[MS] Tsuba

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The Tsuba is the sword's guard. It has the function of protecting the hand from the opponent's blade but also from having one's hand sliding onto the blade during Tsuki (thrust) te chniques. However, it has two other qualities: aesthetics and balance adjustment. During the Edo period, the Tsuba turned progressively into a decorative ornament. It was often generously well made, giving every sword a personal and particular touch. There can be one or two holes on the sides of the Tsuba. They were used to unsheathe the Kogatana (small knife) or Kogai (hairpin) that were fitted inside the sides of the Saya. Tsuba used to be made by entire dynasties of craftsmen who only specialized in that particular field; they have almost vanished in the present time. The average weight of a standard Tsuba is 120 g. A heavy Tsuba (> 120 g) will tend to shift the balance downwards the handle, making the Iaito easier to handle whereas a light Tsuba (< 120 g) will push the balance towards the Kissaki, the tip of the blade. The latter is recommended if you decide to focus on cutting training. You will find below some pictures of all our Tsuba but also details on size, material, and weight. The Sukashi series, from TM031 to TM036 is a special series of widely opened Tsuba (called Sukashi). Made of blackened iron, they are coated by hand with a traditional lacquer. Please note that the pictures above only display the front side of the Tsuba. You can find pictures of the reverse of each Tsuba on the dedicated product page. Tsuba Technical Specifications Open Tsuba Technical Specifications Code Name Description Material Dimensions Weight TM001 Washi Eagle Blackened iron 75 mm x 70 mm x 4.1 mm 136 g TM002 Yagyu Name of a famous Samurai clan. Also called Kuruma Sukashi. Blackened copper 75 mm x 73 mm x 5.3 mm 123 g TM003 Shippo The 7 treasures (gold, silver, pearls, agate, crystal, coral, lapis lazuli) Blackened iron 74 mm x 70 mm x 4.1 mm 135 g TM004 Hanjiro Favored by the famous samurai Hanjiro. Blackened copper 79 mm x 65 mm x 6 mm 142 g TM005 Umetada Design by a famous blacksmith of the Edo period Blackened iron 84 mm x 75 mm x 4.3 mm 150 g TM006 Hyotan Gourd (calabash) Blackened copper 71 mm x 70 mm x 5 mm 126 g TM007 Musashi Used by the most famous of all samurai Blackened copper 74 mm x 74 mm x 7.1 mm 146 g TM008 Kasuga Kasuga refers to the shape of the Tsuba. Blackened iron 84 mm x 76 mm x 4.1 mm 138 g TM009 Ameryu Dragon under the rain Blackened iron 81 mm x 77 mm x 4.1 mm 147 g TM010 Namako Holothuroidea (sea cucumber) Blackened iron 74 mm x 69 mm x 4.1 mm 90 g TM011 Muji Plain (no pattern) Blackened iron 74 mm x 69 mm x 4.1 mm 134 g TM012 Kagecho Butterfly shadow Blackened copper 74 mm x 72 mm x 5 mm 106 g TM013 Nami Waves Blackened iron 81 mm x 77 mm x 4.1 mm 145 g TM014 Hirata Design by a famous blacksmith of the Edo period Blackened copper 76 mm x 72 mm x 4.5 mm 120 g TM015 Higo A famous design of the Higo province (now Kumamoto) Blackened iron 75 mm x 71 mm x 4.1 mm 90 g TM016 Shin Umetada Design by a famous blacksmith of the Edo period Blackened iron 85 mm x 76 mm x 4.1 mm 165 g TM017 Icho Zogan (Kasuga) Kasuga shape with silver ginkgo arabesque Blackened iron 84 mm x 77 mm x 4.1 mm 141 g TM018Mitsuboshi Sansumi Sukashi Represents a constellation of 3 stars in triangle. This is also Minosaka's logo. Blackened iron 77 mm x 77 mm x 5 mm 100 g TM019Mokko Namako Sukashi Namako (Holothuroidea) within a Mokko shape Blackened iron 72 mm x 75 mm x 5 mm 110 g TM020 Yatsushiro Kagecho Sukashi Copy of an ancient Tsuba made by master Yatsushiro. Represents the shadow of a butterfly. Blackened Iron 77 mm x 75 mm x 5 mm 100 g TM021 Shiho Namako Sukashi 4 Holothuroidea (sea cucumber) Blackened Iron 79 mm x 74 mm x 5 mm 115 g TM022Akasaka Musashino Sukashi Japanese pampas grass turned over after a storm, under a moon crescent Blackened iron 75 mm x 78 mm x 5 mm 100 g TM023Hanamon Sukashi Flower petals - Famous Japanese crest Blackened iron 79 mm x 79 mm x 5 mm 60 g TM024 Yotsuwa Sukashi 4 imbricated rings. Blackened Iron 72 mm x 73 mm x 5 mm 90 g TM025 Ouka Sukashi Represent a Sakura flower (cherry blossom). Also the lightest of all Tsuba. Blackened Iron 77 mm x 82 mm x 4.5 mm 60 g TM026 Owari Sukashi Tsuba made in the tradition of the Owari province (now Aichi prefecture). Blackened Iron 81 mm x 80 mm x 4.5 mm 100 g TM027 Kuyo Sukashi Features the symbolic 9 planets planets in the buddhism cosmogony. Blackened Iron 86 mm x 86 mm x 5 mm 165 g TM028Kagi Sukashi Japanese hook symbol Blackened iron 83 mm x 83 mm x 5 mm 100 g TM029Yatsu Warabite Sukashi 8 Warabite (Japanese traditional symbol) Blackened iron 79 mm x 79 mm x 5 mm 130 g Show more