Antique iron Japanese tsuba sword guard with wave design
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1400-1750 AD
This antique Japanese sword guard, known as a tsuba, is crafted from iron and features a distinctive wave design. Designed for use with a katana, this piece measures 70 mm by 70 mm and has a weight of 105.12 grams.
The guard includes a nakago-hitsu, which is the central opening for the sword blade, measuring 25.5 mm by 7.5 mm, and a kozuka-hitsu, a secondary hole measuring 18 mm by 9 mm designed to accommodate a small utility knife known as a kozuka. The piece retains remnants of sekigane, a protective soft metal fitting inserted into the top and bottom of the nakago-hitsu to provide a secure, cushioned fit and prevent damage to the blade during assembly.
This genuine iron tsuba dates to the period between 1400 and 1750 AD and represents a functional component of samurai weaponry, showcasing both material durability and artistic motif craftsmanship suitable for an active, working sword.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Weight
- 105.12 g
- Material
- iron
- Dimensions
- 70 mm x 70 mm
Technical characteristics
- Sekigane
- remnants of soft metal
- Kozuka hitsu
- 18 mm x 9 mm
- Nakago hitsu
- 25.5 mm x 7.5 mm
Design
- Motif
- wave design
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.