Fitting for my sword.

[ianw]

Leading on from my thread in the other forum here are the fittings from my sword, again any info, when made, what its made of etc and tips on restoration greatly appreciated.

 

Tsuba has a diameter from top to bottom:6.5cm

Left to right Diameter: 6cm

Thickness:5mm

 

I have attached a side view of the Tsuba wich has what looks like silver dots on it.

 

I have also attached other pics of the other accessories.

 

If you need any other info or pics just let me know.

[Stephen]

this is from the Rai blade?, nice fittings looks like a restoration project to me, even if gimei its would be nice with new saya and if you could find another boar, or do you have both? how about fuchi and kashira? Often lords would request big names for a blade, like Ted said it needs to be looked at. Id have Bob Benson check it out.

[Stephen]

http://cgi.ebay.com/4064-JP-Samurai-Swo ... %26ps%3D57

 

the highlight in these would go well with the tsuba, only few hrs left. I seen Aoi had a set of Boar if you wanted to keep it the same, tad pricy at 500.00$

[ianw]

I have both the Boars, where do I go from here then, with getting the blade Checked and all the other components, making a start on cleaning and who is Bob Benson and how do I contact him. Sorry for all the questions and thanks for all the replies.

 

I have the scabbard as well but that is damaged as well, I will upload a photo. Here we go some more pics of the saya and Tsuka, the Ito is damaged in the form of the wrapping is partially off. (Am I glad I found a website with the proper name for the parts )

[Stephen]

Im not sure if Bob can save the saya, heres his link. if you have it polished yud want it to go into a shirasaya anyway. Id have him take a look at it, you can trust him to take you down the right path.

 

http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/

[SteveM]

I'd say the tsuka is a write-off. To restore it you would need new shark/ray skin, and new ito. I would look into new fuchi/kashira as the ones on this piece look pretty bland. Its probably a JPY 50,000 restore job on the tsuka (excluding any new fittings). The restorers might just throw the whole tsuka away and make a new one from scratch, keeping the boar fittings. You would, however, end up with a nice display piece.

 

If its a Rai blade, or other decent blade, its most definitely worth getting nice fittings and restoring the saya (I quite like the saya with the pauwlonia crest... I hope that can be restored. I think the exposed wood bits can be repaired and re-lacquered, but it might not match the mottled lacquering of the rest of the saya. Still, I think it can be greatly improved from its current state). If its a junker blade, and you just want to restore it for sentimental reasons, it would be a labor-of-love kind of thing, wherein the cost of repairing the blade and the saya would end up being dearer than buying another antique sword altogether... but it could end up being a very nice family treasure. Maybe not a museum piece, but something to enjoy for a long time.

[shan]

Hi,

I don`t see that Tsuka as a write off at all.

The same is fine and just needs to have the paper wedges removed and a light cleaning before being rewrapped.

I do agree that the Fuchi Kashira is somewhat plain but then that was the desire of the owner i would guess,to allow the emphasis on subtlety and concentration on the fittings less and blade more..Perhaps Understatement?

I think that if a tsuka is servicable and of any age,we should attempt to restore it and not just opt for complete replacement all the time.

After all whats the point in haveing a Koto blade in modern mounts?

Westerners have a habit of wanting fittings all matching and fancy looking and this is not always the best option and in Japanese terms may just be showing off Perhaps?.

Anyway i like the mounts so if you opt for complete replacement give me a shout and i will have them off you.Tsuba,Kogai,Kozuka and Boar menuki included of course

Nice set by the way,I would keep it all intact and foot the bill for repaires to the Saya with family Mon.

Just my unwanted 50 cents worth

regards

Shan

[SteveM]

I agree that we should avoid pointless restoration. If the same is good and serviceable, no need to throw it away.

 

I'd be careful about mind-reading the original owner's intentions. For all we know this could be a 3rd or 4th or 5th generation koshirae for this blade. (It could also be 3rd or 4th generation same as well). The original creator could well have wanted his blade to be fitted with the most garish koshirae imaginable. The previous owners could have been dying for a flashier set of f/k, but simply didn't have the cash. It could well be a koshirae that is an amalgam of parts collected over a few hundred years, and that it once had even more austere (or even more flashy) furnishings. It would be impossible to say at this point. I do think that if the previous owner were striving for subtlety, he probably wouldn't have chosen the mottled lacquer with the pauwlonia crest, and with the kurikara fittings on both sides of the saya. Its a loverly old saya, and needs a bit of care, so I would say to look at it objectively and find some kind of balance between what makes sense for the blade, and what you will be happy with. In any event, preserve where possible and if there is intrinsic value in the thing being preserved. As far as same skin and ito, and even the core wood... I wouldn't lose any sleep if it turns out these things need to be replaced.

[IanB]

Ian, Do all you can to retain the original components of your sword. The hilt, scabbard and fittings may well have been chosen by someone who owned the blade and should be kept with it. There is however another possibility why it has such an assortment. During the early years of the Meiji restoration swords and armours were abundant and dealers were flooded with them. I used to have a book written by the Bishop of Durham (who visited to set up a missionary school) who comments that he bought dozens of fine pieces at what he regarded ridiculous prices. This supply soon dried up however and dealers had to scratch around to supply the tourist trade. One of their tricks was to buy up sword parts and assemble them into suitable swords and armour for trade - the tourists didn't know or care and there were plenty of craftsmen still around to refurbish the parts and assemble the bits. You often see eclectic assemblies of mis-matched fuchi kashira, menuki and so forth on swords with original bindings. Some may be Edo period, belonging to poor samurai who couldn't afford better, but I'm sure most were knocked up by dealers to make a yen or two.

 

Ian Bottomley

[ianw]

I really appreciate all the reply's it has given me a lot to think about and research. Obviously if you you know any more I am more than happy to hear about it, it is really exciting for me. Thanks again.