Tsuka mistake?

[kissakai]

Hi

This can be moved to tosogu section but it is here because it is not of general interest

 

I had a friend who needed a better fitting for his wakizashi along with a tsuba

We found a tsuba that looked great

I only have one tsuka and we tried that and it was super fit so we just made a swop

Now I wonder if a made a mistake by doing a swap

 

I have images of both tsuka and wanted your opinion on which was the most interesting. Initially I won't say which I swapped so not to influence your comments but will say more after a few responses

 

 

Grev

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

[johnnyi]

I like the first one

 

 

 

 

 

johnnyi

[Ganko]

I prefer the horses. There is no accounting for taste :-) The other is a nice old original Higo-ish tsuka though.

[SteveM]

I like them both. Not knowing anything about the fittings other than what I can see in the photos, I would say I prefer the top tsuka, because I like the nanako and the rendering of the horses. 

 

The bottom tsuka is lacquered leather with blackened same? And the theme of the fuchi/kashira is...daikon, maybe? The menuki theme is transporting rice in a boat, I think. I don't think the metalwork is as nice as the top one, but the tsuka itself is interesting.

 

I don't think there was an obvious loss or gain in the swapping of the tsukas.

(Assuming both tsuka were orphans, and the swap didn't split up a complete set.) 

[Ken-Hawaii]

The leather battle-wrap is interesting, but isn't in as good shape as the first one.

[Lee Bray]

I prefer the overall look of the radish/daikon tsuka. I like the earthy tones, the more elegantly shaped tsuka and the tsukamaki is well done and blends/flows in to the fuchi and kashira much better than the horse tsuka.

The horse fittings look good and the nanako is reasonably well done but the tsuka looks stumpy, there are no curves to it, the ito looks so so and does not flow while the kashira knot looks enormous.

[Greg F]

I definitely prefer the look of the bottom tsuka, was an easy pick. I do like them both though.

 

Greg

[Bugyotsuji]

Are you asking which would be worth more on the open market, or just for a personal opinion? To me they are apples and oranges, i.e. fit for different contexts. If I had a choice I would take both. Whichever way you offered to swap, it was generous of you.

[vajo]

Second one is more nice.

I like that old style.

 

Copper on leather is beautifull and the wrap is very good made.

[raaay]

Grev

 

bit like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted   , no pun intended   

[kissakai]

Hi

Many thanks for your comments. I feel tons better

My original tsuka was the 1^st one. There were no other fittings with it and it had no attachment for me. I bought it because I thought it was a nice example.

The fitting are better than the second tsuka (same had some big nodules along the center, also nice) but although there was nothing wrong with the wrap it looked quite modern which was a distraction to me

No 2 has that well worn untouched authentic and aged look. Lower quality fitting (an opinion) and nice menuke. I was intrigued by the three black dimples at the kashira end and the black same. So this one makes me think about it more.

If anyone has more info on the 2^nd one I’d appreciate your comments about style (Higo-ish was mentioned) and possible age

As you know is was swapped as it fitted my friends wakizashi perfectly and to be honest looked better in situ. That made us both happy

 

Grev

[kissakai]

PS

I forgot to thank Ray for his pun that made be smile so a nice start to the day

 

And yes the horse has definitely gone

[JohnTo]

Putting aside the metal bits, the same on example two is odd, it looks black.  I have a gunto with black same, but can't remember having seen, or rather noticed, black same elsewhere.  Does anyone know how common black same was and did it have any particular significance.

 

best regards, John.

 

PS, prefer the horse as it would make a nice compliment for a wakizashi tsuba that i have.

[Greg F]

Hi John, there is plenty of examples of black same out there. Looks great with the right koshirae.

 

Greg

[Japan2112]

I like them both, and initial thought was #1 as the better. #2 has a more interesting age and wrap, but the fittings on number #1 look elegant. And so, all a matter of taste. Each is nicer for its own reasons.

[kissakai]

The more I look at #2 the better I like it

The 'wrap' just does it for me