Gloves And Tsuba

[Daso]

Now that I am starting to add some Tsuba to my collection from both an etiquette and prevention standpoint, can I enjoy my Tsuba holding it in my bear hand and enjoy it that way or do I have to do the white glove thing?  Does one only don the glove with the most fragile (a contradiction in itself) or older pieces with risk of sweat from fingers doing damage or just enjoy and wipe down if necessary.  I understand this with a blade, but Iron Tsuba seems less of an issue to me.  Just curious so I don't make any faux pas in my travails and encounter with Tsuba in the wild.

[Ford Hallam]

  On 6/1/2016 at 2:27 PM, Daso said:

... can I enjoy my Tsuba holding it in my bear hand and enjoy it that way or do I have to do the white glove thing? 

 

I reckon that if you have bear hands ( aren't they properly called paws? ) then gloves would probably be a good idea. Although...finding gloves big enough might be difficult.

 

Is this a second amendment corollary?

[ggil]

...Oh the Brits and their proper English grammar

 

in my experience, very expensive tsuba get the 'white glove treatment'  However, I cringe whenever my daughter touches any of my pieces.  She washes her hands before and after....death and birth, respectively.  I'm pretty sure if I could somehow extract her skin grime, it could be sold as a industrial rust remover. 

[Daso]

  On 6/1/2016 at 2:51 PM, Ford Hallam said:

I reckon that if you have bear hands ( aren't they properly called paws? ) then gloves would probably be a good idea. Although...finding gloves big enough might be difficult.

 

Is this a second amendment corollary?

Once again,  I should not write anything prior to having two coffees  and shut off my autospell.  I guess It's Paws for now and I definitely wopuld not want my claws scratching the Tsuba

[Guido]

Soft metal tsuba = gloves, iron tsuba = no gloves. Price isn't an issue, I've handled Nobuie and Kaneie without gloves, no problem.

[Steve Waszak]

I have heard conflicting viewpoints on this, but in general, I agree with Guido.  The one qualifier I would add, though, is that apparently, some individuals are burdened with a more "acidic" body chemistry, such that when they handle iron, there is higher likelihood of the inducing of rust formation.  I can't say whether this is a "true fact," but probably the metal craftsmen here will know better than I...    I can say that I do handle my steel guards without gloves, and haven't noticed any ill effects.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[BIG]

Hi Darius,

 

see page 13 on this NBTHK pdf..

 

http://nihonto.com.ua/books/19.pdf

 

Best Regards

[BIG]

Sorry its from the All Japan Swordsmith Association

 

Best Regards

[Alex A]

  On 6/1/2016 at 4:00 PM, Steve Waszak said:

I have heard conflicting viewpoints on this, but in general, I agree with Guido.  The one qualifier I would add, though, is that apparently, some individuals are burdened with a more "acidic" body chemistry, such that when they handle iron, there is higher likelihood of the inducing of rust formation.  I can't say whether this is a "true fact," but probably the metal craftsmen here will know better than I...    I can say that I do handle my steel guards without gloves, and haven't noticed any ill effects.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

Ive read something along the same lines to this with regards to some folk getting through guitar strings faster, their skin being more acidic.

[ggil]

Iron with inlay: I would say gloves here too, because the dissimilar metals suffer galvanic corrosion faster with acids present, I am thinking. The PDF says especially shibuichi shouldn't be touched at all without gloves.

[Daso]

  On 6/1/2016 at 4:15 PM, Alex A said:

Ive read something along the same lines to this with regards to some folk getting through guitar strings faster, their skin being more acidic.

This is absolutely true. I actually use stings finely coated with kevlar to reduce the need to wipe down strings after use and reduce corrosion. Strings are stainless steel or Bronze.

[Daso]

  On 6/1/2016 at 4:05 PM, BIG said:

Hi Darius,

see page 13 on this NBTHK pdf..

http://nihonto.com.ua/books/19.pdf

Best Regards

Thanks. Nice site and photo info.

[Steve Waszak]

In Kokubo Kenichi's "Ten Rules of Tsuba Collecting" (1972), he states the following:

 

"Iron tsuba differ from other iron craft products in the sense that iron tsuba can be played with in one's hands.  Even a rusty iron tsuba that defies the scrutiny of our eyes may have the right tactile qualities.  Thus, revealing its potential.  The touch and weight of a guard in one's hand is important in the appreciation and evaluation process.  When making a tsuba, it is difficult to reach a good balance between the niku and the mimi.  Therefore, if a tsuba feels good in one's hand, it usually is a good one (the balance of the thickness of the tsuba's center vs. the thickness of the mimi and the overall shape of the tsuba all play an important role here).  Therefore, when enjoying an iron tsuba, we need to see with our hands as well as our eyes."

 

I can personally attest to the value of being able to feel the texture of a steel tsuba, and so would agree with Kokubo's thoughts here...

 

Steve

[Brian]

  On 6/1/2016 at 3:53 PM, Guido Schiller said:

Soft metal tsuba = gloves, iron tsuba = no gloves. Price isn't an issue, I've handled Nobuie and Kaneie without gloves, no problem.

This has also always been my view. When in doubt though, use gloves. Can also confirm, being in the firearms industry, how some people can naturally eat a hole right through steel with their sweat over time. Some people are naturally just more corrosive.

[Jean]

Brian,

 

"Some people are naturally just more corrosive."

 

You have just entered entered the "best in show" competition. LOL

[Stephen]

yep were called Old Salts! LOL

[Ford Hallam]

My nephew worked with me for three months, he had 'acid hands' so he had to go...

 

Thankfully my hands aren't corrosive...but I have been accused of being abrasive.

[Stephen]

LOL what grit would that be Ford san....LOL

[Ford Hallam]

true grit, Stephen, naturally