My First Tosogu Article...

[Soshin]

Hi Everyone,

 

I published my first Tosogu related article in the Japanese Sword Society of the United States (JSSUS) volume 44, number 3 this month. The title of the article is "Overview and Development of Tsuba made by Japanese Swordsmiths". The article contains highlights from my collection and Mariusz K. who is also a member of the NMB spanning from the middle Muromachi Period to the middle Edo Period. I would like to post a archive copy of the article at the NMB if possible but I should talk to JSSUS leadership first before doing so. Some of leadership are also members of the NMB. Please feel free to comment if you have had the chance to see the article. Here is a color photos of one of the Tosho tsuba from my collection featured in the article.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Eric H]

David,

 

I have just read your article about Tosho Tsuba and I think it gives a good overview on the topic. Unfortunately the quality of the Newsletter paper does not allow satisfactory illustrations

 

Eric

[Brian]

Hope you do get permission to post the article here. Haven't received my newsletter yet..looking forward to it.

 

- B -

[Soshin]

Hi Brian and Eric H.,

 

Thanks for the replies and Eric H. for his kinds words about my article. It is a good summary of what is currently available on the subject of Tosho tsuba makers in English. I will contact the newsletter editor and Grey D. who is a director about posting the article here on NMB with high resolution color photos of each example. Above is a good example. I will let everyone know once I hear from them.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Soshin]

Hi Brian,

 

I was contacted by the JSSUS newsletter editor and was given the green light to post my tosogu article on the message board in a digital format. Please send me a PM with instructions on what to do next. Thanks again.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Danocon]

Hi Brian,

 

I was contacted by the JSSUS newsletter editor and was given the green light to post my tosogu article on the message board in a digital format. Please send me a PM with instructions on what to do next. Thanks again.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

 

David

I have been thinking about joining JSSUS and your post decided me. I am very interested in this type of tsuba and in fact can see myself making this style. Any directions you can point me to for more information would be appreciated.

 

Thank you.

[Soshin]

Hi Dan O.,

 

I hope you join JSSUS. The information in the newsletter is more then worth the yearly membership dues. Thinking about it the most important skill required to produce high quality modern Tosho style tsuba would be the ability to forage a nice plate from the traditional Japanese steel tamahagane. I know that tamahagane is graded by its carbon content and I don't know which grade or grades would be best for the plate of this type of tsuba. Skillfully and tastefully performing the hammer work on the surface of the plate would also not be easy. The small openwork design I don't think would be hard but again I never tired to make a modern Tosho tsuba before.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Danocon]

Hi Dan O.,

 

I hope you join JSSUS. The information in the newsletter is more then worth the yearly membership dues. Thinking about it the most important skill required to produce high quality modern Tosho style tsuba would be the ability to forage a nice plate from the traditional Japanese steel tamahagane. I know that tamahagane is graded by its carbon content and I don't know which grade or grades would be best for the plate of this type of tsuba. Skillfully and tastefully performing the hammer work on the surface of the plate would also not be easy. The small openwork design I don't think would be hard but again I never tired to make a modern Tosho tsuba before.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

 

David,

I have sent my membership fee to JSSUS

I think the plate is doable.

1) I would like to think I have the forging skills.

2) I have a source for pine and a way to turn it into charcoal

 

 

3)I have made orishigane from 200 year old nails in my forge.

 

4)I have several sources for iron ore here in Texas.

 

5)The plan for a small kodai tatara is drawn up and is scheduled for this fall/winter.

6)My power hammer is nearing completion

 

All this is geared toward blades of course but I see no reason not to include tosho style tsuba as well.

 

Actually, the piercing is something I have never done.

I need to do some more research but my guess is the tsuba material comes from the lower carbon part of a tamahagane run.

With this type of tsuba I would assume it is all about the material, texture and patina

[Soshin]

Actually, the piercing is something I have never done.

I need to do some more research but my guess is the tsuba material comes from the lower carbon part of a tamahagane run.

