant appreciate tsuba such as Tosho or Katchushi and many other tsuba from the Muromachi thrown in for good measure. 

 

Over the years it feels like the same bunch of collectors own these type of tsuba at various times and they all travel in the same circles between them, me included. Right or wrongly, that's another opinion ive formed.

 

They have to be appreciated in a different way and not everyone is on board with the notion.

 

 

I posted my reply as I was preparing to head out the door to work and was not as careful in my composition as usual. I don’t want to give the impression that I don’t appreciate the works you cited, because I do, they just aren’t as visually attractive to me. That said, I don’t ever refuse the opportunity to examine them closely. I guess for me there are two types of appreciation -

Appreciation for the work and skill involved in its production regardless of the school

Same as above but……I WANTS IT!

[Hokke]

A good example is a Bushu that Grey had on his site very briefly before it was snapped up. When I saw it, the first thing that came to mind was, that looks like like a lot of mind numbing finishing work to get the curves smoothed out so that iron can have the appearance of looking “soft”. Then the transition angles from the elements to the rim. 
 

 

[Tcat]

On 4/4/2026 at 5:36 AM, Alex A said:

Will get to the point, Bushu tsuba…

 

Be interesting to see what others think

 

This one sticks in the memory from a dealer’s fb page a few years ago. T’was beyond my means, but I still think about it occasionally. Hats off to whoever picked it up.
 

[ROKUJURO]

On 4/4/2026 at 3:11 PM, Alex A said:

.....tsuba such as Tosho or Katchushi and many other tsuba from the Muromachi.... 

 

Over the years it feels like the same bunch of collectors own these type of tsuba at various times and they all travel in the same circles between them, me included. .....

Alex,

I absolutely share your opinion.

Coming back to the title of this thread, I am often more impressed by the inherent craft in a TSUBA than by its artistry. I can admire the work in a gorgeous and opulent 19th century KINKO TSUBA, but for owning one, I would choose a genuine KACHUSHI TSUBA with a well-made DOTE MIMI. 

But they are no longer underrated and now sold for big money!

[lonely panet]

if you said underrated,  i would think ko kinko or akao school

[ROKUJURO]

Hamish,

you may well be right! Some KO-KINKO are a bit plain and, inspite of their soft material, quite functional which certainly has to do with the times they were created in. But they are recognized and valued.

AKAO TSUBA can sometimes be simple in their design, but very elegant and artistically refined in my humble opinion.  

[Alex A]

On 4/27/2026 at 5:22 AM, Tcat said:

 

This one sticks in the memory from a dealer’s fb page a few years ago. T’was beyond my means, but I still think about it occasionally. Hats off to whoever picked it up.
 

 

Thats a great tsuba, for me, one that did not need any extra decoration. Sometimes less is more.

[Curran]

#1)    Bushu    -  there is a lot of low end Bushu, hiding the fact that there are some very high end Bushu

#2)   Ko-kinko  -   same as above. There are low end ko-kinko worth $100, on up to high end ko-kinko worth $45k

 

The wide spread in values of certain large groups results in a propensity to value some exceptionally fine tsuba downwards towards the center of the bell curve.

 

[Tcat]

9 hours ago, Alex A said:

maybe it’s the Gold decoration you find on some of them…

 

Sometimes less is more.

 

What have you got against gold? 
AI-enhanced comparison image:

 

[Spartancrest]

Not enough gold!  AI will be the death of us!   You will never be able to trust any image ever again!

 Personally I prefer a tartan texture!   

Edited Tuesday at 11:51 PM by Spartancrest
layout

[Curran]

"If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you"

 

@Spartancrest  Dale, I think you just pointed out the Abyss staring back at me.

The tartan one sent shivers down my spine.

 

 

[eternal_newbie]

5 hours ago, Curran said:

The tartan one sent shivers down my spine.

 

"And here we have a beautiful example of a MacTavish-den tsuba..."

[Shugyosha]

It matches my pyjamas! 

[Curran]

7 hours ago, eternal_newbie said:

 

"And here we have a beautiful example of a MacTavish-den tsuba..."

 

Again, close to home.

MacTavish <-> Campbell

[Alex A]

18 hours ago, Tcat said:

 

What have you got against gold? 
AI-enhanced comparison image:

 

 

Wow, for me much better, cheers.

 

I know the brass decoration was a thing back in the day but for me there was a place for it.

 

Quite like it on Onin, Heianjo types but the tsuba above (for me) was fine as it is.

 

Interesting to see the difference!

[Tcat]

3 hours ago, Alex A said:

 

Wow, for me much better, cheers.

 

I know the brass decoration was a thing back in the day but for me there was a place for it.

I admit being partial to a bit of gold decoration here and there but totally appreciate the presence and atmosphere imparted by each style to be really quite different in impact. For me, zogan application seems to add levity to the “weight” and seriousness of plain iron, but I’m familiar with the opinion that it is distasteful to add “makeup” to an iron tsuba.

 

 

 

(Last one, I promise 😂)

 

 

[ROKUJURO]

Alex,

I absolutely share your opinion.

I am an 'iron guy', but to my surprise, in some cases, a little gold does not hurt. The below shown typical TEIMEI TSUBA (one of the "underrated" styles/schools) has a fine gold decoration which is rarely seen on these. 

How do you find that? 

 

[Brian]

Alex, I LOL'ed!
Seriously good Photoshop skills. (Or is that AI work?)
Is that a Lightning cable?  

[ROKUJURO]

A cosmetic 'shop'?

[Spartancrest]

Hey I had to do this by hand - where was AI when I needed it!   Where is the AI "kill switch?"