How to Display/storage of Nihonto?

[NihontoSeeker]

Hello all.... I'm interested in how NMB members and collectors of nihonto display or store their collections.

What are your room temps, humidity( its dry where I live) does lighting, to close to moisture or vegetable based fog mess my art up? Thank you all.

Reuben NihontoSeeker

[cabowen]

If you are concerned with what is best for the blade, then the best way to display it is to not display it. Normally, in Japan, swords were not put on display. They are kept in a shirasaya, in a bag, in a tansu.

[Bruno]

Normally, in Japan, swords were not put on display. They are kept in a shirasaya, in a bag, in a tansu.

 

So why can we see so many katana kake and so few tansu?

[cabowen]

Fair question....Perhaps because katana kake were meant for short term placement, not ongoing display. I have seen them used many times to display koshirae without the blades. Genuine period katana kake seem rather rare. There are loads of contemporary ones.

 

Not sure why you think there is a shortage of tansu; they are quite plentiful if you look in the right place. Katana dansu are fairly rare because kiri wood, typically used, doesn't have the longevity of other woods used for other tansu. Keyaki (a hardwood) and sugi both are much more durable. That being said, another real possibility is the fact that when the wearing of swords was outlawed, many of the accoutrements associated with swords suffered- katana dansu probably suffered as well.

 

I have a katana dansu that is dated in the late Bakumatsu period and needs major repairs (actually, almost complete reconstruction). I can only assume that this is common and many of these have turned to dust, were tossed when swords became illegal to wear, etc,

[Ken-Hawaii]

"Dry" is a relative term, Reuben, & steel blades do have a tendency to rust in even the driest climates. I have a friend in Phoenix who had two of his blades rust within a few days when he had them on display in a kake, showing off for his relatives.

 

Like Chris, I keep my blades in a katanadansu (late Edo) that is specifically made to store swords long term (of course I do live a literal stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean). If you have to leave your blades out, they should preferably be in shirasaya, which you can consider as mini-tansu. Next best would be leaving them in koshirae, but those are definitely not as moisture-tight as shirasaya or tansu.

 

Ken

[NihontoSeeker]

Thank you NMB members....now to find a antique katanadansu of my own.

Reuben Nihonto Seeker

[David Flynn]

If you want to go with wood, without the expense of finding a Tansu, A chest of draws will more than suffice.

[CurtisR]

Reuben,

I went through this struggle as well - ended up making my own katana Tansu of Kiri wood (which actually grows in some places in the southern U.S. - which amazed me). The pulls and corners were the difficult part ( but there are folks out there making them from iron ) - well, unless you count my very limited skill in woodworking - but they turned out very pretty IMHO, and very functional. I made a 2-drawer chest, and a single sword chest...copied the designs from antique images found on the internet.

 

I also found 4 Edo-period pulls on ebay at a decent price .

 

I did cheat a little on the double drawer tansu by using heavy press-board for the drawer bottoms and nice pine for the sword "cradle" pieces (padded with leather). PM me if you'd like to see some photos...Kiri is really soft and easy to work with - numerous rubbings with lemon wax (especially for wood working) for the finish.

 

Curtis R.

[JDinMT]

My idea of decorating is the use of old weapons and dead things on the walls, (I'm lucky to have an understanding wife), but my Japanese swords are never out for display. I don't have a dansu but I do have a couple of gun safes in my basement work shop that stays cool and dry and that's where they live.

I can't speak for real long term, but for the past 20 years so far there's been no problem with rust or such.

 

John D.

[george trotter]

For what it's worth...I have a friend who uses an old hardwood map cabinet to store his swords. Wood is well cured and dry and the cabinet is well made antique...looks good and holds about 32 swords (if he had that many).

 

A modern steel map cabinet would be fine as it is lockable and has no adverse fumes, acids etc.

 

IMHO do not use a cabinet, chest etc that is made from veneer covered chipboard or similar...the glue fumes are acidic and last for decades...just look at paper that has been in such a drawer...even in a few years it will be yellow/brittle.

 

Hope this helps.

[Marius]

Hello all.... I'm interested in how NMB members and collectors of nihonto display or store their collections.

What are your room temps, humidity( its dry where I live) does lighting, to close to moisture or vegetable based fog mess my art up? Thank you all.

Reuben NihontoSeeker

 

 

Reuben,

 

you have to distinguish between storing a blade and a lacquered koshirae.

 

1. Lacquer requires some degree of humidity and it hates central heating and temperature changes (in such a case wood shrinks/expands and lacquer crumbles).

2. Steel requires a dry environment. Usually a shirasaya and a (very light) coat of oil (high grade machine/gun oil or choji abura) will be sufficient. Honestly, no need for tansu, unless your climate is really humid. OTOH, there are always security concerns, so a gun safe can be a good solution.

[Alex A]

Mine are on display, no problems, make sure they are listed with the insurance company!.

 

Alex.

[Alex A]

Ps, had a few friends round at the weekend who thought it was slightly amusing and a bad idea to leave the swords on display downstairs, potentially arming intruders. For the folk that do leave them out, I expect its crossed your minds too.

 

Alex.

[Marius]

You should display them by your pillow

[Alex A]

The misses thinks I spend too much time as it is on this little hobby, that would be the icing on the cake! :lol:

 

Alex

[Kai-Gunto]

I have mine on display ,cant put them away.

Its a drug for me ,need to se them when I relaxe on couch. Its a part of my roomdesign.

[Alex A]

I know what you mean Thomas . Please also be aware when buying kake , I bought one with an extra space by mistake, this then irritated me so much I had to look for a sword to fill it!, maybe this was a subcontious intention :D

 

Alex.

[CurtisR]

I just built the Tansu because they were "neat-o" :lol: . And to challenge myself to build something again (last time was in High School). Only problem with the gun safe (at first glance anyway) is that they have to be placed in w/ kissaki down. I guess it wouldn't be as bad as having them taken though, eh?

 

Curtis R.