matsuba

[jezah81]

What part of the sword is the matsuba?
regards,
Jeremy Hagop

[Tim Atkinson]

The sword guard is refered to as tsuba.
Is it possible you mean that?

[Charles Mahan]

The Japanese Sword Glossary at Richard Steins Japanese Sword Index website does not have an entry for matsuba. I suspect the term you are looking for is tsuba.

You should check out http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm
Absolutely wonderful resource for sword anatomy type questions.

[Scott Irey]

The term matsuba refers to the flair in the mune as it approches the kisaki. Usually it is only seen in new swords or swords that have not been polished very many times.

[Charles Mahan]

Woa. Now that's obscure. Or it certainly seems that way to me.

[Scott Irey]

Not so obscure to folks inside of sword craft circles...of course people in sword craft circles are shall we say...obscure :)

[David T Anderson]

Originally posted by Scott Irey
The term matsuba refers to the flair in the mune as it approches the kisaki. Usually it is only seen in new swords or swords that have not been polished very many times.

Whoa! I've asked about this several times on certain other sword-related forums, and this is the first time I've seen an answer. I _knew_ there had to be a term for that feature.... Thanks Scott!

[Tim Atkinson]

Scott,

Thanks, that is not a term that I had heard of before.:D

[Erik Tracy]

This topic was actually discussed over on Swordforum.com - actually it was a sub-topic spin-off from the original question regarding those funny lines on the mune done by polishers.

Interesting thread for those inclined to the obscure ;)

Here's the link:
http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20998

Erik

[jezah81]

Thanks to everyone for their replies especially Scott Irey.
Much appreciated.
Regards,
Jeremy Hagop

[Hattori]

Matsuba = pine needle.