What the!

[kissakai]

Hi

I recently bought this nice shippo tsuba but noticed the odd inserts

Normally they would be shakudo or similar but these are almost hidden, omote and ura sides and an unusual ‘bill hook’ shape

They are on the kozuka and kogai ana

Really difficult to make and fit so I wonder why this method and if anyone has seen this type before

 

 

 

 

 

Grev

 

[Geraint]

Dear Grev.

 

I can see why the are the shape that you describe as billhook as this trues up the shape of the hitsu ana.  However they seem to be separate pieces on each face of the tsuba rather than  a single piece inserted, is that so?

 

All the best.

[kissakai]

Yes they are two separate pieces like the ones used to fully cover the opening

Strange and difficult

[Grey Doffin]

As you point out, usually these are shakudo; they are set in to protect the kotsuka and kogai against scratches from contact with the iron tsuba.  These, however, appear to reduce the size of the ana.  At some point the tsuba was mounted to a sword that had a wider tsuka than the previous one and the ana were brought out to match.  Make sense?

Grey

[kissakai]

Yes sounds OK but you feel it could be done much easier

One point as there are two plates the middle of the 'sandwich' would need to be original tsuba

[Ford Hallam]

Rule No:1 of classical Japanese metalwork, taken from the 'Taganegakure.'   鏨隱

 

There is always a more complicated and exacting way to to do everything. Find that way! and make it more complex.

 

Any easy ways will only earn you disdain and contempt. There is no glory or honour in 'easy'.

[Pete Klein]

It looks to me like someone was attempting to cover up a mistake.  Look at the unevenness of the medial junctions.  It also appears that some form of tar was used to bind the separate pieces together with a gap in-between.  Quite amateurish to me.