Barrie B

Hi all, Trying to research this Tsuba and I am thinking Hayashi work.. Any opinions? Its a bold and not very delicate sukashi, which is why I am thinking that. Size: 80.5mm H x 81mm W & 5.5mm T. Apologies that the photo is not better.. Thanks, Barrie.

Hi Grev, I assume you mean the small cut outs at the top of the Kozuka-ana and at the bottom of the Kogai-ana? I am wondering if these were from a previous design and the the hitsu-ana were added later..? Nice Tsuba BTW. Barrie.

Thank you very much everyone.. Very interesting... I have to shoot off to work now, but I will do some more homework tonight when I get in.. Hopefully Kuniharu is in Haynes.. Thanks again. greatly appreciated. Barrie.

Thanks Joe, So Fujita is the family name..? Barrie.

Hi, I have a tsuba with quite a long mei on it, that I do not quite understand.. Any assistance would be appreciated. Thanks, Barrie.

Hi Geraint, Thanks; that is exactly what I was after. Barrie.

Thanks for the reply, Bruno. Any idea what this 'style' is called? Barrie.

Hi all, I have this Fuchi lying around (we all have them!) and I was wondering what style this would be called and when did it become popular? The Fuchi is 40mm, so on the large side compared to most F/K I own. I have seen a few koshirae with these fittings (over the years) and I must admit, they do not appeal to me, at all.. The fitting has a Higo shape, but looks crude or rustic.. I am sure it was not easy to make, but it is definitely not the refined elegance we are used to seeing of koshirae fittings. Any idea when they were first made, or by which group? And what is their appeal? Were they tourist pieces or was this style actually fashionable at one stage in the late Edo period? Anyone know? Thanks. Barrie.

Steve, Thanks, you might be right. It does seem odd that anyone would either sign or mark up seppa.. Barrie.

Bruce, Thank you for your reply.. I have a Kai Gunto that has numbers stamped on all the fittings and this makes sense in a mass-production environment, but away from that, seppa were custom made for the blade and koshirae. I really do not see how they could be easily mixed up - unless they were in a semi-mass production environment as well? My only guess is perhaps they were marked to be paired up later after a seperate kinko artist applied the gold foil. Perhaps the 'kinko' artist waited until he received several/ many pairs of seppa (perhaps on a string) to apply the foil, so as to be more efficient with his time.. After all, if you are set up (to 'foil' one pair), you are surely good to go for a small production or batch.. I would have thought that the foil would be applied by the same person making the seppa, just as it is on habaki. Anyway, perhaps we will never know. Barrie.

Hi all, I have these gold foil seppa that have kanji on them. Can anyone please tell me what they say/ or mean? I can't imagine that they are marked Ura and Omote as this seems obvious to me.. The kanji on both seppa do look similar as well.. Is it (perhaps..?) lightly and rather cleverly signed by the apprentice tasked to make them..? ..or perhaps they were marked by the maker for payment at a later date..? Or perhaps marked for the blade they were made for, as the maker possibly made several pairs a day? Any assistance would be appreciated. Thanks. Barrie.

I have successfully used a scroll saw blade - trimmed to a sharp point at one end (just prior to a saw tooth) to create a 'barb'.. Once you get a bit of paper out, you can keep working to draw a bit more out each time. Works really well to clean out Kozuka handles of wood and paper, but may not be long enough for your Tsuka.. You may have to affix to something to get the depth. Good luck which ever way you go... Barrie.

Thomas, Makes sense.. thank you..! And for you quick reply; I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, this does not reflect what was in the box.. so obviously a recycled box. Again, I appreciate your assistance. Sincerely, Barrie.

Hello, Can someone please assist me with this pencil written on the lid of a Tsuba box. Thank you in advance. Barrie.

Just thrown in a draw.. and allowed to 'clang' together.. amazing..!! Barrie.

Hi Rob, I have a Mac and sometimes (not always though) I have the same problem.. I have had to edit my post (and uploads) several times to get it right.. Can't explain it.. sorry. Anyway, congratulations on your Tsuba, although it looks like the Kogai-ana was added later - by the fact it cuts through the design - and the patina could do with some improvement, but otherwise its a nice little tsuba. Someone obviously liked it enough to modify and fit to their sword. It could have been loved a bit more in a previous life, looking at the condition of the iron and the patina, but we find that sometimes.. I always like the presence of Sekigane in/ on Tsuba showing that it was once worn.. Barrie.

BaZZa, What a fabulous koshirae. Surely a prize in any collection, and I really do love it.. It certainly looks like a 'regularly mounted' koshirae, so I wonder why the anomaly (of the fixed Tsuba). What purpose would this serve? Deceit perhaps? Could the blade looked housed, when in fact partly drawn...? Getting back to the original post, I cannot add any assistance to the odd looking koshirae; however, I was always led to believe that 'Doctors Swords' were a (solid) koshirae - like a sort of Baton - but made look like a short sword to deter vagabonds and reprobates.. Barrie.

Morning BaZZa, Very interesting, and I can't say I have seen this before. Certainly dispenses with the notion that the Tsuba is to stop the hand running down the blade; however, in this case this looks like a tanto or ko-wakizashi, so probably not so much of a concern here? Certainly will stop the Tsuba rattling... LOL. I too am interested in what the members of the board have to say.. Looks like a nice koshirae, so perhaps the owner was just wanting something different in the late Edo period when he/ she commissioned this? Is this yours? Any chance we can get some more pics of the Koshirae if it is? Thanks. Barrie.

Interesting… I have a Wakizashi Koshirae that is very similar to the koshirae of the blade being discussed.. Here are some photos for comparison.. Barrie.

Yes, very nice.. Any chance we can see the back..? Thanks. Barrie.

Nice…! Should be a really nice Koshirae when done mate.. And I am sure you will be really pleased - I would be. Great that you are supporting contemporary craftsmen as well… All of us should do more of that. Looking foreword to seeing the finished product.. Barrie.

Antti, Yes that is the Tsuba.. Gorgeous..! Barrie.

Yes, that was the set I was thinking of. Thanks for posting Dave. From memory, I think I have seen this type of work (with the shakudo Hosokowa MONs inserted and the nanako worked over the whole lot) emulated on a Tsuba as well.. Barrie.

Hi Max, Nice set.. There was (is) a really nice Suaka nanako Fuchi/ Kashira where the (inserted) Hosokawa Mons were made of shakudo and the nanako pattern continued throughout.. The owner may care to share... Barrie.

Thomas, I hadn't thought of that; I guess I naively thought that the laws would be adhered to all over the country, but your explanation makes perfect sense.. Thanks. Barrie.