Very thin narrow Kogai or Bashin possibly.

[Babu]

I bought a sword that has a nasty modern kogai and need to find a real one. 

 

Thank you 

[Bugyotsuji]

Width of Hitsu-ana?

 

Oh, and maximum length of blade, and material?

[Babu]

11.5mm it's got to fit into.

Length can be 12-14cm that goes into the slot .

I can put a bare kogatana in slot. Blade however is too wide at base if kogatana.

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah, very good.

[Bugyotsuji]

No-one has replied to this, so I will mention what I have here.

 

1.  Wari-kogai in smooth dark Yamagane, Shibuichi or patinated Shinchu.(Not sure what it is). The size fits your  specification.

2. Old Wari-kogai in iron with teahouse, pine trees, bridge scene in zogan of copper, brass silver. Said to be Muromachi. Same dimensions but one cm longer than the above.

3. Wari-kogai in green, dark yellow patinated Shinchu, signed, length in between the two above, the Tsuka part being rectangular chunky Kozuka-esque in appearance, and about 1.4 cm wide.

[Babu]

The middle one looks nice Piers.

What are you after for it? This will determine its suitability lol!

It's an odd saya it's got only one slot for kogai is that normal?

Kogai faces away from the body even when it's the only accessory slot?

 

[Bugyotsuji]

When you say 'sword', do you mean wakizashi or katana, or what? Is it the Kogai hitsu ana in the tsuba that points to a Kogai fitting in that slot?

[Babu]

33 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

When you say 'sword', do you mean wakizashi or katana, or what? Is it the Kogai hitsu ana in the tsuba that points to a Kogai fitting in that slot?

Katana saya with tachi blade.

The kozuka slot is non existent.The kogai slot is thin and narrow.

of the huge number of kozuka I have they are rather uniform in size and do not fit.the kogatana blade also doesn't fit. the notch of the blade next to the kogatana is too wide.

So from deductions I am assuming it's a kozuka or bashin and as a bashin is thicker......

[Bugyotsuji]

Is the Saya in Kyushu or Higo style?

[Babu]

Hope this helps.

Forgive the fittings I'll be removing these soon. This is a modern western collectors idea of what he wanted the sword to be.

It deserves far better quality fittings than its currently outfitted with.

[Bugyotsuji]

Many thanks for the shots, Adam. Much easier to see the situation. Kozuka also came in many sizes. Definitely not a Higo Koshirae!