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Post by vermithrax on Apr 1, 2017 1:39:10 GMT
I know 4 or more will have an answer to this so looking for ideas.
If one were to buy a nihonto sword (papered, verified) that had poor fittings or gunto fittings, how hard is it to re-fit the sword with period correct mounts?
Thanks in advance.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Apr 1, 2017 1:55:01 GMT
Tsuba is easy (but if using an antique one, consider whether you're willing to file or punch). Building a good new tsuka is a different story. It can be done, DIY, but there's a reason why people will pay pros significant amounts of money to do it for them. If the tsuka core is good, and you just want to re-wrap and/or replace fuchi/kashira/menuki, that's easier (because you don't need to make the tsuka core) but still non-trivial to do a good wrap. You can always treat it as a good learning opportunity.
Generally, don't expect to be able to just put an antique tsuka from a different sword onto your blade. They're made to fit. Moving fuchi/kashira/menuki onto a made-to-fit tsuka, no great problem (as long as size is OK). The only difficulty is re-wrapping.
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Post by vermithrax on Apr 1, 2017 2:00:07 GMT
Tsuba is easy (but if using an antique one, consider whether you're willing to file or punch). Building a good new tsuka is a different story. It can be done, DIY, but there's a reason why people will pay pros significant amounts of money to do it for them. If the tsuka core is good, and you just want to re-wrap and/or replace fuchi/kashira/menuki, that's easier (because you don't need to make the tsuka core) but still non-trivial to do a good wrap. You can always treat it as a good learning opportunity. Generally, don't expect to be able to just put an antique tsuka from a different sword onto your blade. They're made to fit. Moving fuchi/kashira/menuki onto a made-to-fit tsuka, no great problem (as long as size is OK). The only difficulty is re-wrapping. Thanks Timo. I am thinking send out for refit on tsuka, but would love to pair era correct tsuba and I am not shy about a punch or copper fix.
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Post by Jussi Ekholm on Apr 1, 2017 19:48:48 GMT
Best option is to have new koshirae made for the sword. Of course it is an investment you might never recover. As people usually want to have old sword & old koshirae (that is why dealers can mix & match koshirae to swords to make a package out of them). Sometimes the mix and match is very well done.
You'll easily end up investing a lot of money for new period correct koshirae.
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slav
Member
Senior Forumite
Katsujin No Ken
Posts: 4,457
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Post by slav on Apr 2, 2017 4:02:47 GMT
If it's a really nice papered blade, a legitimate but more budget-friendly option may be to get a shirasaya made for it. While choosing koshirae can be fun, getting a proper set made from scratch the proper way could cost a fortune. Many (most) of the finest Nihonto around the world are displayed in a simple shirasaya, where the beauty of the blade speaks for itself.
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Post by vermithrax on Apr 3, 2017 0:36:05 GMT
Best option is to have new koshirae made for the sword. Of course it is an investment you might never recover. As people usually want to have old sword & old koshirae (that is why dealers can mix & match koshirae to swords to make a package out of them). Sometimes the mix and match is very well done. You'll easily end up investing a lot of money for new period correct koshirae. I understand and thanks as always Jussi. I am overwhelmed by all the options in this area, it's tough to make decisions.
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Post by Verity on Apr 9, 2017 5:56:48 GMT
Little late catching up on threads.. but I will chime in. I think it depends on the person.
What everyone has said is correct. You can wind up paying a lot. It is also fair to say I have seen plenty of antique blades with antique fittings but freshly made tsuka and saya.
If a blade is put to polish a new habaki should be made anyway as well as a new shirasaya. Or at least it should be broken open and cleaned out thoroughly to avoid scuffing a fresh polish.
I think the limit is only the desire of the owner. Not everything we do has to have a solid monetary return on investment. I have a wakizashi that once papered I plan to acquire period and provincial accurate fittings and have koshirae made for it. Just because I want to see it in mounts... and the fittings it also antique and well done carry their own value. Fittings can be papered too you know... that adds value to the package (though I would be careful or filing or punching a papered tsuba... eek...
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