Barrie B

Nice Tsuba , Not really a concern, but a pity the top Kuchi-beni is missing…. Barrie.

My personal opinion only - but, I don't think they are menuki. The reason (I think this) is that menuki (animals etc) are made 'left and right handed' so that they are both facing the same way when mounted; the most common exception to this rule would be Mon's where both menuki are the same. I suspect that they were probably cast from the same original to 'make a pair' as it were. As I stated before, if the sword (Koshirae) was for personal use (Iaido or Tameshigiri) then you would get away with them mounted under ito… After all; you already own them… They look O.k and why spend more money if they will be in the palm.. I would enjoy seeing a pic (or two) of the finished koshirae one day - which ever way you go.. Barrie.

Joe, If these were sold to you as menuki, then you might be able to get your money back… Barrie.

Joe, Depending on the style of tsukamaki that you are after and the quality of the other fittings, I would think these would be fine under ito (with small lozenges), but without knowing what the other fittings look like and your intensions for the koshirae, we cannot really give any sound advice. Do you plan to use the koshirae? Are you selling it? Are you trying to reproduce an historically correct koshirae? If you plan to display or sell, then I would not use them.. Use real menuki. Barrie.

With the exception of 'court mounted' tachi (which mostly had all matching fittings) and banzashi-daisho that were supposed to have shakudo tsuba, most other swords would have had iron tsuba with either kin, gin, shakudo, shibuichi/rogin, tetsu or even suaka fittings (or a combination of) and this would have been quite acceptable. In fact Owari or Yagyu koshirae would undoubtably have tetsu (preferably Owari or Yagyu) tsuba's fitted, whilst all the other fittings could be (made of) any material that the owner decided, including - in same cases - horn. If you look at pictures of good Koshirae, then you will notice that it is actually not the 'norm' to have the Koshirae fittings in all the same type of metal.. I can strongly recommend Markus Sesko's book Koshirae - Japanese Sword Mountings as an almost 'must have' for any nihonto collector - regardless of your specialised area of interest - to better understand how the things we collect were worn/ used, when (i.e what time period) and in what circumstance. Barrie.

Gabriel, Thanks for posting.. I found it very interesting. Barrie.

Thank you to both of you.. I was never going to get that…! Much appreciated. Barrie B.

Al, you're a funny guy.. Don't you like wooden Tsuba? :lol: I was going to use the Tsunagi for a project I had in mind, and this whole package was less than half of getting a new Tsunagi made; however, now I have started researching the Sayagaki, I will just leave as is I think now.. Another curio for the cabinet… We all have them..! Anyhow, apologies; there was no photo of the date, but I have added one now. I have a basic 'Date Book' but it does not seem to be helping me here. As previously discussed, any assistance would be appreciated. Barrie B.

Hello all, Well I have tried to figure out what is written on the Ura and I am sure it is a date and his signature [Hon'ami Koson (with Kao)] but I do not have enough research material to figure it out. :? I can just read Showa at the top (because of the style of writing - very difficult to make out but I know enough to realise it says Showa) and I can make out 'Month' so I am guessing it says some thing like dated first half of the 5th month in Showa x..?… or maybe one of the zodiac years are mentioned in the date I don't see 'Hachi' so it wasn't a lucky month... Barrie B.

Then you to every one who has assisted so far… Guido, I think I see a date - Showa at the top. I will work on it over the next day or so… Can be a bit difficult to read.. Thanks for the assistance so far and for confirming what little I had. Barrie B.

Guido, Thank you for your prompt assistance. I see Mitsuyo now, thank you. So (Hawleys) MIT340 perhaps..? Any ideas on the rest of the Sayagaki? Is the smaller kanji describing the blade/ owner? I am guessing the Ura is Hon'ami? Is this considered an important Sayagaki? Or just by the previous owner? Barrie.

