New (To Me) Style Of Spring Clip

[Grey Doffin]

Hi guys,

Just got in a Bizen Kiyomitsu katana (which will be for sale) with an interesting retaining clip mounted to the saya and habaki, something I've never seen before.  At one time there was a piece of spring steel riveted to the habaki (now mostly missing) which would have caught on the lip of the piece screwed to the saya.  Depressing the spring of the saya piece would depress the spring on the habaki and allow the blade to be drawn.  Best guess is that this was developed so older, family blades could go to war with their tsuka and tsuba and not necessitate punching spring clip holes through the fuchi, seppa, and tsuba.  Looks too factory made to be one of a kind; there must be others.  I haven't checked Fuller & Gregory or Dawson.  Is this shown in a book or have you seen this before?

Cheers,  Grey

[Johnny Barracuda]

Very original indeed. However, it looks handmade rather than factory-made. Maybe an experimental system that did not see production? In any case, a rare piece.

[Baka Gaijin]

I'm with you on that call Thibault.

 

My reasoning being that

 

A: The finish is a little too  "prototype".

B: The Habaki is a double style, which is almost cut through the outer section to accommodate the clip.

 

Very interesting nontheless.  

[Grey Doffin]

The habaki wasn't made to work with the clip; the existing habaki was modified to go with the clip.  Wonder if Jim Dawson has seen one.  I'll ask.

And Jim answered.  "Quite unusual.  Never seen anything like it".

Grey