Jim Rogers Posted August 20, 2014 Report Posted August 20, 2014 I stumbled across this item on ebay and wasn't familiar with it, a Kabuto wari or hachiwara. The Koshirae are certainly interesting. I'm curious if these have collector interest or if they're a niche item. Just educating myself. Thanks. http://www.ebay.com/itm/321496994159?ss ... 1423.l2649 Quote
Brian Posted August 20, 2014 Report Posted August 20, 2014 Basically a blocking device for sword attack, saw a few in Japan. They are not hugely sought after, and this one looks pretty average. Mounts look Meiji export type, and imho it is vastly overpriced. Brian Quote
Jim Rogers Posted August 20, 2014 Author Report Posted August 20, 2014 That was kinda my instincts. Thanks, Jim Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted August 21, 2014 Report Posted August 21, 2014 Morning all I suggest that something's amiss with the tsuka... Cheers Quote
Guido Posted August 21, 2014 Report Posted August 21, 2014 I don't know where the term kabutowari 兜割 comes from - I suspect Stone's Glossary. How do you split a helmet with it, except if you use it like a can opener? IMO it's just a fancy jutte 十手. Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted August 21, 2014 Report Posted August 21, 2014 Good afternoon all, I have my doubts about its reality as a weapon during Sengoku Jidai (or any other period for that matter). I was told once they were feudal can openers for armour........ The koshirae looks like a working on Ebi zukuri. A long time ago I saw a similar Koshirae in a Temple devoted to Hachiman Taro Yoshiie. (I recall it being described as Koshigatana, but that was a long time ago and a galaxy far far away...........). Cheers Quote
Brian Posted August 21, 2014 Report Posted August 21, 2014 I think Malcolm is correct, and that the tsuka was replaced and a rough match done. I also suspect these were used by police or other authorities who may encounter a sword. It would do a reasonable block of a sword strike. I hesitate to say they were total fantasy items, but suspect they were not often used and definitely a Meiji period item. Opinion of course... Brian Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted August 21, 2014 Report Posted August 21, 2014 I have had three of these Tourist pieces, the carving on the Tsuka is always identical. They usually have a wooden tsuba, and I had one with a wooden Habaki. (Most go missing it seems). They must have been centrally made because the stepped nakagojiri is common. I had one with Hachiman Daibosatsu roughly engraved on both flats of the blade (Is that the correct term?) The steel is quite soft. Cheers Quote
Jim Rogers Posted August 21, 2014 Author Report Posted August 21, 2014 I don't know where the term kabutowari 兜割 comes from - I suspect Stone's Glossary. How do you split a helmet with it, except if you use it like a can opener? IMO it's just a fancy jutte 十手. Yes Guido. Wikipedia says exactly the same thing. More likely to attack 'chinks' in the armor such as the armpit. Fun learning about the pitfalls and traps of nihonto collecting. Quote
estcrh Posted August 23, 2014 Report Posted August 23, 2014 I stumbled across this item on ebay and wasn't familiar with it, a Kabuto wari or hachiwara. The Koshirae are certainly interesting. I'm curious if these have collector interest or if they're a niche item. Just educating myself. Thanks. Jim, there are two completely different weapons that are being called by the same name (kabuto-wari, hachi-wari / wara), one is a a dirk like weapon with a square blade that has a curve towards the point, this shape is known for leaving a very nasty wound. The other weapon is an iron truncheon, one of many iron bar type weapons used in feudal Japan right through the Meiji period. the truncheon variety were usually blunt. The name itself is not important and no one should dwell on the exact meaning, no telling when it started to be called this and was this name meant to describe the dirk or the truncheon or both? An iron truncheon could be called a "helmet crusher" or "skull crusher". Who used these weapons and when were they used is questionable but they were real weapons even if some current examples are of more modern construction. According to Serge Mol Its true purpose can probably be found in the earlier name for it, hachi-wari, which was gradually replaced by the name kabuto-wari. Hachi-wari, in addition to meaning "helmet splitter" or "helmet crusher," can also mean "skull splitter" or "skull crusher". According to Don Cunningham Worn by warriors like a dirk during the Sengoku period, hachi-wari were likely used as a parrying weapon, held in the left hand while wielding a sword in the right hand. Dirk type with a square blade. Iron truncheon type, shown next to another iron bar weapon, a tessen fan. Quote
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