T184.  Iron sukashi tsuba signed Nobuiye.  7.9 x 8.4 x .5 cm at the seppa-dai and .8 cm at the mimi.  The nakago hitsu-ana is 1.1 x 3.2 cm.  The sukashi is a nata, a gardener’s hatchet, I believe, with snow flakes/water drops at the bottom serving as ude-nuki ana.  Large, thick, and massive; this must have been mounted on a very large blade.  The plate is mostly covered with tortoise shell carving which continues over the rim except where worn away with time.  Not the big man, of course; most likely later school work.  An honest tsuba in wonderful condition and priced reasonably (I think).  $225.