Fitting

[Steffieeee]

Hi can someone tell me what this is? A piece of brass carefully fitted into the sheath. ? Totally flush and I guess when the loop was still present pretty difficult to retrieve?..

[DoTanuki yokai]

Im not sure but i read about extra weight in yoroi doshi tanto for a better fit at the belt.

If the blades center of gravity is too close to the nakago and it wants to turn around while moving.

Putting the weight at the top of the saya would be a too big lever and also uncomfortable to handle.

Only my opinion.

[Steffieeee]

This is a very thin piece of brass bent at the edges to form a 'tray' . No weight to speak of. Yet a huge amount of work to carve out that hidden slot.

[myochin]

This is most probably a 'purse'. The tray can hold rectangular-shaped coins that the swordsman could carry around with him.

[Steffieeee]

Interesting idea. The problem is it's almost impossible to get out of there. I could only remove it with small pliers because the strap loop is missing. 

[francois2605]

First thing that springs to mind: that piece of brass is here to fill the empty space where a kogatana is supposed to be inserted into.

[myochin]

This is what came to my mind, its only a suggestion

[Steffieeee]

I guess it's the right shape for a handle. There is a standard kogatana space on the other side of the sheath. I guess it could be for a spare kogatana handle but why make it inaccessible and why make this piece of brass to fit exactly. 

 

Myochin. That looks very like what is here! I think you're right! Thanks!! Although good knows how he would have got that out without some special tool. I guess you could just about pull it out with the kogatana blade..

[Ray Singer]

I agree with Paul that this is a coin tray.

[Steffieeee]

I assume they aren't that common? Or are they?

[PNSSHOGUN]

They are somewhat rare, more so if they retain the coins.

[Ed Harbulak]

It's probably hard to remove now because the wood of the saya has shrunk over the years. Wood shrinks, brass doesn't, means it's a very tight fit now.

[Bugyotsuji]

And who in 'their' right mind would want it to be easy to remove?

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning Steffiee

 

I think the Kamon is Maru Ni Yotsu Me 丸に四つ目 (assuming the points of the squares are at clock positions 12, 3, 6, 9).

 

If it was flat on,(edges at clock position 12,3,6,9) then Maru Ni Hira Yotsu Me Yui 丸に平四つ目結

[george trotter]

Years ago I picked up a very worn Wakizash saya in a flea market. When I got it home this little silver coin fell out, I presume from the kogatana slot (it did not have a metal tray)...maybe it had a tray years before but slipped out of it and lodged in the bottom of the slot and only fell out now as it had been juggled and knocked by us foreigners?  Anyway, it does happen, but very rare.

Regards,

[Surfson]

There is an episode of pawn stars where they call in Mike Yamazaki and he discovers one of these coin slots in a tanto that had Higo mounts.