Cord on Tsuka?

[jmpainter]

Hello...newbie trying to understand a sword that I have had for a while.

Can anyone tell me about this cord attached to the Tsuka?

 

I haven't found other swords that have this but don't know what to search for.

 

Thanks,

John

[Ford Hallam]

Hello John,

 

this rather garish orange cord and it's odd wooden bobbins have absolutely nothing to do with the tsuka they are wrapped around. I'd suggest taking it off...then the mystery will disappear .

 

It's isn't a lanyard or udenki either (sword retaining cord)...that was typically attached via the tsuba or on tachi via the pommel (kabuto-gane).

 

regards,

 

Ford

[jmpainter]

Ah...it is actually Red. This sword was brought back from WWII so maybe the cord was added as a safety? I am trying to figure out what this sword is.

 

Thanks,

John

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi John,

 

The cord is what is left of a Fusa Himo (literally Tassle Cord).

 

The two wooden toggles are the formers around which the Fusa tassles are formed.

 

They appear on sword bags, armour and even mobile phones.

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[Stephen]

most likly added by the GI or previous owner, it does not belong on the tsuka.

[Nobody]

It's isn't a lanyard or udenki either (sword retaining cord)...that was typically attached via the tsuba or on tachi via the pommel (kabuto-gane).

If the tsuba does not have udenuki-ana but the owner wants to use udenuki, doesn't he utilize such a cord on the tsuka?

 

Just a thought.

[jmpainter]

Interesting...I know that it has been on there at least since WWII.

 

jmp

[Baka Gaijin]

I take your point, I was there once myself, but face it, unless you actually picked the piece up from the Japanese Officer concerned in Theatre so to speak, all you really know is that it was on the sword just before you became custodian.

 

No More.

 

All else is anecdotal.

 

Sorry Mate, but it's going to be a harsh learning curve if you want to truly study a Sword's history, you have to become dispassionate and ride the knocks, it's how we truly learn.

 

 

Malcolm

[jmpainter]

I didn't mean to sound defensive about it at all.

I don't claim to know ANYTHING about swords. Just very interested.

I always thought it looked out of place.

 

Anecdotal yes, but it has only changed hands twice and my friend who gave it to me had seen it at HIS friend's house (the son of the GI that brought it back) since he was young.

The knot is well-tied and fitted well so it doesn't give the IMPRESSION that it was tied on there by a GI.....but maybe he was a Boy Scout

 

Whomever put it on there, it was tied a long time ago (not in SWORD years of course).

 

jmp

[Stephen]

id not dwell n the knot, its missing a fuchi which is more consern to my eye, maybe show a shot of the kashira and some one may have something close or a match.

[jmpainter]

So it is 'proper' to replace the Fuchi (I'm also missing a Spacer as well) as long as I tell a buyer (if I sold it)?

 

I've seen some for sale that looked like the same style on eBay.

 

jmp