N104. Iron Wangata tsuba. 7.5 x 7.6 x .4 cm. The nakago hitsu-ana is .9 x 2.6 cm. I’m assuming that the dished (concave) shape is western influence: Namban. I find it a bit unusual that the carved designs are nearly identical from one side to the other; I would have expected a difference. One hitsu is plugged with shakudo and more than that I can’t say; that’s all I know. Condition is excellent and I find this quite pleasing.

Just in: a friend and someone who knows more about tsuba than I do had this to say about this tsuba.