Barrie B

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.

Hi John, No.. clearly there are many tsuba that were made circa 1714 with Ryohitsu ana which is why I was trying to verify the Tokugawa Law. I have seen many tsuba with only the Kozuka ana present and these are clearly for Tanto or Wakizashi. If Kogai were supposedly banned from being worn on katana, then I too ask 'why do we see so many Katana sized Tsuba made with Ryohitsu ana? Barrie.

Hi George, Yes could be that.. Thank you. I do not know what they were, which is why I posted them here on the NMB (with its many members and large knowledge base), Highly plausible that the items could be Oar, Rudder and Poles (the Poles being used for ..?) As for the (Batman) frames or "cartouches", I have no idea what they are or represent.. Any idea about which way they would be orientated? Thanks.. Barrie.

Gents, Thanks for replying Thomas and Brian. Great articles about Menuki placement that we have all brushed over previously or read here and there, but great to read it again, so thanks for posting Brian. I was trying to get an opinion on what the motif was so I could place them the right way 'up' etc.. Thanks. Barrie.

Hi Ford, The book I quote from is a (photo-copied) facsimile of SOKEN KODOKU YOGU to MEISHO no KAISETSU (An explanation of sword fittings terminology) taken from the notebooks of Rear Admiral Edwin T Layton, US Navy, Ret. and other sources by Alan L Harvie. It is an absolutely informative book that I have really enjoyed reading. I would really like to know if these laws were actually passed (by the Tokugawa) and to what extent they were adhered to.. Barrie.

Hi Dale, I'm not an expert on Saotome, but that is a large Tsuba.. Needs a little a TLC as you say.. Would love to see it in hand.. Barrie.

Okay.. so no ideas on orientation; any ideas on the motif then..? What would the items (on the top of the menuki) supposed to represent? Thanks. Barrie.

Hi all, I have these menuki that I think are stylised Bats (?) and was wondering which orientation they should be mounted.. i.e which is the right way up and which one is the Ura and which is the Omote? Any assistance appreciated. Thanks in advance.. Barrie.

Hi Steve, I believe it is pine resin glue called Kasune; happy to be corrected on this. It is often used to glue menuki onto tsuka or kogatana into kozuka. Barrie.

Thierry, Great looking tsuba.. I love it. Thanks for posting. I wonder how big Saotome like this can get..? Stephen, Just checked my book and it states 3.36 inches.. I should have checked the conversion. Good pick up mate.. sorry I missed it. So did the Tokugawa expect Samurai to use 2 sun 3 bu Tsuba..? It was a relatively peaceful time (was it not?) and I would think that 2 sun 3 bu would be a less likely typo than 3.36"..? I personally like smaller sized tsuba on katana koshirae, and do think that looks more aesthetically pleasing (than large tsuba) on koshirae.. but that may just be me.. Barrie.

Hi all, I have read (and I quote): '...during the flamboyancy of the Genroku era [1688 - 1703] a sumptuary law was passed by the Tokugawa Shogunate in Shotoku 4 [1714] prohibiting the mounting of kogai or kozuka on the katana, and limiting the size of tsuba to 2 sun 3 bu [3.36" /6.97cm]...' The text does go on to say that: '… the exact wording of the Shogunate law regarding tsuba size has yet to be verified...' Saotome Tsuba are known to be large, but I have a very large Saotome Tsuba (probably made from a man-hole cover) measuring 104mm x 102mm x 6.5mm and I am curious to know if these large tsuba were made before this law was passed, or - as I suspect, just in contravention to the law; If this law was in fact passed, or even policed..? Anyone have any true evidence? My Tsuba may pre-date 1714, but I doubt it.. I am curious to know if anyone has a similarly large (or larger) Saotome that they would like to share? Barrie.

Kevin, Are you talking about specific names for types of 'Sageo' and 'Ito'..? Sorry I cannot help you there. We all need them, and I have bought heaps of Sageo over the years.. None custom made though.. That would be nice..! Perhaps you could invent your own style..? I am sure that if you are able to perfect this craft, then you will (and should be) very pleased with yourself.. I hope you succeed. Good luck with it. Barrie.

Seller does state they are modern.. And they look it too.. Maybe an Iaito koshirae being sold off perhaps…? Barrie.

Wow…! That is all I can say. Barrie.