Shirasaya with windows in the tsuka?

[RichardP]

Hello all, 

I found this Rai-school blade with a kinpun-mei over at e-sword.jp, and am puzzling over the curious windows cut into the handle.  Why was this done?  All I can think of is that this was intended to keep the kinpun-mei from rubbing off when the tsuka is removed/replaced—but It seems like there would be simpler solutions, like recessing the interior portions that might make contact with the mei.  Is this a common modification?

Regards,

Richard

 

(https://www.e-sword.jp/katana/2210-1040.htm)

[FZ1]

Could it be something as simple as the owner wanting to show-off the mei without repeatedly removing the tsuka?

 

Jon

[Geraint]

Dear Richard.

 

Well, there's always something new!  I think you are right, it is intended to protect the kinpun mei but rather than risk cutting away the bearing surfaces f the tsuka this way the mei can be viewed without removing the tsuka at all.

 

(I see that Jon and I are thinking along the same lines. )

 

All the best.

[SteveM]

Kind of an interesting innovation. Somehow, it seems to show off the saya-maker's woodworking ability better than it shows off the sword. 

I can't imagine a collector who would just want to look at the kinpun mei without looking at the actual sword. So the owner ends up removing the sword anyway. I guess this way there might be less wear-and-tear on the nakago?

Anyway, interesting and cool, even if I'm not completely sold on the usefulness. 

[Toryu2020]

Imagine a kantei session - you allow your guests to examine your sword blade with the nakago covered - once all the bids are in you remove the "covers" and everyone can see the attribution - you only need to remove the handle once a year for cleaning...

 

I had a friend in Japan with a Sadamune with a Shumei - he had a special order tsuka and wooden habaki that would "clip" onto the nakago rather than slide on and off. And Richard I would say this is not common...

 

-t