tsuba fitting question....

[kusunokimasahige]

If I buy an old genuine tsuba and would like to fit it on my nihonto, how do I go about such a thing? do i refit it with for instance copper myself?

 

or are there tsuba fitters around.......

 

KM

[Curran]

If soft metal tsuba, I do not know if you need to add the copper. I'd recommend against doing it, and leave it to a professional. It is very easy to damage the patina of some soft metal tsuba.

 

If iron, then there are a number of people who can add the copper for remount. I've only had it done once. Some people do not feel this is necessary if the seppa and tightness of the mount is correct, but I do not practice, so one of the "swingers" should comment here.

 

As a side note, I've also seen and own tsuba with brass, silver, shibuichi, and lead in place of copper. It would be interesting to hear a swinger comment on the use of ~lead~. I would think it too soft if the tsuba had much play.

 

Curran

[Rich T]

Hi guys, in regards to remounting tsuba to a new sword, there are people in Japan who do good sekigane work, but of course they would need the sword as well. I have not heard of others doing this ?, I am sure there is someone in the US, maybe Skip Holebrook or John Tarado but of course they would need thesword as well.

 

I completely agree with all Curran's thought's on this as well.

 

Re the lead comment, this Momoyama or very early Edo Heianjo has lead sekigane. To debate whether it is original or a much later add on it hard to do, but it looks like it belongs and is old I think.

 

If it were original, it would have had to stand the test of time, and the riggers of general sword handling.

 

best

 

Rich

[Bungo]

not traditional but.........................

next time you get a credit card renewed, use that bogger like " glue " (sure beat digging your nostrils :lol: )they stick to the back of the credit card and use it to fill in the gap.

Totally reversable and won't damage your tsuba.

 

milt the ronin

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi, the better saya and habaki artisans are quite capable of doing this work properly. Whether they will or not probably depends on how busy they are.

[kusunokimasahige]

thank you for the info! and the image!! a beautiful Tsuba indeed!!

 

KM