Question re-mounting tsuba on blades - sort of.

[drbvac]

On two separate occasions I had tsuba on a blade that were loose. On several others the tsuba had little copper pieces on the top and bottom that were inserted between the blade and the tsuba - so I made some for the ones I have which were loose.

 

My question : Were these used a lot historically or were they added as I did and do they have a name?

 

All i I did were make little wax models of the pieces and cast them into copper using copper wire, in the lost wax method we use for amking gold crowns for teeth. Once they are cast, you place them in the tsuba and burnish the flashing a bit so they stay where should be and slide them on the blade.

[Jean]

very often used as tsuba were seldom made for a dedicated sword (exceptions can be found on formal/court koshirae. These copper pieces are called sekigane

[Hermes]

Seppa, washers above and below the Tsuka to tighten the fittings were used for 100's of years, i have heard the first swords my not have had them, but for me a sword without at least two Seppa's, one on each side of the Tsuba is incomplete and a eye sore.

[Rich S]

If the tsuba is loose enough to rattle with both seppa in place, I commonly

make a leather seppa and fit it between the tsuba and upper seppa or

between upper seppa and fuchi. Might give that a try.

 

Rich S

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi,

 

FYI , http://picasaweb.google.com/tsubaman/Ho ... aOfATsuba#

[drbvac]

I think Jean got the idea, the tsuba fits horizontally - the nakago-ana is not the correct size and it was the sekigane that I made out of melted copper wire. I just coudn't remember the name and wondered if they were often utilized, and how they made them? Thanks Franco - easier than wax

 

Sorry to you other folks if I wasn't clear

[Jean]

Brian, you were perfectly clear (for me) and reading the post (perhaps because English is far from being my native idioma) I just ralized that it can be interpreted differently, perhaps because English is far from being my native idioma

[drbvac]

Jean: Votre anglais est tres meilleur que mon francais, c'est terrible!

[pcfarrar]

  Rich S said:

I commonly make a leather seppa

 

I also use leather seppa, great at stopping rattles.

[Ford Hallam]

I should point out that most commercially processed leathers contain traces of tannic acid and as such can stimulate rust on steel. Vegetable tanned leather would be a safer choice, or acid free paper card.

[cisco-san]

  pcfarrar said:

  Rich S said:

I commonly make a leather seppa

 

I also use leather seppa, great at stopping rattles.

 

 

Hi,

 

was/is it common to use leather or even paper made seppas against rattling tsubas? Because I never saw such tsuba :?

I the past I had also the idea with the paper seppa - but I thought always that if somebody see this seppa he will call me crazy?!

Btw. the tsuba on my sword rattles also and I am looking since a long time for a solutions - now it seems I got one

 

Many thanks

Klaus Schicker