Tanto koshirae

[DirkO]

Hi,

 

I came across this on AOI :

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/tanto/image/09617koshirae.jpg

 

What's the metal bar placed where I would expect to be a second menuki ? I've not yet come across this and would like to know what it is. Doesn't seem to be functional at all, and I think it would hinder the grip on the tsuka ? Or is it meant to put your fingers under it, so to provide extra grip and secure it more in your hand ?

[johnb]

It looks like some form of locking mechanism, fail to see quite how it works. I wonder if the saya original had some form of catch and has since been modified?

[DirkO]

I don't think it to be a locking mechanism. I *think* the bar can raise into a D shape to provide room for your fingers. If you look at the end of it, it will stop the bar from raising at a certain point. But maybe that's just a long shot

[george trotter]

I think it is a safety catch, now incomplete. The hook at the end of the bar once caught on a projection on the koi-guchi of the saya...now missing. There is a very similar device illustrated on a tanto on the "talking about Hama-mono" thread in Tosogu, by Reinhard

try viewtopic.php?f=28f=6890&start=75

Regards,

George

[george trotter]

sorry, link doesn't work...try Tosogu thread by Reinhard "talking about Hama-mono" 27 Feb 2010...page 6... 2nd pic down.

Geo.

Edit Brian.. Link works when you type http://www... and not http:///www.... :lol:

Fixed.

[DirkO]

Aaah you jogged my memory :

I actually followed that discussion,but I didn't remember the Toppei koshirae :

 

 

Thanks for the reminder, George !

[Curran]

That would be my toppei koshirae. I stated in the original post that I kept expecting to see another with locking mechanism, but had not.

 

Sure enough, then the one on Aoi Arts popped up. I agree though that the locking mechanism on the Aoi Arts one doesn't look functional anymore.

[rkg]

Thanks for posting a picture of a "working" one of these!

 

I saw this and was trying to figure out how it worked as well.

 

Looking at Aoi's picture again, it looks like there is a hole that could have been used to attach the retaining

pocket as on Curran's (ex?) koshirae. Its unfortunate the AOI photographer chose to light the piece so a heavy shadow

was put across this area so this wasn't clear.

 

Best,

 

rkg

(Richard George)

[johnb]

The two brass seppa are obviously a later addition. Without them the caatch would be the perfect length to lock into the box which no longer exists.

[Curran]

Yes, I agree the one on Aoi Arts has either lost a cross bar to lock under, or something else.

 

On mine, there is actually a pin inside the box handing down like a stalagtite. The bar itself has a small platform at the end with a cut hole in the middle of it. When sheathed, it clicks into place with the pin going through the hole in the bar like a mekugi through a tsuka and nakago. It locks very clean such that there is absolutely no wiggle movement at all. Unlocks very easy too.

There is a little Shimosaka yoroi doshi original to the koshirae that has a habaki made out of the same shibuichi as the fitting (unfortunately, the habaki gets just enough rub from the saya that it does pink up a bit), but the external almost swiss watch like precise locking mechanism is what has always fascinated me.

 

We see all sorts of things on Toppei koshirae. I don't see why it wouldn't be found on a sword some day.