2nd mekugi-ana question

[Cuirassier]

Hi Guys

I have seen this before, where there is a second mekugi-ana at the very end of the nakago.

Is there a generalisation / explanation for this?

Regards / RSVP

Mark

 

[cabowen]

It's a practical feature for safety.

[george trotter]

Hi Mark,

i think it is a personal preference and also a combat imperative.

Take WWII...up until 1942-43 it was common to find a gunto (both showato or gendaito) with one mekugi ana, but after 1942-43 it was less common to find only one mekugi ana...in fact, Type 3 mounted blades seem to be exclusively 2 ana.

The driver for this change was two-fold. Battlefield experience showed that a tsuka often broke just at the tip of the nakago (due to stress in striking). The philosophy was that experience demanded a longer nakago and a second mekugi ana to stop this occurrence, and this is seen most often in blades in Type 3 mountings...a direct two-fold response to this factor. I think also that kendo practise on the battlefield recommended a mount such as this. (sometimes a single ana tsuka is seen with flat metal side-plates under the same to strengthen the tsuka). I noticed an increase in nakago length on gendaito, but it is more noticeable on showato in Type 3 mounts, than those in Type 98 mounts.

Just my observations...

Regards,

[Cuirassier]

Thanks Guys :D

 

George

So this is a post 1942 / 43 blade? It is interesting as it is in civilian mounts, so I guess it was removed from its original gunto mounts at some stage?

That is, the second mekugi ana right at the end would signify it is a war time blade?

 

Regards / RSVP

Mark

[Mark]

they used this set up before WWII so can not assume the blade is WWII just because it has two

[george trotter]

Hi Mark,

as Mark says, you cannot assume it is a WWII blade just because it has 2 ana.

I have given you the reasons for this move to 2 ana in WWII, but the need for 2 ana have appeared in all periods of sword use, only not that common by far as 1 ana.

Having said that I must say the nakago looks recent to me...about WWII vintage. If nagasa is about 66cm and about 1.8 cm sori I would think there is a good chance it is WWII or that sort of period...without pics etc it is just a basic assessment.

As your sword is mounted in civilian koshirae it still could be a WWII used sword, perhaps an Iaito adapted for military use also. It may be that whoever ordered it for iai insisted on 2 ana for his style-purpose of use.

Is it signed?...any pics of the sword and mounts etc. would help

Regards,

[Eric H]

as Mark says, you cannot assume it is a WWII blade just because it has 2 ana.

 

Sometimes swords of Shinshinto and Shinto times usually with lengths over 73 cm can be seen with a second mekugi-ana placed in the bottom area of the nakago.

In performing martial arts f.e. tameshigiri the hikae (reserve) mekugi should be manufactured of iron or steel, whereas the primary mekugi is made of bamboo.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNtDZ0sStEU

 

Eric