Latest sword purchase - opinions?

[BruceP]

Ben,
very cool! Compliments on the photgraphy too!

wish I had your luck at aution.

[BenVK]

Thanks Bruce! taking photos is always difficult but I'm trying to improve.

[Bob Coleman]

8

I really like the tsuba but couldn't tell you why, it's just a cool design.
Doesn't fit too well so can't be sure it belongs to this blade.

I also like the ginko leaf design on the guard. This is a tsuba designed to be functional.

[BenVK]

It seems that I did well with the tsuba, everyone likes it!

Bob, any thoughts on the blade?

[GHP]

12

One of the Seppa has nice scroll work.

That roped seppa reminds me of my favorite tsuba. I can't find a similar one online, but mine is similar to this plain thick iron tsuba below, with the exception that mine has an even larger rope that is thicker/taller than the hira [plate]:


Nice seppa!!

--Guy

[BenVK]

Wow, that's one beautiful tsuba! more curved that the seppa I have.

[Bob Coleman]

It seems that I did well with the tsuba, everyone likes it!

Bob, any thoughts on the blade?

Ben-It is difficult to give an opinion from just these photos. The built up rust on the upper area of the nakago is a problem for age just from the patina. My first thought from your pictures is this is a Late Muromachi Kaga blade. If the steel is blackish, that would move my thoughts in that direction. The battle scars look more like soldiers clanging blades together on the cutting edge. Real kiricome are usually found on the side or back of the blade which is what was used to deflect a blow. Nice little rig you picked up.

[GHP]

I also like the ginko leaf design on the guard. This is a tsuba designed to be functional.

Hi Bob,

I think Ben's tsuba is a turnip motiff.

Example 1.
Example 2.
Example 2.

What do you think?

--Guy

[GHP]

Wow, that's one beautiful tsuba! more curved that the seppa I have.

This is mine that I mentioned earlier today:




Nothing fancy, just a nice thick armorer's tsuba; and not overly large -- it does not interfere with the hand when using the sword. The large tsuba tend to bite into that juncture area below the thumb/forefinger.

--Guy

[Sengoku]

Nice pickup with that sword. Looks like a traditional Katana taken to war in WW2. The leather cover to the saya is a dead give away.

[Beater]

Love that tsuba Guy. I had a Hizen-to with russet iron mounts very similar to that. I was told it was Higo school. Very rustic and functional. One of my all-time favourites.

I have already mailed Ben with my thoughts - I plumped early Shinto Kaga school. Like Bob, I said the nakago (rust) condition doesn't aid putting it into an exact time-frame. I think he's made a good purchase with this sword. Could be nice with some sympathetic fettling.