A question about shirasaya.

[shan]

Hi everyone,

I have just been told by another member (or sugested)that a blade in shirasaya with an integral wooden habaki means it is considered not a good enough blade to have a metal one made for it,so is likely of poor quality.("What makes me wonder, though, is the quality of the shirasaya and the fact that the sword has no proper habaki, just the wooden one, integrated with the tsuka.This could mean that someone has determined that this blade is not so

valuable as to give it a proper habaki (which costs money). ")

 

My reply was that in order for a sword to be resting it would need (may be requested)to have all of its fittings removed but i am not sure if this is right.

I have 2 with this feature and both are flawless and well made.

One a Muromachi Soshu Sunobi Tanto (that has been shown on this forum) and the other a Tachi with Horimono of a branch with blossom on the shinogi ji at the monouchi area.(in very old shirasaya with integrated Habaki)

Just wondered if anyone knew the answer or if this was correct that integral habaki meant poor quality blades.

regards

shan

[paulb]

Shan

A very short answer which I have always understood to be true.

a wooden Habaki on a shirasaya was something of a fashion in Japan. I have seen several where the habaki was a part of the tsuka rather than seperate. As far as I know this was simply a function of where and when it was made and had nothing to do with the quality of the blade it protected.

regards

Paul

[shan]

Thanks Paul.

Thats what i thought might be the case.

regards

Shan

[DirkO]

I thought wooden habaki were used as to not scratch the blade, whereas metallic ones -however carefully made- still can cause scratches.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Shan, in the case you missed this one. Ebony Habaki, under request :

 

http://www.nihontoantiques.com/polishin ... _sword.htm

[Mike P.]

I understand that when a new habaki is needed for a blade in good polish, wood is the best choice for reasons of being the less invasive method against the blade surface.

[shan]

Hi all,

Thanks for the opinions,

This seems to indicate that the forum member (The blade is no longer for sale BTW,its off to shinsa),who expressed an interest in my blade and asked for images to be emailed and then once he saw the habaki,sugested that a wooden habaki is only for an inferior blade, is in fact incorrect.

Is this the case?or does he have a valid point?

Or Was he perhaps wrong in his assumptions that because he has a poor blade with a wooden habaki that all blades with wooden habaki are of poor quality??

many thanks

Shan

[Grey Doffin]

A great blade can have a wooden habaki, a crap blade can have a nice habaki, and everything between. I would think that on average a wooden habaki would be a hint of lesser quality in the blade, but I wouldn't for one minute dismiss a blade based on the habaki alone.

Grey