Complete O-Wakizashi Koshirae

[GeorgeLuucas]

Thanks everyone for your help, and discussion about my new blade and Koshirae. Especially helping me identify the Menuki. So I figured I'd share a post featuring the whole set of Koshirae

This O-Wakizashi is in a World War Two saya I think.

The kashira and fuchi feature gold kiri-mon, on shakudo nanako background. A Ford Hallam video was shared with me about shakudo nanako, and it was really fascinating and informative

The Menuki are both shiode and kura; which are tiedowns on a horse saddle. The nunome zogan Tsuba features a copper fukurin, and depicts a dragon in the clouds and some geometric lines - unfortunately its very hard to see and photograph because of poor condition, but it looks like there was once some gold in the clouds. The Habiki is really interesting to me, and seems to mimic the bo-hi of the blade. 

The whole set is mumei, like the blade. The blade post can be found at this link: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/45168-wakizashi-in-koshirae-discussion-and-check-my-notes/
I would love more opinions about the blade hada and possible age 

Thanks again,
I've learned a lot!

*More photos incoming in the comment's*
 

 

[GeorgeLuucas]

[GeorgeLuucas]

[GeorgeLuucas]

[Spartancrest]

2 hours ago, GeorgeLuucas said:

World War Two saya

I am not sure the saya is WWII the colour is blue, which is consistent with Naval mounts but it has only one suspension ring [naval had two] single suspension rings are something seen on Army mounts which were predominantly brown in colour or wrapped in leather. [I am no expert on mounts so someone might correct this?]

I notice two seppa on the tsuka side of the tsuba but there is no image of the blade side under the habaki - is there a seppa under the habaki? I only ask as it is usual to have a seppa either side of the tsuba but sometimes the order of assembly gets mixed up. [Often though, if the sword has been remounted or a thinner tsuba is used extra seppa might need to be added.]

[GeorgeLuucas]

44 minutes ago, Spartancrest said:

I am not sure the saya is WWII the colour is blue, which is consistent with Naval mounts but it has only one suspension ring [naval had two] single suspension rings are something seen on Army mounts which were predominantly brown in colour or wrapped in leather. [I am no expert on mounts so someone might correct this?]

I notice two seppa on the tsuka side of the tsuba but there is no image of the blade side under the habaki - is there a seppa under the habaki? I only ask as it is usual to have a seppa either side of the tsuba but sometimes the order of assembly gets mixed up. [Often though, if the sword has been remounted or a thinner tsuba is used extra seppa might need to be added.]

Hi Dale, thanks for that info about the saya, that's interesting and great to know

There is 1 seppa above the tsuba and under the habiki. The one in the photos below seems to fit properly, whereas the two underneath are several millimeters larger than they need to be; almost like they belong to a sword with a larger motohaba. not sure if that's normal or not




 

[Spartancrest]

I would say the tsuba has been switched out - the koshirae wouldn't have slots in the saya for kozuka or kogai so why use a tsuba with these hitsu? Nice fittings though!

[GeorgeLuucas]

8 minutes ago, Spartancrest said:

I would say the tsuba has been switched out - the koshirae wouldn't have slots in the saya for kozuka or kogai so why use a tsuba with these hitsu? Nice fittings though!

Thank you! I'm happy to have found it

I think you're right on the money about the Tsuba. Other than a tiny hint of gold, it doesn't match the rest of the koshirae that well. I didn't even think about the slots for kozuka and kogai, but that makes even more sense now

Maybe it had a matching kiri-mon tsuba that someone sold individually. Fun to imagine what it could have been. I enjoy it and it's fukurin nonetheless!