Tanto with Tsuba attached to saya

jrshinn · December 9, 2020

Hello,

I am looking for information on a style of tanto that has the tsuba attached to the saya. From a practioner's viewpoint, i understand it's use. Historically i cant find any information or many examples of this style. I have attached an image of an example i have come across.

thanks,

Jason

ROKUJURO · December 9, 2020

I have never seen a HAMIDASHI TSUBA attached to a SAYA, and in my view, it doesn't make sense. It is not a true AIKUCHI then nor a HAMIDASHI. But I am here to learn.....

Bazza · December 10, 2020

Here is another one seen in my travels. It has a lovely blade by the Shinshinto smith Tamahide.

BaZZa.

jrshinn · December 10, 2020

Bazza, thank you for that awesome example! I am a sword practioner and this style of tanto is actually used by us. I am curious of the history behind this as my sensei has said that he hasnt seen another style use this type of tanto. I am not claiming that our art is the only one. I just cant find any history on it. For the style of fittings on that tanto, it is also traditional for our swords to be in handachi mounts.

Grey Doffin · December 10, 2020

Here is another example from my website.

https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/swords/k86-signed-%26-dated-armor-piercing-tanto-higo-koshirae

Grey

jrshinn · December 10, 2020

They have the same mon. I wonder if that’s indicative of anything.

b.hennick · December 10, 2020

Here is another example. The koiguchi has a tsuba like shape extending from the saya. I bought this blade in 1978. It was my second sword and my first expensive sword. It was shown at the Royal Ontario Museum as the sho in a daisho on a mannequin in period costume.

jrshinn · December 10, 2020

thats amazing! the higo style handachi mounts fit the history of our style. thats so cool it was in a museum. id be vary interested in finding an antique that is available.

kuromido · December 11, 2020

On 12/9/2020 at 9:02 PM, jrshinn said:

They have the same mon. I wonder if that’s indicative of anything.

Hi Jason, just an observation. While the mon are close they are not the same. The 9 circle mon is hosokawa,

not sure who’s is 7.

PeterD

jrshinn · December 12, 2020

11 hours ago, kuromido said:

Hi Jason, just an observation. While the mon are close they are not the same. The 9 circle mon is hosokawa,

not sure who’s is 7.

PeterD

Thanks Peter! i overlooked that

Ken-Hawaii · December 13, 2020

That is really qjite strange. I've trained in iaido & isijutsu for more than 30 years, & have never seen that configuration. The tsuba is intended to keep the hand from sliding onto the blade, & if its attached to the saya, why bother with a tsuba at all? Aikuchi, in other words.

Bazza · December 13, 2020

Isn't there a famous katana koshirae once owned by Uesugi Kenshin that doesn't have a tsuba at all??? The question in my mind is was such a configuration actually used on the battlefield?? If so is this a historic example of the style used by Jason in his Dojo???

BaZZa.