Very large tsuba questions

[Ron M]

Greetings to you all,

 I have had this very large tsuba for a long time. I think it was one of my first tsuba I bought. It’s 85mmx80mmx6.2mm and has a nice fukurin(?). It needs a little love but wondering some things:

Is it a tachi type tsuba and I’m displaying it correctly? Or does it display a different way?

 Is the hitsu Ana a sukashi or for kozuka? Is the hitsu a sea cucumber (namako?) or a type of family mon? Or just stylized?

Thank you for your time.

Regards

[ROKUJURO]

Hi Ron,

thank you for showing your fine TSUBA!

It is difficult to give a comment based on photos, but I'll try.

First, the diameter is not extremely large for an earlier TSUBA (pre-EDO). There are some with more than 100 mm! You gave a thickness of 6,2 mm, but this is probably the (later added?) FUKURIN. Would be interesting to know the plate thickness near the NAKAGO-ANA. If below 3 mm, this might be an indication of age, and this would in my opinion speak for a TACHI TSUBA. So it is likely presented correctly.

(Is there a metal nail in the wood supporting the TSUBA? This is not recommended and should be replaced by wood)

Concerning the shape of the HITSU, this does not look very old and is probably a later addition, perhaps together with the FUKURIN. I cannot tell the meaning of the shape, but I have seen this in HIGO TSUBA.

All in all, your TSUBA might have an old plate, but it could also have been made much later deliberately "in the style of" KATCHUSHI.

An expert would probably be able to tell you more when he sees this 'in hand'.

 

[Spartancrest]

Well there is some confusion about the correct way to orientate the guard - "true" tachi should be orientated as you have in the image, but as "true" tachi don't have hitsu and yours does, it should be the other way up - now this is where the confusion comes in, some tachi were later altered to be used on katana etc. so what we need to find out is, was it altered or was it made that way?

One guard in the Metropolitan Museum of Art with two hitsu the same shape but larger. One side has been altered for use, then repaired later. I would say the fukurin has been added on yours much later than the hitsu - but not absolutely possitive.

[Ron M]

1 hour ago, ROKUJURO said:

Hi Ron,

thank you for showing your fine TSUBA!

It is difficult to give a comment based on photos, but I'll try.

First, the diameter is not extremely large for an earlier TSUBA (pre-EDO). There are some with more than 100 mm! You gave a thickness of 6,2 mm, but this is probably the (later added?) FUKURIN. Would be interesting to know the plate thickness near the NAKAGO-ANA. If below 3 mm, this might be an indication of age, and this would in my opinion speak for a TACHI TSUBA. So it is likely presented correctly.

(Is there a metal nail in the wood supporting the TSUBA? This is not recommended and should be replaced by wood)

Concerning the shape of the HITSU, this does not look very old and is probably a later addition, perhaps together with the FUKURIN. I cannot tell the meaning of the shape, but I have seen this in HIGO TSUBA.

All in all, your TSUBA might have an old plate, but it could also have been made much later deliberately "in the style of" KATCHUSHI.

An expert would probably be able to tell you more when he sees this 'in hand'.

 

Hi, thank you for your reply. Yes, the measurement at the nakago Ana is exactly 3mm.

Regards