JAPANESE ANTIQUE TSUBA that would have fitted on a Japanese sword to protect the hand from SWORD CUTS. Called UDENUKI ANA or SAYADOME ANA..................
This is a lot of theories on these holes...... And depending on the size of the holes, what the purpose may have been. If the holes are large, it is considered a securing cord was passed through, when using a TACHI on horseback to prevent the loss of the sword during battle.
With smaller holes, cords may have secured the sword, preventing loss, or preventing others drawing the sword......... Also during the EDO PERIOD certain towns restricted the drawing of swords, to prevent duels or testing of swords, and enforced this by means of a paper cord and wax seal, that had to be inspected by the enforcing officers of the town, should it have been broken a penalty would result........................It measures approx 88mm x 85mm........ 5mm thick at the rim, (the blade aperture is approx 25.5mm high by max 7.5mm wide)........... You can see the Armourer's intentional hammer marks in the indentations, amazing just as the hammer struck the plate............. A'must have' for a tsuba collection, a nice study piece!!! The iron has a beautiful patination which should NEVER be polished bright, the old colour is a very important feature, and part of the value of the TSUBA...
It comes complete in a cloth bag. The item "VERY HEAVY LARGE FINE CLASSIC SAOTOME MYOCHIN IRON JAPANESE TSUBA SWORD SAMURAI" is in sale since Thursday, March 18, 2021. This item is in the category "Antiques\Asian/Oriental Antiques\Japanese\Other Japanese". The seller is "old-japanese-swords-uk" and is located in Bath. This item can be shipped worldwide.