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Do you know any really unusal Tsuba?


Drago

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Well, I have to say, I'm an avid fan of Japanese anime and manga. This is what got me interested in Nihonto in the first place... :D

 

In anime you often see very unusally shaped Tsuba e.g. very odd shapes or shapes like the crossguard on European swords.

 

From what I know, there are two types of Tsuba commonly found on Japanese swords, either the usual disc shape (plain, with engravings, sukashi etc.) or Shitogi Tsuba. (and of course aikuchi sized preuso-tsuba usually made from horn - if you can count that as a tsuba)

 

I'd like to know if anyone knows of genuine Tusba that do not fit the two usual types. So if you have ever seen something that you would call "unusual", please post some pictures.

 

Thanks.

 

Oh, btw: This is really akward for me. Is the plural form of Tusba "Tsuba" or "Tsubas" in English?

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Dear Tobias,

 

I think it´s not possible to answear your question.

It´s been said that there are about 5 million Japanese swords, so imagine how many tsuba´ s are existing!

Over the time if you are interrested you will find all kinds of tsuba´s, even more "unusal" as you can ever imagine.

But from the pratical view, why should someone mount some oversized, strange and impractical tsuba to his sword?

Maybe if he got a realy bad taste or he is a a looser when it comes to swordfighting. :dunno:

But I have seen some "unusal" motives like stylized birds, friuts and many other stuff.

From posting you didn´t sound uneducated... but manga is still manga. To bring somthing on paper is more easy than to create somthing "real".

 

Greetings

 

Ruben

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I don't know it the learned will even consider this a tsuba, let alone art...but here is a a very crude cast Type 3 army tsuba of WWII.

It has been "carved" (with a nail?) to show a picture of two water birds in a pond, with autumn leaves falling...

Very crude, but a tender expression of home/memory by a soldier at the front....I like it.

Regards,

post-787-14196840359169_thumb.jpg

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Well, I have to say, I'm an avid fan of Japanese anime and manga. This is what got me interested in Nihonto in the first place... :D

 

8)

 

In anime you often see very unusally shaped Tsuba e.g. very odd shapes or shapes like the crossguard on European swords.

 

Mugen? haha

post-1647-14196840403883_thumb.gif

http://www.ioffer.com/i/samurai-champlo ... -167022139

 

50 bucks? actually looks like kind of a good deal. :rotfl:

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Not tsuba, but heres a good one you might be interested in... ;)

 

The Bizen Osafune Japanese Sword Museum 'Token Village'...

 

http://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp/~osa-token/english/access/index.htm

 

...just held an exhibition of contemporary interpretations of the swords from *Neongenesis Evangelion*. Pretty far out! Links below:

 

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/cool_japan/culture/AJ201205010074

 

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/07/19/future-and-past-collide-as-long-awaited-evangelion-and-Japanese-sword-exhibit-opens/

 

http://www.samurai-sword-shop.com/blog/evangelion-Japanese-sword-exhibit-where-past-meets-future/nggallery/images/

 

Here is the 'engrish' version of the introduction to the exhibition :rotfl:

 

http://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp.e.ap.hp.transer.com/~osa-token/exhibitions/index.htm

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Hi,

 

unusual tsuba, huh? here's a couple:

 

Apparently a theatrical tsuba:

http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/z ... a_arty.jpg

 

and a couple of saotome/tembo "amoeba"

http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/a ... _drama.jpg

all I've got is a vr image set of this one right now:

http://www.rkgphotos.com/recent_stuff/s ... ctual.html

 

Best,

 

rkg

(Richard George)

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  • 4 years later...

Hi

A couple of my tsuba

 

A late tsuba but who on earth would but this on a sword?

 

post-2100-0-44229800-1481796112_thumb.jpg

 

Not a very rare shape and I've seen the temple bell shape within a rim.

I have seen this design before but no idea where so any links would be appreciated

 

post-2100-0-80406100-1481796122_thumb.jpg

 

One of my nicest tsuba but the images do no do it justice (memo to me: I must take better pictures)

 

post-2100-0-99963700-1481796132_thumb.jpg

 

Funnily enough I've only just asked a dealer to let me know if he finds any unusually shaped tsuba

Edited by kissakai
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