Bugyotsuji

Do you mean Iwamoto Konkan? They might be expensive… I once had a complete Koshiraé with fish depicted all over…

Yes, five connected ‘eyes’.

ツナギ五つ目 Tsunagi Itsutsu-mé (Top left of right-hand page)

Of course many of these could be vestigial design features harking back to an age. On armours you will find gyoyo, tsurumaki and fukikaeshi, for example, which have long lost their original functions, but are somehow satisfying to the eye and the soul.

The tsuba is probably a genuine utilitarian piece from the Edo period, i.e. from before swords were banned in the *Haitorei. As to the art of repatination and preservation, there are books on the subject, and artisans with secret liquids, skilled in the work of 'growing' black rust. In the meantime I would suggest keeping the 'walls' of the sukashi openings that nice dark colour! Haitō Edict - Wikipedia

*Jean kindly points out that Kitau for 鍛Tan/Kitaeru is more correct in situ.

兼定　作 made by Kanesada The 正阿弥 Shoami tsuba, not of great value, has unfortunately been over-polished.

刀　濃州住藤原義包鍛之 Katana [Takada_Shigemasa]日本刀　刀剣販売 サムライ商会[samurai shokai] Fujiwara Yoshikane *Kitae kore(?) *See update to 'Kitau' two posts below.

Amazing! PS 英国 Eikoku as on the blade usually means the United Kingdom of Great Britain, etc., not limited solely to 'England'.

The attribution Mei seems to read 畠山大和介源正光 Hatakeyama Yamato no Suke Minamoto Masamitsu Kozuka blades can often be dirty, out of polish, even rusty. (I would not touch a Kozuka blade that is in decent polish.) The one in the photo seems to be in good condition though. I wonder how the other side looks. Bonus similar Menuki design

Ah, that's easy! But ssshhh... I won't say anything. Loving the quiz! (PS Maybe you should crop that first photo a little more...)

This makes the job easier.

No Dan, I was answering John C, now on the previous page!

https://www.google.com/search?q=麻の葉模様&client=safari&hs=pXHq&sca_esv=8713684b3b83c52b&hl=en-gb&udm=2&biw=390&bih=699&ei=47Vbat-JG-6BhbIP2OjluAg&oq=麻の葉模様&gs_lp=EhJtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1pbWciD-m6u-OBruiRieaooeanmDIGEAAYBxgeMgYQABgHGB4yBhAAGAcYHjIGEAAYBxgeMgYQABgHGB5I2UhQyxlY1ENwA3gAkAEBmAFPoAHIA6oBATi4AQPIAQD4AQGYAgqgApkDwgIEEAAYHsICCBAAGIAEGKIEwgIIEAAYogQYiQXCAggQABgEGAcYHpgDAIgGAZIHAjEwoAfkDbIHATe4B5QDwgcDMS45yAcOgAgA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-img That one is of course Asa no Ha moyō

(Tsunahiro)