Menuki shape question

[Drago]

Hi guys,

 

it's my questions-asking-day. :lol:

 

I've often seen this menuki-style on tachi: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171533152835 - mon in the middle and "open-work" arms.

I'd like to know:

1. Does this style have a name?

2. Why is it used on tachi?

3. Do the arms represent something? I've seen nihonto with similarly-shaped open-work nakago...

 

The reason for my asking is that lately I've taken a fancy to this stlye. And when I'll have my custom-menuki made, I might use this stlye. But I'm not sure how it would look on a katana...

[Marius]

Those menuki are a reminiscence of the kenukigata no tachi (which had no menuki, LOL)

 

They would look out of place on a katana. Then again, with assembled koshirae, things often look out of place

[sanjuro]

Hi.

 

Mariuszk is correct. They are referred to as kenukigata shape and are really the echo of the sukashi in a kenuki style hilt of the Heian Period. In a tachi the menuki are often referred to as Tsuka ai 'hilt pair' rather than menuki, and are usually quite a bit longer than the usual katana menuki. They are also more traditionally styled incorporating the owner's Kamon rather than the more freely styled menuki of other swords.