Jitte

[kissakai]

Not sure were to put this

I bought this today but have no real about it but this is what I do know:

Jitte (sword breaker)

Edo police weapon.
Hook is called kagi

It is quite heavy

Can it be dated?

 

There is a variation called a kabutowari (helmet breaker) so it would be nice to know the difference between the two types

 

 

 

Surface damage?

 

 

[Geraint]

Dear Grev.

 

One discussed here, as with all things a precise classification leads you into ambivalent territory but generally speaking a curved blade shaped form with an integral hook.  They are often signed with a spurious mei a little like kogatana, either that or Masamune had a prolific sideline in producing them.  As you can imagine jitte are relatively easy to produce and so I suspect that yours is not of great age.  If you look closely at the wooden haft you might be able to see scratch marks around the wood that suggest strongly that this has been turned and then sanded, it's a common thing to find in turned work and tells you that the maker did not think to finish the work by sanding with the grain.   Of course it might simply be that the woodwork has been replaced.

 

In any case enjoy!

 

 

All the best.

[John C]

2 hours ago, kissakai said:

Can it be dated

Grev:

This happens to be one of my collecting areas. Love these. Anyway, they were used throughout the Edo period by yoriki (inspectors who worked for the magistrate) and by doshin (local constables who worked for the yoriki) and even komono (assistants to the doshin). The kagi, or hook, is sometimes referred to as a sword catcher or breaker, however in practice, this would not be easy to do. The hook was actually used to apply pressure to the torinawa (rope capture; i.e., handcuffs) or to hook onto clothing or even hands to affect the arrest of the criminal. Most are simple in design and materials since they were everyday use tools. Most are heavy iron, though I have at least one made out of heavy brass.

The older ones tend to have forgeed kagi while the slightly later ones have a peened over through tenon on the kagi like yours. Later, they were welded. Earler versions also tend to have a boar's eye design for the tassel hook, later ones have the straight loop like yours. They all spin to keep them from binding. Occasionally, you will find the torinawa still attached to the loop.

One last thing, most came with tassels. I have read that the type or color of tassel can be used to identify the rank or status of the wearer, however I have not been able to confirm this. I have several books on jitte (ten hands), however they are in Japanese. If I can translate them some day, I might find out more about the tassels.

 

John C.

p.s. see also sodegarami for related samurai arrest and control weapons. 

[John C]

2 hours ago, kissakai said:

Edo police weapon

Some additional info:

A good book on these, a print showing jitte and torinawa in action, the author of the book dressed as a yoriki and a doshin.

 

John C.

[kissakai]

Thanks for this info on an unknown subject for me

I can see also the difference's between the two types

This one an iron hook with a brass striking shaft and I think I can see some lathes 'lines'