What does Ubu mean for a tsuba?

[FZ1]

I've seen tsuba referred to as Ubu in another thread. 

 

Does this mean that the nakago ana hasn't been altered? (e.g enlarged by filing or reduced with copper inserts)  Or does it mean something else?

 

Jon

 

[Peter Bleed]

Jon,

You ask a good question. I'm interested in old and imported fittings and that is the context where I have heard the term used. It seems only to have been used by foreign collectors, at least I have never see the term used by Japanese authors. It seems to refer to tsuba that do not have hitsu-ana - presumably because they were made before or in a context where such things were not needed.

Peter

[b.hennick]

It means that there is no hole (ana) for the kozuka and or kogai. The original tsuba was free of these ana. Tachi tsuba are usually ubu as they do not have kozuka or kogai. If the tsuba is remounted for a katana it might get an ana for a kozuka occassionally for a kogai as well.

[FZ1]

Thanks gents, much appreciated.