A short Katana

t_c · 3rd July 2006, 06:37 AM

Thanks for the additional photos and information, it's changed my thinking on the piece.

As for the circle in the habaki, I would say abstract japanese design motiff: think full moon or sun. Interpret as you will. I agree with you, I haven't seen very many pierced habakis. It threw me off. I'd be interested to know if the habaki is folded or cast (it doesn't look to be cast)? If it is folded there should be a soldered seam on the edge side possible with a small wedge in there as well.

You made me realize that someone who doesn't collect wouldn't treat the rust on the tang the way a collector would, they would simply think it needed to be cleaned like everything else. So obvious now, yet sometimes it's so easy to only look at a thing from your own perspective.....

The handle also threw me off as I have not seen that style of wrap done before. I'd be interested if this style was done for the same purpose as other so-called "battle wrap" styles. I was told that "battle wrap" (using a single pass of wrap) was done to conserve on the wrap material in times when it was scarcer (aka wartime) as a single pass around uses less than crossing passes around. Rich: are you familiar with this style? Can you offer any additional info?

I think it was fairly common for tsubas to find their way to a new sword (at least in our times), so it doesn't suprise me that it is too big for the blade even though it wasn't re-fit to it. To be honest, what I was wondering was if the piece had been cast from an original. From your photos, it does not appear to be the case. Here's a site I like with lots of examples of tsuba:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/tsuba.htm

I really don't know about age, it just didn't strike me as being 400-300 years old (no offense Rich), but then again I hadn't really taken into acocunt a good "sandpapering" session. I do like what you suggested though: 19th century blade / earlier tsuba.

3rd July 2006, 06:37 AM	#8
t_c Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ca, usa Posts: 92	Thanks for the additional photos and information, it's changed my thinking on the piece. As for the circle in the habaki, I would say abstract japanese design motiff: think full moon or sun. Interpret as you will. I agree with you, I haven't seen very many pierced habakis. It threw me off. I'd be interested to know if the habaki is folded or cast (it doesn't look to be cast)? If it is folded there should be a soldered seam on the edge side possible with a small wedge in there as well. You made me realize that someone who doesn't collect wouldn't treat the rust on the tang the way a collector would, they would simply think it needed to be cleaned like everything else. So obvious now, yet sometimes it's so easy to only look at a thing from your own perspective..... The handle also threw me off as I have not seen that style of wrap done before. I'd be interested if this style was done for the same purpose as other so-called "battle wrap" styles. I was told that "battle wrap" (using a single pass of wrap) was done to conserve on the wrap material in times when it was scarcer (aka wartime) as a single pass around uses less than crossing passes around. Rich: are you familiar with this style? Can you offer any additional info? I think it was fairly common for tsubas to find their way to a new sword (at least in our times), so it doesn't suprise me that it is too big for the blade even though it wasn't re-fit to it. To be honest, what I was wondering was if the piece had been cast from an original. From your photos, it does not appear to be the case. Here's a site I like with lots of examples of tsuba: http://home.earthlink.net/~jggilbert/tsuba.htm I really don't know about age, it just didn't strike me as being 400-300 years old (no offense Rich), but then again I hadn't really taken into acocunt a good "sandpapering" session. I do like what you suggested though: 19th century blade / earlier tsuba.