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Post by treeslicer on Jan 17, 2018 17:12:58 GMT
Hey all, long time lurker and wanter of authentic Japanese swords here. For years I tried to fill my hunger with reproductions to no avail and finally ordered a muromachi era katana a few days ago. Anyway while I'm waiting for it to export out of Japan I wanted to try and find someplace to get a full mount job done. I know lots of people get antique tsuba and such to put on antique swords but that seems Frankensteinish to me, I think I'd prefer a new set of my liking. Where should I go for antique katana mounting in the US? Some places I heard of before like cottontail customs say tsuka only on website & I need the whole shabang. Thanks. It's not "Frankensteinish", it's how it's done. Katana have always had koshirae changed out, and used to have (for those who could afford it), multiple sets for field versus court use, as a fashion statement, etc.
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Post by Verity on Jan 17, 2018 17:32:27 GMT
Hey all, long time lurker and wanter of authentic Japanese swords here. For years I tried to fill my hunger with reproductions to no avail and finally ordered a muromachi era katana a few days ago. Anyway while I'm waiting for it to export out of Japan I wanted to try and find someplace to get a full mount job done. I know lots of people get antique tsuba and such to put on antique swords but that seems Frankensteinish to me, I think I'd prefer a new set of my liking. Where should I go for antique katana mounting in the US? Some places I heard of before like cottontail customs say tsuka only on website & I need the whole shabang. Thanks. It's not "Frankensteinish", it's how it's done. Katana have always had koshirae changed out, and used to have (for those who could afford it), multiple sets for field versus court use, as a fashion statement, etc. Both are valid ways of doing it. You are correct it is not Frankensteinish... OP, you can: 1.) compose a set of tosogu from antiques that match or find a complete antique matched set of tosogu. You still will want newly made tsuka and saya. In fact a blade should have new shirasaya, habaki and/or saya made after a polish. -or- 2.) have a new (gendai) set of tosogu and koshirae made. Either are completely valid ways of going about mounts
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Post by randomnobody on Jan 17, 2018 21:05:37 GMT
Important to remember about mixing and matching antique parts is tat some may require adjustment to fit. If you're not comfortable filing down the nakago-ana on an antique tsuba that's just not big enough for your sword, you'll be looking for one to fit for a while. Likewise, if the tsuba fits loosely, you'll need either more seppa or some sort of filler to hold it in place more firmly.
Similarly, when fitting new mounts to a sword, there's a chance you'll have to punch a new hole in the sword itself. Depending on your choice of fuchi, kasira, menuki, etc you may or may not be able to use a preexisting hole for the new kit.
A new shirasaya is definitely a good idea. I've had a bare blade living in a junk saya for over nine years now because I can't afford to polish it and there's no point getting a shirasaya made for a sword that isn't in good polish, because once you finally polish that sword, the shirsaya won't fit anymore...
Lots goes into this whole buying and owning, never mind customizing, antique swords. Definitely worth it in the end, though.
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Post by robbietsunami on Jan 18, 2018 3:29:01 GMT
Mhm
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Post by Verity on Jan 18, 2018 4:09:15 GMT
Probably shouldn't have bought antiques into the thread my bad. Just my opinion that I don't like collecting antique fittings for swords I know everyone does it. Here's what I should be asking: who are Craftsmen in the US that do good katana mounting. Josh (cottontail customs) Brian Tschernega does good habaki work and I think other tosogu (I plan to have him do a habaki for me) Fred Lohman is known for it Josiah Boomershine. You also have some others that don’t like to publicize. PM me if you want those names. There are also great international ones like Roman Urban and Hans Koga. But you want US only.
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Post by sankojin on Jan 18, 2018 18:52:29 GMT
My go-to craftsmen is Josiah Boomershine. He can make you pretty much anything that you can think for fitting and then make you a awesome mount.
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Post by vermithrax on Jan 19, 2018 3:17:48 GMT
Probably shouldn't have bought antiques into the thread my bad. Just my opinion that I don't like collecting antique fittings for swords I know everyone does it. Here's what I should be asking: who are Craftsmen in the US that do good katana mounting. Josh (cottontail customs) Brian Tschernega does good habaki work and I think other tosogu (I plan to have him do a habaki for me) Fred Lohman is known for it Josiah Boomershine. You also have some others that don’t like to publicize. PM me if you want those names. There are also great international ones like Roman Urban and Hans Koga. But you want US only. Brian T is the man.
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