Black lacquer shira saya

[Lindus]

Have seen a few over the decades,one at a To-Ken Taikai with gold attribution. Just curious as to the reason for lacquering and how common it is?.

[ROKUJURO]

If I am correctly informed, SHIRA/SHIRO means white or plain, so you should perhaps look for a KURO SAYA. I wonder if a laquered SAYA would then have the same properties as a normal SHIRA SAYA.

[cabowen]

Akin to gold plating, engraving, and pearl grips on a .45.......no accounting for taste....

[Mark]

I have seen a few of these, usually have Showa era blades with signatures or Masamune, Rai smiths etc

[Lindus]

Akin to gold plating, engraving, and pearl grips on a .45.......no accounting for taste....

 

Well thats going to cheer up owners of Holland & Holland as well as Purdy owners,not to mention Silver gilt collectors and I suspect the odd colt45 hoarder.

So I would guess from your comment that lacquering shira saya is purely decorative or to cover inferior wood?.

[george trotter]

Roy san,

I have only seen one lacquered "shirasaya" in 40 years (Fukumoto Amahide showato), so they are not too common...a bit like pearl handled Colts.

Not sure why it was done...vanity? artistic taste?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as the following shows....

During WW2 General Patton used to wear a ivory handled .45 Colt revolver;

when asked by a reporter why he wore a "pearl handled" revolver he replied:

"They're ivory son...only the manager of a New Orleans whore-house wears a pearl handled revolver".

Regards,

[sanjuro]

only the manager of a New Orleans whore-house wears a pearl handled revolver

 

I would add, 'or has a black lacquered shirasaya'. And that my friends, just about says it all. :D