Iaido dude Posted January 16 Report Posted January 16 I inherited an itomaki-no-tachi koshirae like the one below from my uncle. It does not have the original tachi blade. In a general sense, how do I “size” a replacement blade that would be expected to fit the saya? This is all new territory for me since I am new to nihonto, being a tsuba collector who only has modern custom-made iaito and katana for sword practice. I’ll post a pic of my actual koshirae later, hoping that it is authentic. Quote
Tim Evans Posted January 16 Report Posted January 16 If the koshirae has a tsunagi, then a sword smith can use it to make a sword blade to fit. Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 16 Author Report Posted January 16 It does have a very nice tsunagi that fits perfectly into the saya. The chances would be quite slim I suspect to find a vintage nihonto that fits the koshirae. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted January 16 Report Posted January 16 Steve, it is probably easier to win the lottery.... 1 Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 16 Author Report Posted January 16 Any recommendations Tim and Jean for modern sword smiths who might take on the task of making a custom sword? Preferably, ones that will not break the bank? Maybe I really don't need to have a sword for this koshiare since it is largely decorative and symbolic, but it would be "way cool" as we used to say in our younger days. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted January 16 Report Posted January 16 That is a gorgeous TACHI! It should rest in a TACHI stand! If on a KATANA KAKE, TSUKA to the left, cutting edge downwards (the same as when carried). Quote
GeorgeLuucas Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 Stunning, Steve! A blade worthy of such koshirae should probably live in shirasaya anyway. Maybe the best course of action is leaving the koshirae as-is, and getting a tachi in shirasaya to display alongside it. Just an idea, Cheers, -Sam 3 Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 17 Author Report Posted January 17 Sam, that's a great idea. I'm going to look into getting a tachi in shirasaya created based on the existing very well-made tsunagi. Jean, now I have an excuse to acquire a tachi stand. In the meantime... 2 Quote
Bazza Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 Lovely pic with one whack in the eye. Here's my version. 1 1 Quote
Tim Evans Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 2 hours ago, Iaido dude said: Any recommendations Tim and Jean for modern sword smiths who might take on the task of making a custom sword? There are members here that are very familiar with the Gendaito scene. Chris Bowen comes to mind. Another consideration is the habaki. Does the tsunagi have a metal habaki or wood? If wood, then a habaki will need to be made to fit both the blade and the saya. Maybe find a reliable agent to manage the work in Japan? Tasks - Make the sword, polish the sword (Maybe not top grade polish if going the be kept in old koshirae). Make habaki (if needed), have a sayashi fit everything together correctly. You probably want a shirasaya made to have the blade shipped. Also coordinate between all of the artisans and getting the completed sword documented and sent back to you. Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 17 Author Report Posted January 17 Thanks Tim. The habaki is indeed wood. This will be a pretty involved project. Quote
Tim Evans Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 There is a readily available book called The Craft of the Japanese Sword which is a good overview of the process of making a gendaito, handing off to the polisher, handing off to the habaki maker and then to the saya maker. It describes how these artisans work together to create the finished product. I mentioned finding a reliable agent, someone who either lives in Japan or travels there regularly and is in the sword business. I have seen two or three recommended here on NMB, but one I recall is Paul Martin. He has a website with a page on how to commission a new sword. Quote
CSM101 Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 A friend of mine had the same problem. It took him 5 years to find a matching blade (Bizen Osafune Katsumitsu). But it was worth it. What is the length of the tsunagi? Quote
Grey Doffin Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 Hi Steve, To accomplish your goal and do it right, you'll have to send the koshirae and maybe $10,000 to Japan. I would enjoy the koshirae for what it is and forget about having a blade made to fit. Grey 7 1 Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 Congratulations, it looks to be a nice looking koshirae. I might have the opposite view and say it would be quite easy to fit an old blade to this koshirae. I do not recommend doing this but it is very common practice that antique swords are matched with antique koshirae. I think I have 100+ examples documented where an old koshirae magically appears for a sword that was listed in shirasaya previously. By first glance the shape would look like very standard shape and size for an average Japanese sword, so finding one fitting should be possible. Of course it gets more difficult the more criteria you will put towards the sword. There are lots of fine "tricks" that can be used in pairing a sword with koshirae. And still I bet I don't even have a clue about majority of them. I have never matched sword with koshirae and do not intend to do so but I know there are craftsmen in Japan that can make spectacular things. I think the really good pairings are pretty much impossible to tell. Here is Jūyō sword paired with high quality koshirae but I think it is very easy to tell it is a made up pairing. Even if I didn't have documented the sword without koshirae. Before: https://web.archive....th-nbthk-juyo-token/ After: https://nihonto.com/9-6-22/ Quote
