Unusual Meiji period sword

[pcfarrar]

A friend asked if I would post some photos of this sword to get the members opinion. Looks like a Meiji period tourist piece but seems a bit different than the usual ones. It has a mumei shinto katana blade mounted in the koshirae.

 

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[chrisf]

Really like this...whilst I think I've seen something like it before,I can't remember where LOL

I'm guessing maybe a formal,dress,uniform or court sword from Meiji coronation period when lots of formal tachi koshirae were produced,this one for a lesser rank and maybe worn in a frog.

What is the white metal making up most of the tsuka?Silver?

Looks to be more a sword to be worn and seen than used.

Fascinating item,thanks for posting it.

[k morita]

Nice koshirae.!

I think,this koshirae is called a kind of Toppei-Koshirae?

突兵拵

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning all,

 

I agree, this is really quite an unusual Koshirae.

 

I wonder if there was something else involved on the Tsuka, perhaps some kind of ito like thread in the indentations on the white coloured metal.

 

I also wonder what type of Fusa Himo it may have had.

 

Morita san, do you know of an online resource of images from the Meiji coronation?

(Just thinking that it might be fun to look for this type of Koshirae there)

 

Cheers

[Toryu2020]

http://www.toryu-mon.com

 

Below a little snippet from my article on koshirae the full text of which resides on my ARCHIVES page;

 

突兵拵　– Toppei Koshirae; In response to growing threats both internally and from the west, the Tokugawa Bakufu under French influence established the Rikugun-sho, or Ministry of War, in 1866. The students and curriculum of the Kobu-sho were absorbed at this time and became the Army training school. French instructors were employed to teach close order drill, artillery and European military science. A uniform based on the French model was employed and swords were required to be carried in a type of leather frog. Because of the particular shape of these leather frogs, scabbards were remade with thin pointed tapering kojiri that reminded the soldiers of a Toppei kabuto. The kurikata became a simple loop on a swivel, sometimes attached to the mune side of the saya, to allow for the sword to be worn in the redress position while in western uniform or through the obi in traditional style. Because these were employed when wearing pants, “zubon”, they are also sometimes referred to as Zubon-zashi and may be thought of as the last stage in the development of Samurai accoutrement as their world would soon disappear with the advent of the Restoration.

 

I think this is a fairly nice example especially if that is silver...

-t

[Baka Gaijin]

Thank you Thomas, the article is excellent.

 

Cheers

[pcfarrar]

What is the white metal making up most of the tsuka?Silver?

 

Tsuka is covered in silver foil.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far, much appreciated.

[chrisf]

Must be quite a rare item and a great piece from a period of Japanese history that I find fascinating with its mix of turbulent politics,heroism and tragedy.

 

Enjoyed visiting your site Mr Helm,excellent article on koshirae also Mito swordsmiths and 'men of high purpose',can highly recommend a visit to anyone who hasn't viewed.

[Toryu2020]

Thanks to Chris and Malcolm for the kind remarks,

 

Thanks Peter for posting this, if you get better pics of the tsuba would love to see those as well.

-t

[pcfarrar]

Few more photos: