"Naked" Type 3 tsuka?

[george trotter]

Hi all,

This is not about a super important thing, just an interesting detail.

Over the past 40 years I have seen many swords, including Type 94, 98 and 3 mountings. Of any type mounting I have only ever seen 2 with tsuka that appear to never have been bound (see pic). In both cases these were Type 3, the blades were good star stamped examples of RJT smith Nakata Kanehide of Seki, one was dated 5/44 (#14 in paint on tang) and 9/44 (#672).

I though these were maybe neglected, that the ito, same and menuki had rotted off, but the metal fittings were in good condition and there was no trace of them ever having been bound, no trace of glue, no trace of binding.

Then I saw these pics on Nihontocraft (hope it's OK), and there it was, a RJT blade by Kanehide dated 9/44 (#556) and it also is described as appearing to have never been bound (look with a magnifying glass and you'll see light through the shitodome hole - no trace of rotted ito). In this case however, it is not a "naked" tsuka as it has a leather cover that they describe as also appearing to be original. (I have seen these covers before, but always on a bound tsuka).

I suppose there are reasons why a handle can be unbound (can't think of one), but it seems strange that it is (so far) only found on the high quality RJT swords from Kanehide of Seki in Type 3 mounts.

I add that in all 3 cases these swords had metal saya of the "double button" clip system.

 

So, can anyone comment - ? Have you seen this before?

 

Regards,

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning George.

 

For what it's worth, back in the early 70's a certain Japanese teacher taught a very basic form of Iai in the U.K.

 

He regularly used a Gunto for training with bandage tightly bound around the tsuka.

 

When asked why, he said that it was often done by officers in "theater" who didn't want to soil the itomaki.

 

I have a recollection of seeing grainy black and white photographs of WW2 Japanese officers with white bound tsuka.

 

Could this be the reason - end war period with lack of materials, bandage wrap in theater?

 

Just a thought.

 

Cheers

[george trotter]

Hi Malcolm,

Yes maybe. I have seen pics with these white cloth wraps...I have seen in hand, both the "bag" type leather covers and the "lace-on" type but they had binding underneath. Maybe you are correct, lack of materials? but they are only (so far) on Kanehide RJT...you'd think high end suppliers would have materials....just don't know...hope Morita san/Moriyama san have seen such things and have the answer?

Regards,

[Lindus]

Had a couple in the past George,one had just the rough shape of a tsuka ,leather covered and tightly stitches on, spoke with Ron Gregory at the time who thought that as the mounts were late war it was simply a rush job rather than lack of material due to increasing need.

 

What ever it looks like a damn nice blade.

Roy

 

PS

The white cloth seen in pictures were just an added protection to the ito.

[george trotter]

Hi Roy,

Yes, I wondered the same thing...rush job, hurry, hurry, hurry...let's just get it out there. Could be that, only I still have the nagging question of why only Seki Kanehide RJT blades in Type 3 mounts? I have never seen this on Type 98 tsuka.

Do you remember if the ones you mentioned to Ron Gregeory was Kanehide?

 

For the practical swordsmen among us, you might be interested to know that the 3 blades I have mentioned here were all between

62-64.5 cm...ideal ground fighting length IMHO...maybe these Kanehides had a reputation among young sword savvy officers and they preferred this length and this type of "no-nonsense" tsuka. Just a thought..

Regards,

[Lindus]

Sorry George it was long ago and I think the question to Ron was re the Tsuka only, one of the swords of mine was by Okimasa/mitsu from Oki Island??, lovely sword in terrible mounts...sold it because of the mounts...did not know better then.

Roy

[george trotter]

Thanks Roy.

That would be Okimitsu btw. Nice work...I saw one by him last week but no chance of getting it.

Regards,