Tosogu Insights 12 - Four fine shakudo pieces prior to restoration.

[@williamavery9185]

Beautiful pieces. Like many others, cant wait to see the finished work.

[@charliebowen5071]

Nanako specialist has to go on the list for history’s hardest jobs… just looking at that texture and knowing it was done with a punch tool is insane.. hands of a brain surgeon steady…. Amazing as always sensei…..

[@15flute289]

Lovely pieces, thank you for sharing

[@_GOD_HAND_]

Welcome back, Ford. Please post more videos of you actually working. I've learned many practical tips from your older content. It's so interesting to see how your techniques differ from Western engraving.

[@MP_pov]

Grateful for you to share these pieces. The owner is very lucky to have them and wise to ask you to restore them. I look forward to seeing how you get on.

[@DrDRE4391]

Excellent Presentation!

[@lebesnec]

Lovely, I'd like to see a followup after restoration!

[@FordHallam]

Coming soon!

[@MK_376]

@@FordHallam 先生、カブトの作り方を教えてください。

[@Spectra1947]

Man these pieces are beautiful! I am actually making my first tsuba thanks to your awesome videos. You mentioned the signature on one of the tsubas and I would like to sign the one I am making. I would use my blacksmithing touch mark but it has a very viking rune feel to it that I am afraid will look out of place. I found someone that will translate my name into a Kanji signature but I don't know if that is appropriate to use. I love this art form to much to do something that would be seen as rude or offensive. So any advice on what I could/should use as my signature would be appreciated. Regardless thanks for inspiring me to pursue this art form!

[@stevenb7319]

The signed tsuba may have been miscolored on the unsigned side by the oils on the original owners hands touching the metal when gripping the handle. Beautiful work though.

[@FordHallam]

In fact it would be the signed side, the outer or omote side, that would be in possible contact with a hand grasping the hilt. But it's important to remember that these sorts of art tsuba were never intended to be mounted on blades that might see any sort of use anyway.

[@Sheepdog1314]

that is tiny nanako!

[@charliebowen5071]

What is it about Japanese and their culture ….. even the most mundane of tasks seems ritualised and every man and woman seems to inherently take pride in their work.. it seems like a matter of legacy.. attention to detail is paramount in whatever activity they pursue.. that is the trait I admire most… I’m watching videos on metal working and old videos of master silversmiths etc and my wife says to me, ‘why does everything take so long’.. and on the screen at that same time an old scabbard maker was doing his thing and the interviewer asked the exact same question…. I looked up at him then at my wife as he looked back at the interviewer bemused saying, ‘ I’m doing it properly’ before dropping his head in one move, a slight look of annoyance at the question!!!

[@FordHallam]

I may borrow that response myself ;-)