Echizen Kinai tsuba - 7.8 cm H x 7.7 cm W x 0.4 cm T Iron, maru gata, kaku mimi with slight niku. The design is of thunder clouds, lighting bolts and 3 birds. There is black lacquer remaining in the low spots in the clouds. The wide seppa dai and wide flat mimi are characteristic of many Kinai guards. We see vast numbers of poor quality Kinai guards with dragon, aoi and other stereotypical motifs. The original work of this group can be quite good when it can be found. NTHK Kanteisho
Front: 1: Kanteisho

2: Tsuba

3. Echizen Tanko saku (‰z‘Oθ\Hμ) - Made by a tsuba craftsman in Echizen

4. Shoshin (³^) - Genuine

5. Heisei Ku Nen Ju Gatsu Ju Ni Nichi (•½¬‹γ”N\ŒŽ\“ρ“ϊ) - 12th of October, 1997

6. Nihon Token Hozon Kai (“ϊ–{“Œ••Ϋ‘Ά‰ο)

Back: 7: Dai 4728 Go ( number 4728 )

8: Meibun Mumei ( Signature, none )

9. TsukuriKomi (‘’ž‚έ) - Make, ShinMarugata (^ŠΫŒ`) - round shape, Katahitsuana (•ΠŸCE) - a Hitsu ana on one side, Kakumimi Koniku (ŠpŽ¨¬“χ) - slightly rounded squared rim

Shitaji (‰Ί’n) - ground material

Tetsuji (“S’n) - iron base

10. Zugara (}•Ώ) - motif

Raimon Karigane Sukashi (—‹•ΆŠε‹ΰ“§‚΅) - openwork with the motif of fret and wild geese

Hori (’€αθΉ‚θ) - carving style - Nikubori Jisukashi (“χ’€αθΉ‚θ ’n“§‚΅) - relief with openwork

11. Sunpo (‘–@) - measurements

Tate shichi ten hachi senchi (c Ž΅.”ͺ) 7.8 cm long

Yoko shichi ten hachi senchi (‰‘ Ž΅.”ͺ) 7.8 cm wide

12. Koshirae (n‚¦) - exterior for swords : null

13. Biko (”υl) - remarks : Edo jidai chuki (]ŒΛŽž‘γ’†Šϊ) - middle of Edo period