katanako Posted October 31, 2008 Report Posted October 31, 2008 I have a polished Yasukuni Jinja blade which I want to dress up in traditional gunto mountings. I found a gunto koshirae including tsuka, but the tsuba is unpierced. I can't recall ever seeing a high end sword with unpierced tsuba. So my question is: Have you ever seen a Yasukuni sword with an unpierced tsuba?? I can get a pierced tsuba, but the unpierced one fits perfectly. Thank you. Katanako Quote
huntershooter Posted October 31, 2008 Report Posted October 31, 2008 Not a YasuKuni blade. I have examined a ToshiHide with "unpierced" tsuba. Not unheard of. If your YasuKuni is polished (as you state) and you plan to have it mounted in Gunto koshirae, the old Gunto saya will scuff up/scratch the polished blade in short order. I've wondered if it possible for a sayashi to install new wood inserts in an existing metal saya. Common practice is a shirasaya for the blade, tsunagi to hold koshirae together. Which YasuKuni tosho made your blade? Quote
katanako Posted October 31, 2008 Author Report Posted October 31, 2008 I have a Yasuyoshi. I found a gunto koshirae yesterday amongst a few that I had bought a few years ago on ebay...it comes with a nice tsuka and unpierced solid tsuba, but the peg hole is misaligned. I took out the wooden insert, and split it in half. There is old cosmoline gunk and I will use a woodworking chisel and sandpaper to scrap away the gunk and sand it down smoothly so that it will not scratch. You are correct...if I simply shoved a newly polished blade in there, it will scratch the blade. I think I will try my hand at working the soft wooden insert...and it should fit nicely because last night, I laid the blade down on one half of the wooden insert and laid the other half over it, and it fit. I will send it over to Freddie Lohman, ask him to take off the hardware off the tsuka then rewrap it. Fred does a fantastic job at wrapping tsukas! The metal scabbard is very nice, but some of the paint has chipped off. I will ask on the board if anyone knows the process of repainting the scabbard. This board is great! Collectors offering their opinionis and experiecnes in an honest fashion. Thank you very much! KATANAKO Quote
b.hennick Posted October 31, 2008 Report Posted October 31, 2008 One grain of sand from sand paper and your sword will be scratched. I do not think that sandpaper is the thing to use. If you value the sword I believe that a sayashi such as John Terado is the way to go. Quote
huntershooter Posted October 31, 2008 Report Posted October 31, 2008 I know that gauges, chisels and scrapers are used to fabricate saya/shirasaya. Never sandpaper, for the reason mentioned. I'm in agreement with Barry, it would be dreadful to damage your blade. A new core and rewrap of tsuka may be warrented. I wouldn't repaint the metal saya, if "collecter value'" is a consideration. Quote
katanako Posted November 1, 2008 Author Report Posted November 1, 2008 Points well taken! Thank you very much to you all! KATANAKO Quote
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