With this type of tsuba I would assume it is all about the material, texture and patina

 

Hi Dan O.,

 

Thanks for the nice photos of your work. I do at someone need to get a new training sword for my Batto practice. In regards to the material I agree it is likely the lower carbon tamahagane that is used to forage the plate of a Tosho tsuba. The plate of a Ko-Tosho tsuba according to a book by Dr. Torigoye and Mr. Haynes cited in my paper is forged by a single fold of plate metal. They go on to say that the later Tosho tsuba and Katchushi (armor makers) tsuba are made with a more complex "S" fold design. Other people I have talk to discount this so I didn't discuss it in the article. The piercings I am not complete sure how they would be made. In regrades to the texture that is also really important and the ability to produce fine hammer marks along the surface of the plate is important. You will notice this in all of the early Ko-Tosho tsuba many of the finer Tosho tsuba. This would likely need to be done by hand without the use of a power hammer. I do have a few different offline sources on how to make a patina mixture which is applied once the tsuba is complete. I not sure if they are Tosho tsuba specific. I will do some searching and post what I find.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Pete Klein]

Dan -- In case you haven't yet I would recommend getting in touch with Ford Hallam either here or via his wbesite: http://www.followingtheironbrush.org/

He, Lorenzo and others specialize in the work you are thinking of and they would be best able to help you along.

I wish you luck.

 

PS: I believe he is in Japan so he might not be able to reply for the time being.

[Soshin]

Hi Dan O.,

 

Here is the a preparation I found used during the late Edo Period for applying a patina to a Iron tsuba. I am not sure if the preparation was specific to Tosho tsuba but is referred to as a standard method. I also have never tried this and have no idea if it would work or not. I hope you find this helpful.

 

Red clay (mix with water to the consistency of thick cream) 0.391 pt.

Pine resin 0.132 oz.

Nitrate 1.056 oz.

Green Vitriol (Ferrous sulfate) 0.0132 oz.

Blue Vitriol (Cupric sulfate) 0.0924 oz.

Salt 0.264 oz.

 

The above ingredients are mixed together dry and mixed with a small amount of water. Then, add the clay mixture to these ingredients, adding water until the whole thing has the consistency of cream. Allow to stand for a few hours, then skim the residue off the top. This mixture, skimmed from the top of the water, is then spread evenly over the plate of the tsuba and dried on a charcoal fire. The spreading and drying process is repeated about ten times. After the desired color is obtained wash the plate with water and dip in Japanese vinegar (plum vinegar) for about five minutes, when wipe dry. Then the surface of the plate is covered with wood ashes and rubbed clean. This is repeated about ten times. Then the plate is again dried over a charcoal fire. Next the plate is boiled in a solution of wood ashes for about four or five hours. The plate is then dried thoroughly and sword oil is spread on the surface and the plate is rubbed many times until the oil is worked well into the surface. It will take many years before the oxidation of the air will give the final color and true lustrous patina.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

[Danocon]

 

Hi Dan O.,

 

Thanks for the nice photos of your work. I do at someone need to get a new training sword for my Batto practice. In regards to the material I agree it is likely the lower carbon tamahagane that is used to forage the plate of a Tosho tsuba. The plate of a Ko-Tosho tsuba according to a book by Dr. Torigoye and Mr. Haynes cited in my paper is forged by a single fold of plate metal. They go on to say that the later Tosho tsuba and Katchushi (armor makers) tsuba are made with a more complex "S" fold design. Other people I have talk to discount this so I didn't discuss it in the article. The piercings I am not complete sure how they would be made. In regrades to the texture that is also really important and the ability to produce fine hammer marks along the surface of the plate is important. You will notice this in all of the early Ko-Tosho tsuba many of the finer Tosho tsuba. This would likely need to be done by hand without the use of a power hammer. I do have a few different offline sources on how to make a patina mixture which is applied once the tsuba is complete. I not sure if they are Tosho tsuba specific. I will do some searching and post what I find.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David Stiles

 

Hi David,

 

Yes the final texture would need to be done with a hand hammer. The power hammer is for processing raw steel to a workable condition. I know how the piercing or open work is done I just have never done it As Pete suggested I have asked the question on Ford's Iron Brush forum as well. Some members there have have given me some good sources of information. I have been a member there for a while but your post led me to ask the question here.

 

Like all good patina recipes this ones main ingredients are time and effort.

 

Thank you for the information and I look forward to reading your article.