Fake or just cheap rabbit Tsuba ?

[robinalexander]

Hello Tsuba experts, 

 

I have absolutely no knowledge or experience with tsuba's and am therefore throwing myself on the mercy of the court.

 

The attached tsuba is attached to an early Edo or late Koto blade with a very genuine WW2 tsuka and combat cover saya.

 

The tsuba could be original or it could have been swapped by the middleman/dealer who bought it from the vets family.  The mounts were pretty nicely tight when I bought it.

 

As I said,,I have no idea about tsubas but on a quick search I found lots of comments about rabbit or bunny tsuba (no idea what thats about). Specifically, what I dont like about this tsuba on an old WW2 blade is (what looks like) a really badly cast mimi and generally, the 'new look'.  I have no idea about anything else.

 

Looking fwd to any comments and happy to provide any further pics if required.

 

NB...its actually a pewter colour but I used a halogen light in order to get better resolution so it turned it a little orange.ish.

 

Thanks

Rob

 

Rob

 

[Spartancrest]

Rob 

The guard is a replica made for practice swords  [Mozo-to] in the 1950s, they come in both Wakizashi and Katana. Great numbers of them are around, punched out like coinage.

The pattern is  "Usagi-Zu" in the waves.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/q123156429

https://www.jauce.com/auction/n177373642

https://www.jauce.com/auction/x453722518   - This one has even been glued to a display board at one time.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/q287565123

https://www.jauce.com/auction/p519893711

 

These are what are available on just one night on one auction site.

[Spartancrest]

Just another heads up.

Rabbits practice swords -  https://www.jauce.com/auction/e529006737  A variety of coloured versions 'gilded', blackened etc.

The 'Rabbits in the Waves' is not the only pattern put out at the same time, a set of Chrysanthemum guards was also made for practice swords and produced the same way. 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Japanese-Tsuba-Armor-Katana-parts-Watermarked-Plants-and-trees-/363487786064  they are characterized by wide mimi and wide outlines of the hitsu-ana and once again sized for both Wak and Katana.

They are based on a popular design as seen in this Utsushi collection I have been accumulating. 

A pair of these practice swords is found here  https://www.jauce.com/auction/r489031532

and a mediocre 'good' example guard  https://www.jauce.com/auction/j700232409

 

[robinalexander]

Thanks Dale, I really appreciate the quick response and the time taken to fully explain what I have.

 

If they came out,  or have been around since the 50's then it's certainly not part of the swords WW2 mountings.  I have to wonder what tsuba was on  it originally......something nice I bet.  I really wish people would just leave historical swords as they found them.

 

Dissapointing but I'd rather be dissapointed than to be under any false illusions about it historical worth.

 

Thanks again

Rob

 

 

[Spartancrest]

Rob If it is WWII mounts it should have had a Gunto tsuba https://www.jauce.com/auction/d533791094  or  https://www.jauce.com/auction/f530456286  there were several types issued from several armouries.    NCO  https://www.jauce.com/auction/x770899794

or if navy  https://www.jauce.com/auction/w473876681

Please be aware there are also Chinese fakes of even these relatively common guards.

I think there are better specialists in the NMB who would have more information - perhaps if you look for Shin guntō (新軍刀, new military sword).

If your blade is Edo you have the option to mount it for that period as well.

Good luck.

[robinalexander]

Yes Dale in the latter years of the war when raw materials began to dry up there was a concerted push by the Japanese powers that be to press family swords into  service. Thats why we see some old blades in gunto mounts rather than IJA arsenal stamped blades.  Also, it appears to be quite common to have a mixture of fittings (even tsuka) and more commonly civilian tsuba.  Even if a late war donated/bring along sword had mixed fittings, the one thing that appears to be consistent is fitting of a leather (combat) saya cover.

 

Agreed, I could mount in a period fit out but didnt want a project and it has a nice well fitting tsuka and I suppose most importantly, I will leave it as I found it as it does all fit well.  Even with the cheap rabbit tsuba 🙁.

 

Thanks again.

Rob