Kojiri, Kashira Or Something Else?

[eternal_newbie]

While taking inventory of all the items that I can sell off to fund my pursuit of Juyo, I found a strange little brass tosogu that I got as part of a bulk lot. It's pictured on the left here:

 

http://members.iinet.net.au/~rjgengath/MiscItems/tosogu_03.JPG

http://members.iinet.net.au/~rjgengath/MiscItems/tosogu_04.JPG

 

I remember it being described as a kashira, but comparing it with a similar kashira (on the right) it's much deeper, has a curved base, and the hitsu-ana seems too small for regular ito. The hitsu-ana's size also rules it out from being a kurikata, unless you're using a shoelace as a sageo. It looks like the right size and shape to be a kojiri, but then why the hitsu-ana?

 

Anyone know what this might be?

[cuttingedge59]

Hi

I think you are right in thinking that it is the right size and shape to be a kojiri .

The hitsua ana  in this case is probably more decorative rather than functional or could have formed some sort of attachment point.

 

just a thought

Chris NZ

[Lee Bray]

I think it's just a deep kashira, probably for a tanto.

Tanto fittings seem to be more open to differing styles. A quick browse through Aoi art's list of tanto shows several deeper kashira than the standard 'flat' style generally seen on wakizashi and katana.

The narrower hitsu-ana would suggest a thinner ito which again is normal on tanto.

[eternal_newbie]

Thanks Lee - I hadn't considered a tanto kashira since it's larger than all the katana-sized kashira I have, but a different koshirae style could explain it. I'll look around on the internet to see if I can find similar examples.