Second Mekugi Ana too close to Habaki

[Moley]

Hi Everybody,

Something's puzzling me.

I have a Minamoto Teru Hisa blade in shirasaya which I think is ubu.

It has two mekugi ana.

Now the puzzling bit is that the hole used in the shirasaya fitting is the one nearest the back of the nakago. (as in photo 01).

I have also put a spare Tsuka off something else near it for comparison.

If it was suriage, then possibly this Mekugi hole would now be redundant.

But it isn't. This would be the bet fit for seppa and Tsuba.

The other hole seems far too near the habaki to fit seppa and a Tsuba? (photo 02)

In fact it would bring the fuchi over the hamaki.

Why drill this extra hole?

Any ideas?

 

Thanks

 

Gwyn

[cabowen]

The sword may have had a different habaki which wasn't as "long". Is it possible that a "short" habaki, thin pair or seppa, and a thin tsuba could fit with room for a "normally" located mekugi-ana in a tsuka?

 

The upper hole looks original to me as the lower one seems too close to the mei.

 

There is always the possibility the mei was added later-though very unlikely....

[Bugyotsuji]

Forgive me for being obtuse, but what is the difference between photo 01 and 02?

[leo]

Gwyn,

for me it is pretty obvious, that the hamachi was moved down a little bit and subsequently the jiri was cut. It is shown by the discoloration, the position of the lower ana and the strange proportion of the nakago.

The upper ana had been added later out of whatever reasons. The craftsman who did the shirasaya chose the right ana for the mekugi.

 

The machi okuri is not extreme, maybe 10-15mm, still it is suriage.

 

Best, Martin

[Moley]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for this.

So if this is correct, it means that the upper ana was even more redundant after the shortening?

So why drill it? a puzzle !

Also there is no sign of another (original before the shortening) ana except the one used.

 

(at 31 inch ( 79.cm) Nagasa 38 inch (97cm) overall it is quite a long blade)

[Marius]

Forgive me for being obtuse, but what is the difference between photo 01 and 02?

 

Resolution.

[pepe]

hello all,

 

i think pictures show the place of the tsuka when use the first, and when use the second hole

 

greetings, pepe

werner d

[Moley]

hello all,

 

i think pictures show the place of the tsuka when use the first, and when use the second hole

 

greetings, pepe

werner d

 

Yes -

Thanks Pepe

 

Photo 01 Tsukas placed where mekugiana's line up with ana on mei

 

Photo 02 Tsukas placed where mekugiana's line up with ana nearest Hamachi.

[raaay]

Hi Gwyn

 

may be you can ask Roy if you acquired the blade direct from him he may be able to

tell you the history of the blade .

 

as soon as you mentioned the length of the blade, I knew I had seen it before.

 

good luck ,

Ray

[Ken-Hawaii]

Gwyn, there's a very similar looking blade discussed on http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... =1&t=14176.

 

Ken

[Moley]

Hi Gwyn

 

may be you can ask Roy if you acquired the blade direct from him he may be able to

tell you the history of the blade .

 

as soon as you mentioned the length of the blade, I knew I had seen it before.

 

good luck ,

Ray

 

Hi Ray,

Roy doesn't know about it's history.

(Did you polish it by any chance?)

[raaay]

Hi Gwyn

 

sorry I do not polish swords, I just remembered Roy had owned the sword for a long time and thought he might be able to add a bit of info on it's history !

I may be mistaken but I thought Roy had mentioned in the past it was a Japanese polish ?

 

good luck,

 

Ray