Tsukamaki

Steffieeee · January 5, 2020

Hi just a question about wrappings. Were colours, styles of wrap material etc. dictated just by fashion, and preference? or any particular reason for the different styles of wrap etc. Obviously the battle wrap had a practical application

Ken-Hawaii · January 5, 2020

I'm far from being an expert, but common sense says that swords that were used for battle had fairly-basic tsukamaki. Post-sengoku, when blades got flashy to sell in non-wartime, I'd expect that wrappings, tsuba, & everything else were more fashion-driven.

IanB · January 5, 2020

Many years ago there was circulated a sheet of different wraps that a traditional tsukamakishi family published showing about 8 -10 wraps. One was described as 'senior samurai of the Shonai Han' another as 'lower class samurai of the Shonai Han'. This suggests some groups did have their own identifiable styles. I have a katana done two colours, buff and black, and I have seen other swords in this two colour combination. So I think the answer is at least a partial yes.

Ian Bottomley

SAS · January 6, 2020

I believe Higo had a similar arrangement, and some koshirae were specified for appearance in the Shogun's court.

IanB · January 6, 2020

SAS, Yes, the swords for the Shogunal court had to be mounted in shakudo with absolutely plain shakudo tsuba and a horn kashira. I have a hilt with the fuchi in shakudo nanako, with mon also in shakudo and the obligatory horn kashira. I have a feeling I have the tsuba tucked away somewhere as well. The whole idea seems to have been not to present anything flashy when crawling towards the Shogun on one's knees.

Ian Bottomley

Tigerinbamboo · January 6, 2020

Ian, wouldn't one have checked one's sword at the door when visiting the shogun? ????

Cheers,

SAS · January 6, 2020

Tanto and wakizashi were retained as far as i know, only long swords were checked at the door...

IanB · January 7, 2020

As SAS says ( this use of cryptic identifiers drives me crazy - if you were talking to me face to face I hope you wouldn't hide your head in a bucket) the wakizashi would be worn and even that would be limited in size. In the 1680's the Tokugawa decreed the maximum length should be about 15".

Bald head the Unworthy.

SAS · January 7, 2020

Dear BHU, my name is in my signature line, SAS are my initials.....Steve the Bald

Steffieeee · January 8, 2020

Is there any online guide for tsuka shino

or musubidama maki style? They both have a knot at the center I think unless I have the names wrong.

IanB · January 8, 2020

I'm afraid my computer only shows location.

Ian Bottomley

SAS · January 9, 2020

Dear Ian, SAS stands for Steven Arthur Shimanek.....aka Steve the Bald.....Buckethead is a talented guitarist; me, i try, but not close

Steffiieee, there is a book on tsukamaki that explains numerous styles that would be good to have and may answer some questions; it is early here and i am not awake yet, but i think Buck is the author's last name.

EdWolf · January 9, 2020

You can find more information here:

http://www.tsukamaki.net/

Rich S · January 9, 2020

David McDonald in Mt. does nice tsukamaki. I don't recall what all he has on his site.

http://www.montanairon.com/swords.html

Rich

Steffieeee · January 10, 2020

More interested in trying it myself, tricky but like anything gets easier with practise.

Rich S · January 10, 2020

First you need to make a tsukamaki tying jig to hold the tsuka while you do the wrap. Very hard (I think) on the fingers. I did the same very, very brief course with Master Ichinose that David did at the 68(?) Token Tai Kai in Chicago. I've tied a few tsuka for my own swords a long time ago; I was please with the results although a pro would find them amaturish. It is fairly difficult getting started, but after doing a couple it gets easier. The finishing top knot/tie-off is what I found the most difficult. There are several instructional pages/sites on the net but I'm sure you will run into problems your first couple attempts - good luck and best wishes for good results.

Rich

Jussi Ekholm · January 10, 2020

The Tsukamaki book by Thomas Buck has many styles and instructions to do them. It is very nice book and I'd recommend getting one if you are interested. I sold mine a while ago but it was nice to have it.

I believe these are the tsukamaki style sheets that Ian mentioned earlier.

TsukamakiStyles Part1.pdf

TsukamakiStyles Part2.pdf

Steffieeee · January 10, 2020

Thanks v much Jussi and Rick. Yes I've been having a few goes, I think having a jig would make things significantly easier!

IanB · January 10, 2020

Jussi, Yes they are the ones. Useful to have on record.

Ian Bottomley

SAS · January 10, 2020

Small clamps are useful to help maintain tension, also.

Geraint · January 13, 2020

Dear Steff.

If you are trying this then you definitely need this book that Jussi recommended, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Tsukamaki-Pocket-Thomas-Buck/dp/1505226147/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+art+of+Tsukamaki&qid=1578928345&sr=8-1

Lots of really useful practical advice and clear diagrams. The author is the person who runs the website that Ed suggested.

Look forward to seeing some of your work.

All the best.

Steffieeee · January 13, 2020

Just arrived today funnily enough ty

Steffieeee · January 19, 2020

Ok. I admit defeat temporarily. Is there anyone in the UK who can do the musubitama wrap style? It has a central knot in the crossover part. It's not a style which is shown in the buck book.or yurimaki. Which is a more hexagonal than diamond inner shape

Geraint · January 21, 2020

Dear Steff.

You can sure pick 'em! Managed to find one image, (In Markus Sesko, Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords), and did a mock up of the knot to show how it works. It is not something I have ever seen. What makes you so keen to try this wrap?

Hope this helps.

All the best.

Steffieeee · January 21, 2020

oh nice thanks very much Geraint. I think it looks awesome, and I think it would totally go with the sword I,m trying. generally I seem to make life difficult for myself by wanting something other than easy options. I,m surprised there aren't more people who do this stuff tbh

FodoorG · February 12, 2020

Dear Members, good Morning,

I am Gábor Fodor from Czech Republic. I would like to ask you about this type of tsukamaki.

I would like to learn how to do it but I didn't find any information about it.

Thanks in advence, my best wishes for you all!

GF

Ken-Hawaii · March 11, 2020

Welcome to NMB, Gábor. Please introduce yourself in http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/27284-new-member-introductions/ so we know what interests you. And you can set up your signature in your Profile, too.

Steffieeee · March 11, 2020

Can anyone give me information about this kind of hilt. Looks to be leather binding, the mounts are iron with dragonflies, and gold menuki, have no idea what they are supposed to represent. Is this a regional hilt style?

Geraint · March 11, 2020

Hi Steff.

I really like this one! According to the first pdf that Jussi supplied above this is kawahosomaki byotsuka I think.

What ever it is I love it. Menuki maybe sea shells?

All the best.

Steffieeee · March 11, 2020

Thanks for spotting that geraint, it was there all the time!... That's certainly a mouthful... Any idea what Akita, satake means?, it's written underneath that hilt style, are they regions?

Some googling later, yes satake is in Akita province, right up in the North...

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