Beginner question about fittings and Tsuka / Koshirae

[Zachary]

Hello,

 

This summer I am going on a trip to Japan and was intending on bringing back home some sword fittings as souvenirs to display. I have two questions regarding this:

 

1. Do fittings need to be de-registered or is that just for blades since they're weapons? What about a whole Koshirae with a wooden Tsunagi?

 

2. Say I buy some fittings (a Tsuba, Menuki and Fuchi/Kashira), and that they are all for the same type/size of sword, with the Fuchi being the right size to cover what it should on the bottom of the Tsuba, is it possible to get a custom Tsuka (non-hollow, as it wouldn't hold a blade) made and wrapped to display the fittings, with a little protruding piece to hold the Tsuba? Has something like this ever been made? Sorry if this is a stupid question.

 

Best regards,

Zachary

[ROKUJURO]

Zachary,

as far as I know there are no limitations for TOSOGU or KOSHIRAE except if very old/rare and of national or cultural importance. But that would not be something you buy as souvenir.... 

I am confident you can have a TSUKA made to your specifications if time was not a factor but I do not believe you could get one without the space for a NAKAGO in it - that would not be a TSUKA. For presentation as TOSOGU set, you would need a TSUNAGI and then of course a SAYA to complete it.

[Brian]

I think he means getting a tsuka made and wrapped, to display the fittings.
Yes..quite possible. However in just about all cases, you would get a short wooden tsunagi made to hold everything including the tsuba together. If you don't want a tsunagi, then typically you would get a whole tsuka made, but it wouldn't be displayed with a tsuba.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Zachery,

There will be no need to register a koshirae on tsunagi and you will be able to take it home with you, mo problem. What you propose with parts and a new bladeless tsuka is possible buy why bother? You'll get more bang for your buck - better quality pieces for the same money or same quality for less - if you buy an existing koshirae rather than go to the expense of having the tsuka made to fit your parts.

Grey

[Zachary]

15 hours ago, Brian said:

I think he means getting a tsuka made and wrapped, to display the fittings.
Yes..quite possible. However in just about all cases, you would get a short wooden tsunagi made to hold everything including the tsuba together. If you don't want a tsunagi, then typically you would get a whole tsuka made, but it wouldn't be displayed with a tsuba.

Yes I meant a tsuka. Thanks for the info I'll look into it

[Zachary]

13 hours ago, Grey Doffin said:

Hi Zachery,

There will be no need to register a koshirae on tsunagi and you will be able to take it home with you, mo problem. What you propose with parts and a new bladeless tsuka is possible buy why bother? You'll get more bang for your buck - better quality pieces for the same money or same quality for less - if you buy an existing koshirae rather than go to the expense of having the tsuka made to fit your parts.

Grey

Yeah, I am definitely prioritizing getting a koshirae over loose fittings if I find something that looks nice, but from what I've seen online it seems somewhat rare for antique sword shops to have more than a couple (if any) in stock.