Barrie B

Thanks Ford.. Very interesting - and educational. It has certainly changed my perception about (all matching) Koshirae..! Barrie.

I was reading a very good topic in the Tosogu thread (Fun Set of Menuki by Soshu) when I read Fords post and stated to get curious about this. Although I can totally agree with you, Ford, I am also confused. Matched fittings look nice - don't they? I remember a fantastic Tanto Koshirae that was for sale on this board in Jan of 2013. All the fittings were exactly the same material and theme; made of silver by Sakai Kishin (H 03210.0) displaying Sakura blossoms or flowers. A beautiful Koshirae from memory.. I have this set displaying pine needles.. Although the Tsuba, Menuki and Kozuka are missing and might have been different (i.e. displaying pine cones instead of needles or a completely different theme that ties in some way), we see koshirae with the same fittings (ensemble) regularly.. many made all by the same hand and completely matching. I have also previously heard strong debate on this forum about deliberately not matching the fittings as well…. I also agree with this theory - and there are many very fine (historical) examples that proves this... I had never considered that all matching fittings could be considered 'dull'.. Is this a product of our unrefined 'Western taste'..? Again Ford, your contribution is appreciated and certainly food for thought… Thank you. Barrie.

Hi Michael, As Jean correctly stated, the Tsuba is Soten style. The fact that it is Mumei is good… Not because it will be Soten though.. The fuchi kashira look really nice; as do the menuki. Well done.. I like them all... Barrie.

Thank you all.. I know we have been around the subject of 'matching themes' for fittings etc previously; however, I really feel that this ocean theme works.. Or is it depicting Lobster season…? Barrie.

Hi all, I hope everyone is well.. I thought I'd post a recent 'pick up' that I am quite pleased with... I bought the extra large lobster Menuki last year. They are 90 mm long (over 3.5 inches) and I liked them so much, I had them mounted into a fitted box; however, I recently saw these yamagane (or 'Sudo' - please feel free to correct me!) mumei 'Omori style waves' F/K that I thought would pair up nicely.. They are un-papered, so please note I said Omori style.. not Omori..! BTW, any Omori experts here that want to comment? The colour match isn't 'exactly' the same, but its close... Looks like I was a little hasty getting those Ebi menuki mounted in a fitted box..! I should have waited.. LOL. Barrie.

Grev, Looks like an NTK Origami… This link might help. http://www.shibuiswords.com/papers1.htm Barrie.

Hamish, I must admit, that was my first thought as well.. Barrie.

Very nice.. Good luck; we all hope you do well. I love the subtlety of the ao-kin BTW.. Barrie.

Nice Tsuba Stephen.. Theme of Autumn perhaps with the (Maple?) leaf falling to the ground and the Mushrooms out with the early rains? Barrie.

Hi Rob, The Take (Bamboo) Mon on your Fuchi was popular and a version very similar to yours was used by many families. I have uploaded a picture from the book 'MON The Japanese Family Crest' by Hawley and Chappelear as well as another picture I have from another Mon book, but do not know the translation. I am assuming it is simply a description of the Mon.. Finding the family that used that exact Kamon might be a challenge.. Barrie.

Hi Louie, Neat koshirae.. That Handachi saya is really nice.. Fittings look like Shakudo; or are they iron? I've never seen Tsuka maki like that before though.. very interesting. Barrie.

Hi Curtis, Nice Koshirae.. I really enjoy seeing nice koshirae and would be interested to hear the suggestions made for this koshirae. My first thoughts were that it was modelled on a Higo Koshirae.. Barrie.

Thanks gents.. I originally had a miss-matched Kozuka in there, and although it was Shakudo (with Nanako), it did not suit. This looks much more pleasing and completes the koshirae I think. Additionally, it recycles a Kozuka that may not have found a home..! Barrie.

