loiner1965 Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 i have a nara / shaomi tsuba that has never been fitted to a sword and was just wondering if i should put it to use....if so is it just a case of making it fit with careful use of files or is they a better way.....sorry if question seems silly but if you dont ask you will never know Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 If the nakagoana is larger the the nakago you can use shims (sekigane) to fit the tsuba to the sword. These shims can be filed to precise fit making sure you have it fit where the tsuba would rest where it would be with the habaki and seppa installed. If the ana is too small I would advise not filling it to fit and find a better candidate. Once I had a tsuba that was tight and rode the nakago hard when being removed or replaced and scratched the nakago. It had no sekigane and I filed some burrs in the ana. It worked and although this was a dasaku tsuba it raised an eyebrow or two. John Quote
loiner1965 Posted March 11, 2009 Author Report Posted March 11, 2009 If the nakagoana is larger the the nakago you can use shims (sekigane) to fit the tsuba to the sword. These shims can be filed to precise fit making sure you have it fit where the tsuba would rest where it would be with the habaki and seppa installed. If the ana is too small I would advise not filling it to fit and find a better candidate. Once I had a tsuba that was tight and rode the nakago hard when being removed or replaced and scratched the nakago. It had no sekigane and I filed some burrs in the ana. It worked and although this was a dasaku tsuba it raised an eyebrow or two. John cheers john....unfortunately the ana is too small so i will leave well alone...glad you replied what i thought was the answer but its best to be certain.......many thanks john Quote
dhusker Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 How did the old sword makers fit the tsuba...I thought they used a file. Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 Dan, It is that we are in the preservation of antiques and this includes conservation. Sure in the past the ana was peened to fit or filed, but, our mandate now is to do no irreparable change. It doesn't mean you can not, just you should not. John Quote
Brian Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 Yes..but they weren't worried about preservation or collectibility Things have changed over a few hundred years. :lol: (I see we posted at the same time John) Brian Quote
loiner1965 Posted March 11, 2009 Author Report Posted March 11, 2009 Yes..but they weren't worried about preservation or collectibility Things have changed over a few hundred years. :lol: (I see we posted at the same time John) Brian well i am into preserving like john so this tsuba stays the way it was made....unmounted :D Quote
dhusker Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 I mounted a Lohman tsuba and used a Dremel and finished. with a file.... it worked great. Don't worry, I haven't touched my old tsubas. Quote
Mantis dude Posted March 11, 2009 Report Posted March 11, 2009 With so many fittings available, I would also vote for preservation. It may take a bit longer to find the right item but better that than ruining or altering an older piece. Enjoy spring!!!! Quote
drbvac Posted March 12, 2009 Report Posted March 12, 2009 This may sound weird but I have fitted tsuba that are close by making the copper sekigane using the lost wax method that dentists and lab techs use to make gold crowns for teeth! You make the sekigane with hard blue wax and fit it on the top and bottom and slightly up the sides of the blade then cast it in copper that I got from electrical wire. It is soft enough so you can burnish it against the tsuba opening so it doesn't fall out but not so hard to damage it at all. Quote
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