Question about Tsuba

[Jason Williams]

I am thinking about replacing the current Tsuba on my katana and replacing it with a late Edo dragon Tsuba to fit the dragon theme on my Koshirae.

 

My question is how will I know that the Tsuba that I purchase will fit my Katana? How will the Seppa and Habaki play their part?

 

Thank you,

Jason

[cabowen]

Take your old tsuba and measure the thickness. Measure the thickness and width of your sword's nakago at the tsuba location. With these three dimensions you can find a tsuba that fits.

[Jean]

You won't know till you have it. Habaki has nothing to do with tsuba. You must inquire of the thickness of the tsuba at the seppa dai and compare it to yours. Nakago ana measure can be taken but if too large adapted by sekigane.

 

Adjustement can be made by adding a seppa or in most case ajustement is done at the tsuka level.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Jason,

If the current tsuba is original to the koshirae it probably is a better fit, both dimensionally and thematically, than would be most anything you replace it with. If you have a period koshirae it should be left alone.

If the current tsuba is just something someone tossed on to make the koshirae complete, never mind.

Grey

[Marius]

dragon > clouds, dragon > ball, dragon > sword, dragon > Hidesato... etc...

 

dragon > dragon? Not necessarily... Not always

[Jason Williams]

Thanks for the information guys, as always your opinions are appreciated.

 

The katana is from the late Edo period and my impression is that the Koshirae is not the original. I wish I had a better picture to accompany this message.Not one hundred percent sure about changing the Tsuba, but I thought it would be worth checking into.

 

Thank you,

Jason