Table knife kozukas

[Ruslan T.]

Hi all,

 

I am a beginner in world of Nihonto and Kodogo.

I have some questions of the kind “you always wanted, but afraid to ask†:-).

 

As far as I know in Meiji period quite a lot sword fittings (for instance menuki) was converted to jewellery (like brooches or cufflinks). I have seen some fuchi-kashiras converted to match-boxes. And quite often you can see kozukas as a handle of a table knifes.

 

Sometimes these kozukas have quite a high quality.

Here is a link to an eBay auction (hopefully this should not be a reason to move this thread to eBay-discussion ) where you can see one of the samples.

http://cgi.ebay.com/GENUINE-Japanese-KOZUKA-SAMURAI-SWORD-PAPER-KNIFE_W0QQitemZ300065264843QQihZ020QQcategoryZ66841QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I wonder, have someone tried to remove the knife blade and restore the kozuka? Is there any possibility of the success? How one can do this?

 

Thank you in advance.

Best Regards,

 

Ruslan

[John A Stuart]

Hi Ruslan, Looks like it was a fairly nice piece. The patina seems to have been worn/washed off. If you can repatinate it it might be worth a go. John

 

PS, Not knowing how the silver blade was installed I can't say how to remove it. If the pelican fellow can tell you it might be possible to suss it out. J

[Ruslan T.]

Hi John,

 

:-) It is not mine

I have ogled with the piece, but someone was faster.

I wonder is there an “usual†way to remove the knife, or it is different pain every time?

 

Ruslan

[John A Stuart]

If the kogatana was put in the kozuka using matsuyani glue then just heating it to about waters boiling temp. should loosen it to be removed. If just jammed it should pull out. If some other way was used it could be problematic. John

 

see the following http://www.johnstuart.biz/new_page_22.htm

[Ruslan T.]

Dear John,

 

Thank you very much!

You are a great help, as always

 

Best Regards,

 

Ruslan

[Brian]

Let us know how it works out.

I think the later it was done, the more complex the methods might have been to seat it firmly. I have heard about them being brazed/soldered in...and sometimes they can be tough to remove.

I think heat will be the main method, but depending on the fixing method, you might need more heat. Jewellers would be the ones to ask....and I think by concentrating the heat on the blade and not on the kozuka, you should be able to release it. Since the blade is probably expendable, focus the heat there. Careful not to use too much heat or you might separate the kozuka joints

 

Brian

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi all,

 

And quite often you can see kozukas as a handle of a table knifes.

 

Sometimes these kozukas have quite a high quality.

Here is a link to an eBay auction (hopefully this should not be a reason to move this thread to eBay-discussion ) where you can see one of the samples.

http://cgi.ebay.com/GENUINE-Japanese-KOZUKA-SAMURAI-SWORD-PAPER-KNIFE_W0QQitemZ300065264843QQihZ020QQcategoryZ66841QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

I wonder, have someone tried to remove the knife blade and restore the kozuka? Is there any possibility of the success? How one can do this?

 

Thank you in advance.

Best Regards,

 

Ruslan

 

Greetings,

 

This piece was clearly made as a kitchen utensil and it would be best to leave it as such.

 

Franco

[Rich T]

looks pretty low end, and best used for butter I think, or maybe as a letter opener.

 

Richard

[Ruslan T.]

Hi all,

 

It is true, that one usually see the low-end staff. I just remember a few beautiful kozukas with table knifes attached (on eBay of course ). I promise to send a link if I’ll see one again.

 

I have one kozuka with table knife – letter opener. It is low-end cheap piece form begin of the 20th century. I have used the heat on the knife and then again on the kozuka itself. It worked out perfectly and I was able to separate them. I suppose the heat will also work on the real ones .

 

Thank you all for the support. It is a great pleasure to read (and post ) the forum!

 

Regards,

 

Ruslan

[kusunokimasahige]

almost looks like a hamon on the blade!!

 

nice!

 

KM

[Brian]

Many kogatana are forged and tempered with hamon and hada. I have one here with a lovely hamon that shows nie and hataraki. Not always the case, but there are some lovely blades out there that show some great skill in forging. Many aren't, but it pays to investigate those old kogatana before you assume they are just plain steel.

 

Brian

[kusunokimasahige]

interesting!!!

 

i will be careful whenever i come across one..

 

maybe off topic but i am still looking for some Japanese forged kitchen knives

(high class) i once saw on a documentary... they also have hamon....

 

any information on where i could obtain such a set?

 

KM

[John A Stuart]

Hi KM, Try here. http://sushi-knifes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

[kusunokimasahige]

THANK YOU!!

 

thats exactly what i meant!!

 

KM