Nakago ana

[Dr Fox]

May I ask the Tsuba gentlemen on here a question! Why is it in general, that for sale tsuba's have included measurements, but not of the nakago ana? I am always on the look out for tsuba to match to blades and fittings, but have no clear idea as to whether they are a fit or not! Trying to get clarity from sellers on this point usually results in the item being sold before replies.

I dont collect tsuba as a hobby, but have seen items that if fitted would have a place on blades. Am I alone in my needs, or is a marketing opportunity being missed here.

Cheers Denis

[cabowen]

Just a guess, but buying a tsuba to fit a blade is not just about whether or not it will fit on the blade- the thickness is also important. Finding a tsuba that has the correct opening and thickness is asking a lot. Most people that collect tsuba do not do so to mount them. You really need the tsuba in hand to check for proper fit, unless you are happy with a sloppy fit, extra seppa, leather washers, etc...

[Marius]

Denis,

 

your needs are pretty common.

 

Alas, they often boil down to assembling a "koshirae" which is an insult to a good sword.

 

Of course, there are also examples of properly made koshirae, where the tsuka, tsukamaki and saya are newly made to fit the sword, and where tsuba, f/k and menuki are old but carefully selected. The result will be pleasing only if you deal with experts and if you have a very good understanding of koshirae styles, plus a solid knowledeg of Japanese culture, legends, symbolism, etc. Of course, some sense of aesthetics is needed, too :-)

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

I just updated my eBay auction with this information for the tsuba I am selling. Follow the link below at my website if what to know more. Normally a tsuba maker in most cases could fit a existing tsuba to a sword by the addition of one or more sekigane or by increasing the size of the nakago-ana. I met one tsuba maker that will do this as a service. On old tsuba you can often see signs the tsuba has been mounted on many different swords sometimes with different koshirea styles.

[Alex A]

Denis, i know where your coming from, ive spent the last 3 or 4 months asking folk about nakago ana size, if i was selling a tsuba i would add it, just to keep everyone happy. I dont see anything wrong about swapping a non original tsuba for a better quality non original tsuba (with a good fit, correct date and match to the fuchi kashira), thats down to personal taste. How many swords do you see with original tsuba?. Ive shelved my latest plan to put together a tensho koshirae for a sword i own, kind of come round to Mariusz,s way of thinking. Its expensive, and as Grey mentioned in a previous post, potential future buyers wont give a hoot about what you have spent, so basically you could be throwing money away, money that could be spent on better investments such as yari, tsuba, naginata and tanto and beer. On the other hand, i suppose if someone wants there sword in koshirae then fine, is that not just a posh shirasaya?, a way of storing and keeping the blade safe, but beware, when you come to sell, some folk may be put off by other folks taste, bit like selling a house with a pink bathroom suite . Everyone to there own, i suppose.

 

Alex

[Dr Fox]

Thanks for the answers guys, a few very good aspects to consider, first

Thanks Chris,

It's the getting the tsuba in hand that was my initial problem, but with measurements at least it's a starter, as we know a ‘sloppy’ fit can be remedied with a copper insert, and seppas of different thicknesses could I suppose tighten the assembly, so its not rattling when the sword is in hand.

Mariusz,

I take your points on board, and agree that badly done without regard to the blades age, its style, would be indeed an insult in the finished product. If one observes the aesthetics, and there are plenty of good examples out there, would you say this could still be done to a respectable level?

David,

Agreed.

Alex,

Yes, several of your points make perfect sense. My initial thoughts on this was not to engage my personal taste, my reasoning being that as Mariutz has stated, I also feel that improperly done, the result will look like a horse designed by a committee. But it also gives rise to this thought, how many swords bought today are actually properly themed in their fittings? As to re-sale, this is not a consideration as I intend to live till I am 140yrs old.

But seriously, would I buy an expensive tsuba that would fit a blade that is right in all the respects we have all discussed? You bet I would, be the best you can be.

Thanks all Denis.

[Marius]

Mariusz,

I take your points on board, and agree that badly done without regard to the blades age, its style, would be indeed an insult in the finished product. If one observes the aesthetics, and there are plenty of good examples out there, would you say this could still be done to a respectable level?.

 

Yes. WIth the right artisans, the right materials and a lot (and I mean a lot) of money. And it will most likely cost more than the sword. And even if it is perfect, it will still lack the patina of a real period koshirae.

[Dr Fox]

Mariusz,

 

 

Yes. WIth the right artisans, the right materials and a lot (and I mean a lot) of money. And it will most likely cost more than the sword. And even if it is perfect, it will still lack the patina of a real period koshirae.

 

Thank you point taken.

Denis.

[Dr Fox]

Just added this to indicate why I asked the original question. I still believe a sales opportunity is lost without the nakago ana size being included.

Denis.

[drbvac]

Well I am a long way from an artisan but when one of my Tsuba was wobbling all over the place I made 2 new sekigane using a lost wax casting method using copper. Just fit the Tsuba on the blade - waxed up the small pieces in wax right in place - invested the wax and cast them using melted copper wire. Put them back on the Nakogo-ana - burnished into the under cuts so they would stay - put it back on.

 

I don;t think - well I suppose if the tsuba were the right thickness and the nakago-ana close one could do this for appearance if you wanted to

[Dr Fox]

Thanks Dr Brian, I am aware that tsuba were altered to fit blades, and various methods were used. What I wanted to try to achieve was to match a katana from Echizen dated mid 1600s with a tsuba from a maker from the same province and approx date.

The tsuba already fitted is no big deal, is quite thick and does nothing for the sword. I am aware that match and patina has some bearing here. Nakago ana would have to be a fit or larger than needed. But that search is a no no without the nakago ana size being part of the sale info.

I have shelved this project, but carry a modified seppa sized to my swords nakago, keeping my eyes open at shows and dealers.

Thanks all.

Denis.

[Alex A]

Thickness is also important Denis, half a mm in either direction will cause fit issues.

 

Alex.

[Dr Fox]

I am delighted to re visit this topic with great news. After thinking my line of enquiry was falling on stoney ground, I put my points to Grey, and he immediately responded in a very positive way. His consideration is, that he now includes in his sale descriptions of Tsuba the nakago hitsu ana measurements.

 

I would like to here thank Grey, from myself and others who are not collectors. And I will endeavour to favour his site for future purchases.

 

Denis.