Unique Tsuba Handguard Guard Japanese Japan Samurai Katana Sword Fittings Parts
Item Description:
Condition: New, Unused.
Material: Alloy
Application: Usually used for Japanese Samurai katana sword Wakizashi or
Tanto.
This is a copper carved TSUBA, The tsuba (鐔) is usually a round guard at
the end of the grip of bladed Japanese weapons, like the katana and its
various variations, tachi, wakizashi, tantō, naginata etc. They
contribute to the balance of the weapon and to the protection of the
hand. The tsuba was mostly meant to be used to prevent the hand from
sliding onto the blade during thrusts as opposed to protecting from an
opponent's blade. The chudan no kamae guard is determined by the tsuba
and the curvature of the blade. The diameter of the average katana tsuba
is 7.5–8 centimetres (3.0–3.1 in), wakizashi tsuba is 6.2–6.6 cm
(2.4–2.6 in), and tantō tsuba is 4.5–6 cm (1.8–2.4 in).
During the Muromachi period (1333–1573) and the Momoyama period
(1573–1603) Tsuba were more for functionality than for decoration, being
made of stronger metals and designs. During the Edo period (1603–1868)
there was peace in Japan so tsuba became more ornamental and made of
less practical metals such as gold. Tsuba are usually finely decorated,
and nowadays are collectors' items. Tsuba were made by whole dynasties
of craftsmen whose only craft was making tsuba. They were usually
lavishly decorated. In addition to being collectors items, they were
often used as heirlooms, passed from one generation to the next.
Japanese families with samurai roots sometimes have their family crest
crafted onto a tsuba. Tsuba can be found in a variety of metals and
alloys, including iron, steel, brass, copper and shakudo. |