The age is unknown, but there are no noticeable scratches or stains.

Please judge the details from the photo.

SIZE:73mm (L) × 73mm(W) ×5mm(T)

鐔 ・ 鍔 (Tsuba ) is the name of a part or part that protects the hand holding the handle by sandwiching it between the handle of the sword and the blade.

Japanese sword crossguard

A common style sword of the Edo period with a round crossguard

It is known that the origin of the crossguard in Japan dates back to at least the Kofun period. It has been excavated in various places along with decorative swords such as swords. In the olden days, the crossguard was filled with "Tsumiha Tsuminami" and became "Tsuba".

After that, as the style of the sword unique to Japan was established, the crossguard also developed as an important sword fitting.

In the case of Japanese swords, it was not the sword style but the uchigatana style "insertion" sword that had a crossguard in the period from the Nanbokucho period to the Muromachi period. It was before and after the Osaka camp that large crossguards began to be attached to swords (uchigatana) up to popular swords. From various materials and relics of temples and shrines, it can be seen that in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, low-grade sword fittings as consumables did not have a crossguard, or even if they were attached, they were generally small [2].

In the case of a Japanese sword, the purpose of the crossguard is not to protect the hand holding the sword, but to prevent your hand from slipping toward the blade when you poke it. Protecting your hands is secondary. Convenience in cutting the koiguchi [3] and balancing the weight with the blade [4] are the important roles of the crossguard.