Q872. Iron sukashi tsuba. 7.5 x 7.5 x .45 cm. The nakago hitsu-ana is .7 x 2.5 cm. A vajra is a ritualistic tool of Buddhism: an indestructible thunderbolt. The vajra on this tsuba have gold zogan ends. This tsuba is signed but faintly so and I am unable to read much of it. I know it begins with Echizen. The collector who owned this before me thinks the smith’s name is Yoshimichi but I’m not sure that is correct. In any case, this is a very nice tsuba in excellent condition. It comes in a fitted box with a pillow of a non-matching color. $475.

This just in. A knowledgeable collector tells me the smith is Yoshinobu. Thank you