Barrie B

Apologies; I misunderstood the question, but it looks like sikigane (added at the time of manufacture) to me. Barrie.

Yas, It is called Sekigane.. An insert (usually copper) to allow the tsuba to fit (snugly) to the nakago.. You don't just see them in the nakago ana either.. They are sometimes fitted in sukashi tsuba around the seppa-dai to fit a koshirae (Koiguchi for example) or in the Ryo hitsu-ana to accomodate kodogu or to protect the kodogu from scratching.. The latter usually being fitted to iron tsuba and done in shakudo or gold to protect the fittings. Here is an example in the kozuka-ana from one of my Akasaka tsuba. Tsuba from Suruga often have kutchibeni style sekigane that are fitted as part of the tsuba aesthetics. This is a kantei point as well. Barrie.

🤣🤣 hahaaa... Brilliant. Hi Mal, Never thought of that, but (in my little mind) is plausible.. Barrie.

BaZZa, Totally agree. It is an oddity.. One would have thought that a Kamon would be far too important to not be 'on display'.... Obviously the original owner decided comfort (in his hand) when fighting, was more important..? Or he couldn't afford another menuki to be made..! 🤣 Raffaele, So if you only have one menuki and it is only for display (for you), then maybe just place that one menuki on the Ura as you have stated.. As you say, you're not interested in future commercial value. Either way, good luck with your project. Barrie.

Hi Raffaele, I have a Daisho and the menuki are mounted in the Yagyu style (or reverse); i.e under the palms of the hand when holding the Tsuka and the Wakizashi only has one menuki fitted. The other menuki is not missing.. This late Edo period Daisho was deliberately designed like this.. Maybe you could emulate that..? Barrie.

Hi Robert, Try Heavenly Warriors; The evolution of Japans Military, 500 - 1300 by William Wayne Farris. ISBN 0-674-38704-X It's a bit of an 'academic' read, but I found it very interesting. Good luck. Barrie.

Dick, Wow..! That Kiseru is gorgeous... High quality and definitely a keeper. Well done. Barrie.

Markus, I (genuinely) am not concerned with the delay. I love the books and would like to see them in my library as a complete set, in whatever form that takes.. I must say that I am not a fan of having a PDF copy though. I fully understand and appreciate your efforts, in order to assist non Japanese readers in this field. Please do not stop. I too would be willing to pay any 'bridging' cost for better quality printing, if that was where you thought this project needs to go, to see it to completion. Although I paid up front already, it was pittance for what we received (in all fairness), so I feel this additional cost to help, would be worthwhile. I hope others feel the same way as well. Barrie.

Hi Markus, I was doing a search in the NMB for Volume three (to see if it had been released yet) and came upon this very old thread from 2018, so please forgive me if this is dead and buried. Looking through my (Vol 2) book, I notice that I have the same/ similar issues with my book in Australia; however, as Guido stated, I am more concerned with the 'English' text, than the high res pictures. Barrie.

Ian, Does that book have an english translation? I would love to get a copy of that..! Barrie.

Hi Mark, Someone with better knowledge may chime in and provide better insight, but my understanding is that when there are two Kamon placed together, it could be a commissioned gift to acknowledge or celebrate a marriage - as you say, - or maybe a gift to strengthen an alliance between Daimyo, or I have also heard that Samurai families had a 'main' Mon and a 'secondary' Mon.. So the main or dominant Mon would be displayed more prominently on the Omote and the secondary Mon on the Ura. This rule also applies if it was for a union or marriage.. The stronger family's Mon would be more prevalent or conspicuous on the Omote when worn. You often see this with Menuki.. The Omote will have two Mon on the outside and a single Mon in the centre, and that is reversed on the Ura Menuki.. So making the number of Mons 'equal' but at the same time, not displayed that way.. This can also be done by using Gold and Shakudo when displaying Mon. Gold being more visible. I have read somewhere that the free use of Mons got out of hand (unfortunately) by the end of the Edo Period, so trying to chase genealogy or provenance through the use of Mons can sometimes be a waste of time. Barrie.

It's probably the reason why we see a lot of Kamon Fuchi without Kashira. The Kashira was not lost; the Fuchi were intended to be fitted with a horn Kashira. Its also why they do not have metal Kojiri as well (on the Katana).. Barrie.

Banzashi Daisho (and other swords worn in within Edo Castle) had to have horn Kashira, IAW the Tokugawa edict. This is totally in keeping with this Koshirae; no problems there.. Barrie.

Hi Robert, Not I, but a nice pick-up in my opinion.. Not sure why the Fuchi is on the wrong side of the Tsuba, but hey.. Thats what we are here for - to put these things right. Certainly a nice project to complete.. Finding the right Menuki will be the trick. Should be (two) mons for the Wakizashi, but probably any Shakudo/ Gold Menuki would be okay under the ito, or even plain Shakudo to be more subtle. I wonder if it was part of a Banzashi Daisho at one time..? I don't think I I have seen that 'moon' Mon previously either - if it is a moon..? Congrats to whoever won it, Barrie.

Steve, Thank you; much appreciated. Sincerely, Barrie.

Hi Guido, Thank you for your explanation. I am most grateful and very appreciative. I like koshirae anyway, but this saya was different.. As Tom stated, it must have been a devil to apply - but I am guessing - once applied (and cured), the final product could then be 'worked' back to obtain the final even surface and shape.. It looks like Kusune to me (in the triangle hollows), but is probably black ishimeji, as you say. Thanks again.. Barrie.

Hi Peter, I can't access that site.. It says 403 Forbidden. Access to this resource on the server is denied! Barrie.

Hi all, I do think it is nice; in fact I like it a lot. Even the Shitodome is nice..! Some more picks of the Koshirae, but I am really interested in learning more about the saya.. Barrie.

Hi all, I have an unusual saya and would like to know if anyone knows what it is called please. I am guessing it is pine needles (?) that were all cut to the same length and then painstakingly arranged/glued in the pattern we see, before lacquer was applied and finally rubbed back..? The look and texture of the saya is amazing. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you. Barrie.

Hi, I have a fairly normal (but nicely finished) Meiji period Sword Cane Koshirae that has some kanji on the bottom. Although I can read most of the kanji like hisa and tada, I cannot put it together to decipher if it is a maxim or the sayashi's signature. Any assistance would be appreciated, thank you. Barrie.

G'day Pete, Hozon paper was issued 30 Jan 1991 (Heisei 3). Unfortunately the paper does not say much else other than the obvious - Snake Gourd design, round, raised mimi, two hitsuana etc.. So I guess mid/ late-ish Edo jidai. Barrie.

Hi Mark, Nice Koshirae. Iron fittings, leather Tsuka-ito, metal Kojiri and ishimei Saya. I would go with Higo or Edo Higo.. Barrie.

I have a one sided Tsuba - if you want to call it that. I think mine is 'finished' on the back, (as in the Jigane) but simply has no design. (intentionally left blank). Mine is papered to Aizu Shoami by the NBTHK. Barrie.

Hi Grev, Nice tsuba. Is it mokume, or just acid etched to appear that way? I thought I read somewhere that Tsuba that were intended as gifts were often signed on the ura. I might be wrong.. Barrie.

Hi, Yes, it was posted on Facebook and I thought it might be a good read, since I like Koshirae and he purports (is that the wrong word?) to make Koshirae and Tsuka.. I know there has been some bad press about him recently and I don't want to get into that. FWIW, he is not replying to my emails either. I was just wondering if the book was worth having.. I am guessing no members have purchased this book. Barrie.