Thoughts on this Koshirae? Shinto?

[George KN]

So I was auction diving again, and found this wakizashi for sale with yet again no information. I won the lot, but haven't got it back from the auction yet (so unsure if mumei etc), but I've already got a few questions on the koshirae.

 

I primarily bought it because it looks to me like it is well put together and fairly high decent quality - and of course because I like the dragon theme. I've also always wanted a Chrysanthemum tsuba after having read several threads here on them (like https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/47308-16-petal-chrysanthemum-tsuba/), so this was a win-win for me. 

 

My primary question is what age do people think the koshirae is? Shinto?

 

And secondarily is there a name for the geometric pattern on the fuchi and fuchi-kashira?

 

Any other thoughts good or bad are more than welcome - I've also never had a kogatana so I'm looking forward to having that in hand too (No pictures of the actual blade, so hoping it's actually there!)
 

Thanks,

 George

 

 

[Dan tsuba]

Hello Ghoul!

I don't know much of anything!

But, I would say Edo.

Tsuba looks like a chrysanthemum theme.

The emperor nods on the same (ray skin) look to be placed in and are really not part of the original ray skin.

Although, that seems to have been done alot during the Edo period.

Can you seperate the tsuka (handle) from the blade and show the tsuba?  Maybe there is some sort of mei (signature) on the tang of the blade or tsuba?

If you don't know how to do that, ask the members of this great forum!

I am sure many members here can help you out.

With respect,

Dan

 

 

[George KN]

Hi Dan, thanks for the reply! I sadly don't have the wakizashi in my possession just yet, so I can't remove the tsuka (it might be a few weeks knowing most auctions and couriers). Very much looking forward to finding out what it is hiding - although I at least can tell it is a genuine nihonto from the faint hamon shown in a few of the photos.

 

And good eyes on the missing nodes - I actually have an o-wakizashi with this same problem (pardon the pun) too:

 

 

Is it possible to get them repaired without having to have the tsuka rewrapped?

[Dan tsuba]

My friend, Ghoul (George).

I have no idea if you can get the nodes reparied!

Anyway, I am looking forward to when you recieve your wakizashi and finding out any further details of the piece!

The adventure continues.

Hurrah!

With respect,

Dan

 

 

 

 

 

[Shugyosha]

Hi George,

There are relatively few koto koshirae around as wood and lacquer are fragile things so they’re expensive and you probably won’t find a low budget blade (sorry, no criticism intended) in one. Looks a decent package and I hope you enjoy it. 

[George KN]

Thanks John - and I agree about the point about koto - it was more whether the koshirae is shinto or shinshinto? 

[Tohagi]

12 hours ago, Ghoul said:

Is it possible to get them repaired without having to have the tsuka rewrapped?

Yes, it's possible. 

The difficult point is to find an old enough piece of "same" with the same shade of cream white and the same size of nodes. The repair have to be very carefull to be invisible.

 

To find the right"same " you probably have to ask to a sayashi or a tsukashi...

 

In that case, you'll probably give him the job to do.

 

Best regards, 

 

Éric VD 

[George KN]

Now that the wakizashi has arrived, I've actually been able to look at the fittings myself, and have two new questions if nobody minds (not that you can stop me from asking, bwahaha (except Brian, Brian could stop me, but please don't, I need the answers )).

 

1. Any ideas on what school this tsuba is or know any similar examples? It suspect it would have looked great when all the gold and silver was intact.

 

2. Why are both the seppa signed but no other fitting on the whole mumei sword? Is it by the maker of just the seppa?

 

 


 

(The seppa are showing the same side in both images, I'm just not 100% sure which way up is right in this instance)



 

[Lewis B]

I really like how the maker has given each segment a different finish pattern. Such attention to detail. That tsuba must have been a real looker when new. 

[Spartancrest]

5 hours ago, Ghoul said:

Why are both the seppa signed

Are you sure the seppa are signed? - some can have instructions on which part gets mounted first written on the pieces. Something to check with the kanji translators.

[George KN]

@Spartancrest It could be instructions, it is just strange the same characters are carved into both seppa:

 

 

 

Also @Lewis B - I was thinking the same. I really wasn't expecting to find the different patterns as the auction photos didn't show any detail at all, so it was a pleasant surprise. Shame it isn't signed after someone went to all that effort!