Infinite_Wisdumb Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 Interested in the board take on this one - the scabbard is gold which doesnt match the Katana and the Tsuba is a Wak or Tanto Tsuba - unless I am wrong. Do Katana ever get fitted with Tsuba that only have one Hitsuana? Quote
Steves87 Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 Hello! From what I can gather there, it seems your scabbard saya is a military Gunto of sorts as it looks like its has a leather skin and the gold fitting to me, seems to be a mass produced military issue (original or not I have no idea). As for the Tsuba, it looks far too big to be for Tanto and as far as I am aware, a Katana Tsuba can have 1, 2 or no hitsu ana. I would have thought size is more of a deciding factor when it comes to classing a Tsuba to be for a Kat, Wak or Tanto? Tanto and Wakizashi can also have Kogai and Kozuka in their scabbard. Even having said that, a smaller Tsuba on a larger blade is not unheard of and can look pretty good in my opinion. I don't mind being corrected for those that know infinitely more!? 1 1 Quote
Infinite_Wisdumb Posted January 23, 2021 Author Report Posted January 23, 2021 Thanks Steve and Jean. Just want to make sure I am not purchasing a frankenstein setup! Quote
ROKUJURO Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 Jesse, before you buy anything to complete your KOSHIRAE, you should say goodbye to your notions of what might be a good match. Japanese taste is often quite different from what we Westerners think is appropriate. Quote
Infinite_Wisdumb Posted January 23, 2021 Author Report Posted January 23, 2021 Great point Jean! Rest of the Koshirae Quote
Surfson Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 Jesse, apparently the other bidder did not pay for this sword and it is now yours to buy? As I recall, it went pretty cheaply, not much more than the tsuba is probably worth. This is the one with the Choshu tsuba that is also in the translation section, correct? Quote
Infinite_Wisdumb Posted January 23, 2021 Author Report Posted January 23, 2021 22 minutes ago, Surfson said: Jesse, apparently the other bidder did not pay for this sword and it is now yours to buy? As I recall, it went pretty cheaply, not much more than the tsuba is probably worth. This is the one with the Choshu tsuba that is also in the translation section, correct? Hi Bob. Correct! It is one and the same. With Choshu Ju being all that we have been able to decipher. Whats your take on it? I LOVE the Fuchi Kashira. Thats what drew me to it. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 Jesse, looking again at the pictures, I am not sure about the basic structure of the TSUKA. The wood core might be broken or at least damaged. This should be looked at before a purchase. Quote
Steves87 Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 Jean is right, the Tsuka does look off. The kashira end does not continue the curve. This could mean a damaged core, or not as likely, could be a botched job at a Tsuka core? Quote
Infinite_Wisdumb Posted January 24, 2021 Author Report Posted January 24, 2021 Thanks Jean and Steve! I was wondering why the menuki was so low on the Tsuka, seems it should have been up higher where the eelskin has a tear? I havent been notified that the other bidder has finally quit, they sent a final email to her/him on Friday Ill ask for a picture of that too! Jesse Quote
Steves87 Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 You know what, now that I think about it, the menuki is positioned correctly, but on the wrong side, perhaps the Tsuka has been forced on "upsidedown" which would account for the odd shape. If you put on the other way, the Tsuka shape would match the curve and the menuki would be placed in the "correct" position. If true, that is a worry Quote
Spartancrest Posted January 24, 2021 Report Posted January 24, 2021 If this is just Koshirae what is the tsuka stuck on? Unless there is a blade the tsuka has just been sat atop the tsuba - the wrong way around. Are there three mekugi-ana in the tsuka or is the top one a tear in the samegawa? The image is just not that clear but the lower mekugi-ana has no peg that I can see. Quote
Infinite_Wisdumb Posted January 24, 2021 Author Report Posted January 24, 2021 I finally figured out how to get the URL for it after the auction ended. Hope this works and wasnt just my cache https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/95105915_antique-Japanese-katana-samurai-sword Quote
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