Royston Posted May 18 Report Posted May 18 I am trying to determine if this is old or modern. I cannot get the hilt off to look for a signature. I am also looking for a value ( if this is permitted ) Any suggestions welcome. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted May 18 Report Posted May 18 These late Meiji Koshiraé normally have reverse screws for the Mekugi. One side can be held firm, and the other with clever pressure and reverse twist of the finger should be encouraged to unscrew. (Although we don’t know how your hilt is held on, with what kind of screw, or even if it has been glued…) 1 Quote
Tohagi Posted May 19 Report Posted May 19 Hello, Looks perfectly genuine but in bad condition to me. The "box shape" hamon could be very caracteristic, you should try to genrly remove the mekugi as Piers suggested. Best, Eric 1 Quote
Royston Posted May 20 Author Report Posted May 20 I have removed the mekugi but even with the blade in a wood lined vice and pulling as hard as I can the hilt will not come off. Any suggestions? I am reluctant to hit it with a hammer in case of damage. Quote
Franco Posted May 20 Report Posted May 20 http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/tools.html I made my own stuck tsuka removal kit. Secure protected sword/koshirae/tsuba. Tap firmly but gently evenly from one side to the other. If tsuka does not begin to budge/move, stop. Don't force. Figure out why? Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted May 20 Report Posted May 20 Traditionally people hold the tsuka fairly low down, with the blade pointed up and away from you. They whack the back of their hand, (the hand holding the tsuka), with their other hand/fist. This seems to be to encourage the blade Nakago to break its seals and jump. There are some really tough ones where the holding hand gets beaten to a pulp. Eventually they may resort to the old wooden hammer and peg tap, as a last resort. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted May 20 Report Posted May 20 Roy, I am not even sure I would call this an AIKUCHI KOSHIRAE. It has what looks like a very small TSUBA /thick SEPPA, and the parts are not typical for AIKUCHI. The blade's SUGATA with SHINOGI ZUKURI shape is rather not typical for TANTO, so when you get the stubborn TSUKA off, we might see if it was genuinely made as TANTO or if it is a broken-off part of a longer blade. Just a suspicion. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted May 20 Report Posted May 20 If you follow that ‘shortening’ logic, Jean, you could argue that the Tsuka has been made from a section of the former Saya. Quote
Royston Posted May 21 Author Report Posted May 21 I have made something similar to what Franco suggested above. I have been hitting it as hard as I dare and it does not move at all. I now suspect that it has been glued in the past. Any suggestions as what to do now? I will be selling this and am looking for a valuation if anyone could help.. Thanks - Roy Quote
Matsunoki Posted May 21 Report Posted May 21 Roy, you have taken the metal mekugi out from both sides? One side is a tube, the other the screw that goes into it. Both need to come out. Sorry if that sounds insultingly obvious! Quote
Tohagi Posted May 21 Report Posted May 21 Can you take a picture thru the nakago ana? If edges of the nakago ana are visible, you could have a safe way to extract it without trying exotics solutions ... One time it tooks me 3h and all my faith to remove a tsuka.... Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted May 21 Report Posted May 21 If it has been glued in place, I would leave it and move on. Could be deliberate for whatever reason. Quote
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