Hi all, I have a Higo Koshirae that was missing the Kozuka, and although I tried to find a match, I could not, so I sought the assistance of a professional - Robert Soanes - to solve my problem. http://katchushi.com/restoration-2/kodogu.html I purchased an old Kozuka that the 'motif' or design had fallen off and I asked if he could save/ restore it to suit my Koshirae. I must say that I am very pleased with the service and the result. Not only did he make a new Shakudo Kamon to suit, he 'cleaned' the old Kozuka of the old 'glue' and made it look nearly new..! I cannot wipe the smile from my face..! I cannot recommend his (or any of the other contemporary restoration professionals) services enough. If any of you are thinking about having something made or restored, then I can only say that you should seek (and support) their very valuable services. If I were a younger man, I would apprentice myself to any one of them... Some photos of the finished Koshirae.. Barrie.

Interesting design… I often wish we could travel back in time to discover the true origin of the pairing of the Tomoe Mon (design) Tsuba with the Hosokawa Mons… Nice Tsuba.. Barrie.

Photo of Kojiri... Barrie

Hi all, I purchased this Koshirae recently and although it doesn't have the classic Nishigaki waves F/K, it is classic Higo with the Black Same, leather ito and rounded shibuichi kogiri.. This koshirae has that subdued and elegant 'tea taste' style about it that I really like. : The saya has provision for a Kozuka so although it is 102 cm Katana Koshirae, it think it may have more likely been a Bashin perhaps..? Any thoughts on this? Barrie.

Hi Mathew, Welcome. Tosho Tsuba. Some info can be found here… http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/oldiron.htm Barrie.

Veli, Looks brilliant..! I think you have done a wonderful job; well done. You should be very pleased with yourself. I was going to add some clapping hands (emotocon), but I don't know how to do that now.. Barrie.

I would say the presence of sekigani indicates that it was previously mounted and the fact that it only has a Kozuka-ana indicates that it was probably intended for a Wakizashi; I read somewhere that Wakizashi Koshirae should always have a Kozuka, but of course there are always exceptions to the rule. Additionally, as Jean stated, this size Tsuba could be (and were) fitted to a katana. Nice Tsuba BTW.. Barrie B.

This thread has been very good reading, but I want to make one point about new collectors.. we all have to think about how we got started.. For some, I'm sure the hobby was introduced by a friend, but for me it was self initiated; it was a gunto purchase from an antique dealer in 1992.. I knew nothing about Nihonto or Tosogu at that time (some would argue I still don't) and had no idea that I could actually collect and own these things. So after that first purchase, I started doing some research, bought a book (Military Swords of Japan by Fuller and Gregory) and finally met some collectors in Sydney.. This was pre internet, but I was hooked because I had an interest… Its that interest we need to generate in new collectors… It wasn't easy to see or buy swords back then BTW, so I probably bought high a few times, but that is supply and demand; I stuck at it... Barrie B.

Hi Jeffery, Clearly some 'low life' @#$% has swapped the original Tsuba out at some point.. Very disappointing.. A practice that I despise BTW.. and it is often not just the dealers that do it either.. Often though, the first thing to 'go' is the Kozuka, before a Wakizashi (Koshirae) is sold.. Good luck with your quest for re-patination, as I too think your Tsuba is worth saving.. Barrie B.

So does the Tsuba fit..? We digress from the original patination question.. Barrie B.

Hi Jeffery, Can we see photos of the Saya or Koshirae please? I am expecting to see a Saya with shallow sori, large Kurikata and a flattened or 'Satsuma Kaerizumo'. Additionally, Satsuma Tsuba usually had saya-dome-ana, although the sukashi on your Tsuba could have served this purpose. As Geraint stated, if the Tsuba is loose fitting etc, then it is highly likely that some $%#@& swapped the Tsuba out.. I believe the term used on this board previously is a Drop Tsuba. If however, the Tsuba fits well then it may be original - perhaps it was all that poor Samurai could afford at the time.. What is the quality of the rest of the Koshirae? Barrie B.

Hi all, I knew I had seen this image before.. Anyone that owns a copy of The Hartman Collection of Japanese Metalwork will find a facsimile of this illustration in the front and back covers… Barrie B.