Hello all, I have a Sayagaki that I am having trouble translating, and would like some assistance please (I see 'Mitsu'). Oddly, the Shirasaya has a Tsunagi in it.. I have never seen a Tsunagi in a Shirasaya before...? Why would it be so? What is the point? Anyway, I think this Sayagaki is from Hon'ami Koson (1875-1955) but not sure what the attribution says. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Barrie B.

Hi, I too would be interested buying a copy. Any information on how to facilitate this would be appreciated. Thank you. Barrie B.

Have you tried Jigoku Studios in Queensland? Kam is a nice guy and should be able to help you out.. http://jigokustudios.com.au Barrie B.

Thanks mate.. It is part of this set.. I saw your Aoi Mon Kozuka and just had to have one.. :D except mine is not papered to Goto (like yours).. If I am lucky it might paper to Yoshioka school.. Very late Edo, but nice enough for me… Barrie B.

Geraint, What a brilliant idea to use a Coping saw blade.. Worked a treat. Turns out my Kozuka was filled with wood. Looks like Cedar, but what ever it was, thankfully it was quite soft. I can now fit a kogatana in it. Thanks for the tip.. I will be recommending that to others with the same issue.. Barrie B.

Is that traces of black lacquer (left on the Tsuba) or has the Shakudo finish been worn off? Barrie B

Hi all, I have a Kozuka that must have had a kogatana fitted at some time using paper.. When I bought it, the kogatana had obviously been removed and now the Kozuka has paper left in it. Is there any way to remove this paper easily, or is this Kozuka just for display now? Anyone else had a similar problem? I have not even tried wire or a paper clip yet: any advice is appreciated. Thank you. Barrie B.

Barry, A great example of what we are talking about. Pete Klein also posted several good examples of the seppa-dai being adjusted to suit the dimensions/ alignment of the new Koshirae - as probably dictated by the (then) new owner at the time. In the KTK article discussed previously, there are only hand drawn examples, so thanks for posting actual Tsuba for all to see. Barrie B.

Hi all, After re-reading my copy of the KTK Catalogue (2011) Random thoughts regarding the Seppa-Dai of Tsuba which discussed both adding 'material' to the Kozuka (and Kogai) ana as well as occasionally to some of the sukashi parts of the Tsuba around the Seppa-Dai (to adjust for alignment), I have come to agree with the author, that the 'material' (usually Shakudo) fitted to any tsuba (no matter what part) was only added to ensure that all the Koshirae fittings aligned and became kampeki. I do agree that some 'material' (done in gold for example) were purely cosmetic - or aesthetic, if you like; however, after having a look at a particular Akasaka Tsuba I own, I have to come to the conclusion that this sekigane in the Kozuka ana of my Tsuba (which is not parallel or symmetrical), was added to make the Tsuba (specifically the Kozuka ana) align nicely with the rest of the Koshirae. I have many iron Tsuba (even fitted on Koshirae) that do not have 'material' fitted, because as someone stated previously, a correctly crafted koshirae does not need them. Barrie B.

Hawley and Chappellear also show Suji-chigai Mon (crossed timbers) on page 95 so it might be a variation on this, but I agree that it also does look a bit like Ryugo; even though the top and bottom cross-bar do not clearly indicate Ryugo.. Barrie.

Miha, Very functional 'tea taste' tsuba… I actually don't mind it. Probably mounted on a very austere koshirae, once.. Barrie.

Hi Grant, Brave, attempting to make a complete koshirae from scratch.. You should buy the book 'Owari and Yagyu Koshirae' by Masayuki Sakairi, because it has a whole chapter/ section on Tsukashin Densho: The Secret True Transmission of Tsukamaki Techniques. I am sure there are other references on the net that you may be able to use as well.. Good luck. Barrie B.

I orded both books and I must say the quality and content are fantastic.. well done (and thank you) to Markus.. It has/ is providing excellent reading.. and of course increasing my knowledge base.. Barrie B.

Ken, Yes; very nice.. Well done. Thank you for taking the trouble to post pictures… Barrie.