tom Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 Hi Steve, are you shure that these Koshira is old ? Please post clear pictures of the Fittings and the Tsuba and from the saya to. Thank you. Tom 1 Quote
Matsunoki Posted January 17 Report Posted January 17 I have the same feeling as @tom. Looks incredibly fresh…..the Ito is pristine and rather simply done. Is there any history that adds “age”? 1 Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 18 Author Report Posted January 18 On 1/17/2025 at 1:51 AM, CSM101 said: A friend of mine had the same problem. It took him 5 years to find a matching blade (Bizen Osafune Katsumitsu). But it was worth it. What is the length of the tsunagi? The nagasa measured from tip of tsunagi to the habaki as it abuts the tsuba is ~70 cm. It is a narrow blade. Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 18 Author Report Posted January 18 On 1/17/2025 at 11:13 AM, tom said: Hi Steve, are you shure that these Koshira is old ? Please post clear pictures of the Fittings and the Tsuba and from the saya to. Thank you. Tom The koshirae is pristine. The mon is Honda tachi aoi on the saya and fittings. It could very well be a very good early 1900s copy, I suppose. This koshirae was passed down from my paternal granduncle (eldest brother of my grandmother) who was raised in Taiwan like my own grandparents, were schooled during a benign Japanese occupation. My first languages included Japanese and I have half-Japanese uncles and cousins, and half-Korean nephews. When I was growing up I spent my summers in Taiwan. We often traveled to Japan to visit with my grandparents’ friends who were civil servants posted in Taiwan during WW II. Grand uncle and his two sons were very successful bankers and developers. He had exquisite taste and collected high-end Chinese and Japanese art. When he died, my uncles sent the koshirae to me because of my interest in Japanese art and culture. I would not be surprised if granduncle purchased it during a trip to Japan or received it as a gift from Japanese friends or business partners. I have every reason to believe it was made in Japan, but have no information beyond that. Additional pics to follow. 1 Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 18 Author Report Posted January 18 Apologies, Florian. I turned it cutting edge up to photograph the rest of it at high resolution. Quote
Matsunoki Posted January 18 Report Posted January 18 38 minutes ago, Iaido dude said: Japan or received it as a gift from Japanese friends or business partners. That makes perfect sense. This variety of Tachi koshirae are still made today in Japan and are offered as auspicious gifts and rewards (including to champion Sumo) and would have been a fitting business gift. It may never have had an actual blade. I’d guess at Showa period, no earlier. Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 18 Author Report Posted January 18 Thanks for the information. It will be passed down to my son in due course as is—a fourth generation family heirloom. 1 Quote
2devnul Posted January 18 Report Posted January 18 Hi, Tsukaito made without hishigami, is that normal/common? 1 Quote
Tim Evans Posted January 18 Report Posted January 18 It looks like all the seppa are stacked between the fuchi and the tsuba. It appears to be four seppa, I think should be two in front of the tsuba and two behind. Quote
Gerry Posted January 18 Report Posted January 18 Some of the junior licensed swords smiths in Japan make blades to fit antique koshirae. You can find them online and contact them. However, you'll need to send at least the tsunagi in to them, if not the entire koshirae to be safe, and the blade will probably cost you $7K USD or so. Quote
Iaido dude Posted January 18 Author Report Posted January 18 42 minutes ago, Tim Evans said: It looks like all the seppa are stacked between the fuchi and the tsuba. It appears to be four seppa, I think should be two in front of the tsuba and two behind. You are right, Tim. I corrected this. There are also additional black seppa for both sides, which I placed facing the tsuba. Thanks. Quote
Deiro Posted January 20 Report Posted January 20 somewhat related to the topic, though it was a few days ago but they're doing just that. http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/ns12.html I have not held a naohiro blade, but I think if you really want it, the prices seem quite fair. Though the smith is getting old... Quote
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