Personal opinions wanted: Kamachura blade Koshirae

[BKB5]

If you were having a sword built out from an early Ichimonji juyo blade, what would your preference be? Would you care about papers on the fuchi-kashira and tsuba? Would you try to go with really, really good pieces close to the time period though thmenuhin, may be plain?

Or....build a beautiful set in good taste...not gawdy...with perhaps Edo mounts?

Myself I am leaning towards Edo mounts in great quality and good taste....all papered...around a theme. NBTHK Tsuba is golden softer metal with exquisite wave carving, soft golden brown traditional ito silk wrap, dulled down pearl off white ray skin, finely carved octopus menuki, with wave themed gold fuchikashira or perhaps with sea creatures. Saya to be full covered rayskin sanded down, golden tinted, urushi.

No hard decision made but that's my thoughts. The blade is quite active ..jigane and hamon. 

 

I won't be going with a purple, gold flaked, dragon Saya, pink tsuka wrap, purple ray skin, red demon menuki, and gold tsuba....well maybe ; )

 

 

[Ray Singer]

It's all down to personal taste. For me, a Tensho koshirae in the style seen in the Uesugi collection (including the Sanchomo koshirae). 

[Polaria]

The koshirae will be modern built in any case, so it doesn't really matter if it looks "period" or not. Even if the pieces are old they are still not original to that sword. I would go with what looks best for the blade and how YOU want to present the blade in this time. 

[BKB5]

1 hour ago, Ray Singer said:

It's all down to personal taste. For me, a Tensho koshirae in the style seen in the Uesugi collection (including the Sanchomo koshirae). 

Ray thank you - shoot me any pics or links that suit your tastes as mentioned above.

I did some Google searches etc - just curious what catches your attention.

 

Thanks for the reply by the way!

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Bradley,

As stated by others, doesn't make a lot of difference which style/pieces you choose because when you're done the koshirae will be modern and put together by a westerner. Nothing wrong with your plans but keep in mind that, when you're finished with the build, if you spent $5,000 on it you will have no trouble getting $2,000 back when the time comes to sell. Collectors want original, antique koshirae.

I think it makes better sense to look for an existing antique koshirae mounted with tsunagi that you can display next to the tachi in its shirasaya, which is where it belongs. If you choose well you'll have no trouble getting your money back.

Grey

[Rivkin]

"I want only the best... everything papered...".

Three months later comes a photograph of the craziest spare parts assembly... with papers.

"It has achieved the designation of Tokubetsu Hozon".

 

 

[BKB5]

1 hour ago, Grey Doffin said:

Hi Bradley,

As stated by others, doesn't make a lot of difference which style/pieces you choose because when you're done the koshirae will be modern and put together by a westerner. Nothing wrong with your plans but keep in mind that, when you're finished with the build, if you spent $5,000 on it you will have no trouble getting $2,000 back when the time comes to sell. Collectors want original, antique koshirae.

I think it makes better sense to look for an existing antique koshirae mounted with tsunagi that you can display next to the tachi in its shirasaya, which is where it belongs. If you choose well you'll have no trouble getting your money back.

Grey

That's the idea Grey, built out a tsunagi to go with blade. It's just getting a Saya and tsuka made for the blade. The Tsuba would need a slight tweak to fit the blade. I'm not talking about having new fittings crafted. Maybe I need to look harder but I don't see many quality tsunagi packages for sale as a whole...minus blade. I guess I could just assemble the pieces on the wood blade and try to find nice work. How often are quality bladeless packages for sale....full Korshirae? 

Especially a beautiful rayskin laquer Saya on its own.

Grey you have a fine blade i will contact you on. Juyo piece with stunning jigane from photos. 

[Lewis B]

14 hours ago, BKB5 said:

 

Especially a beautiful rayskin laquer Saya on its own.

 

I saw one of these in person and they are truly spectacular display pieces

[BKB5]

I have been doing some online searching and poking around. I have yet to find a decent saya for display that could be bought on its own or in a Koshirae package for just display - although Im sure they exist. Almost all the "bladeless assemblies" look tired and worn out - hence I would imagine why someone bought the blade and left the rest.

It seems the saya that do not stay with the blade are awfully beat up and patched with "auto paint", "model paint", and other materials.

I may be in the minority, but I ultimately like a Japanese sword "package" - I know it's not original to the blade of course. But it's a "stunning couture" to exhibit with the piece. I would not want to take out my supermodel girlfriend in a Goodwill dress that might have a brand name but is stained and tired.

 

But I will 100% admit "to the detriment of my wallet sometimes" that I am pretty elitist when it comes to art objects. 

I love and indulge in jewelry making, pottery, painting, and music - so I may soon try my hand at some of the Nihonto craft like tsuka and saya restoration. I am working on a cracked black urushi saya right now and it's coming out quite well. Materials are not cheap, fine polishing powder, good urushi, fine brushes, good rice paper, iboda wax, and a LOT of patience. But its rewarding and fun.

Making a fancy, beautiful, full saya from scratch would take quite a number of years to master with training I would assume - I will skip that.

 

Thank you for replies and advice. I would not turn down a nice blade with no Koshirae but I would pay more for one with it - if its high quality.

 

 

[Toryu2020]

Heres one befitting an Ichimonji blade...

 

Tachi Koshirae: Shichiyo-mon (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu) - Japanese Sword Shop Aoi-Art

[Tsuku]

57 minutes ago, BKB5 said:

I have been doing some online searching and poking around. I have yet to find a decent saya for display that could be bought on its own or in a Koshirae package for just display - although Im sure they exist. Almost all the "bladeless assemblies" look tired and worn out - hence I would imagine why someone bought the blade and left the rest.

It seems the saya that do not stay with the blade are awfully beat up and patched with "auto paint", "model paint", and other materials.

Here is an example of an itomaki-no-tachi koshirae which was formerly a possession of the Mōri clan.

[BKB5]

WOW! Thank you both - those are top shelf, off the chart, beauty and elegance in no uncertain terms. I'm surprised I missed both - each site I visit regularly.