Where can I get interesting Tsubas?

[Kenzan]

My Sensei instructed me to get a decent Tsuba for both my Shinai and Bokken.

Thing is, I have no idea what is considered decent?

I'd also like to get something of quality, but yet fairly interesting.

can anyone steer me to the a good place?

For the Bokken,
I was thinking here:

https://www.kendoshop.com/Eng/index.php?channel=list&cate=103101000

But the shipping is...whoa...pricey.

But I am still looking for the Shinai no Tsuba.

[jjcruiser]

Don't you live in So Cal?

Drive down the 405 to Torrance and go to Ebogu's warehouse and look at theirs. Personally, I think they have a few cool ones.

http://www.e-bogu.com/Shinai_s/25.htm

[JoDuncan]

Seen some purdy ones for shinai... can't remember if it was Tozando or the one next door. They were a flowery pattern, a bit feminine but pretty.

I like the leather tsuba, think they are a bit "better" than a normal plastic one, so i've heard, less prone to cracking apparently.

Seen your bokken tsuba B up close (dude here has one) and it does look nice.. if a bit flimsy.

[Alison2805]

Sankei have an awesome range of tsubas.

[Kenzan]

Don't you live in So Cal?

Drive down the 405 to Torrance and go to Ebogu's warehouse and look at theirs. Personally, I think they have a few cool ones.

http://www.e-bogu.com/Shinai_s/25.htm

An exzcellent suggestion!
And I may go with that. I do go down there a lot.
problem is...they were sort of so-so.

[Kenzan]

Sankei have an awesome range of tsubas.

Bingo!
That's the stuff.

http://www.zen-sankei.co.jp/products/2_tsuba/list_eng.html

Those are really nice!


Thanky!

[Dervish]

This is what I use for my shinai;

http://www.boguzen.com/b_sa47.html

http://www.boguzen.com/b_sa11.html

I especially like the tsubadome, as I find it to be a great improvement over the rubber tsubadome included with shinais as they tend to peel.

[pgsmith]

Kim Taylor has some very nice leather tsuba at SDK Supplies ...

http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_furtsuba.htm

[Kenzan]

Seen your bokken tsuba B up close (dude here has one) and it does look nice.. if a bit flimsy.

Rubber is it?

What makes the best Tsuba?

In other words, if you had a magic wand, what would be your ultimate Tsuba?


Within a reasonable price range of less that $30.00 that is....

[Kenzan]

Kim Taylor has some very nice leather tsuba at SDK Supplies ...

http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_furtsuba.htm

Ha!
I knew you'd come through PG!

So anyone have any preference of plastic over leather?
Does the leather crimp and stop being stiff down after time?

[Kenzan]

This is what I use for my shinai;

http://www.boguzen.com/b_sa47.html

http://www.boguzen.com/b_sa11.html

I especially like the tsubadome, as I find it to be a great improvement over the rubber tsubadome included with shinais as they tend to peel.

How do you find the Rawhide?
i assume that is it rawhide...

[Kenzan]

From Alison's link, there seems to be quite a few different types of Tsubas (it's at the bottom)

I wonder what the reason is?

http://www.zen-sankei.co.jp/products/2_tsuba/list_eng.html

[jjcruiser]

An exzcellent suggestion!
And I may go with that. I do go down there a lot.
problem is...they were sort of so-so.

I agree, these others ones that have been posted above are much fancier.

[Dervish]

How do you find the Rawhide?
i assume that is it rawhide...

I don't even know what it is, I got it as a gift 2 Christmases ago. As for how I find it, it's held up fine, but it looks rather weathered, but a sempai told me that was a good thing. :)

[Charles Lockhar]

What makes the best Tsuba?

In other words, if you had a magic wand, what would be your ultimate Tsuba?


I've had a rawhide tsuba for my bokken for about 11 years now, and it's held up very well, still in excellent condition, though between jodo and kendo it's been through hell and back. So my vote goes to the rawhide stuff.

I tried making my own, my one and only brain tanning attempt, but it didn't quite take, and it ended up being being pretty rank.

-Charles

[Charles Lockhar]

Personally, I really really want a "Hello Kitty" tsuba.

-Charles

[Maku-san]

Personally, I really really want a "Hello Kitty" tsuba.

-Charles

They have 'em at Omochaya on Maui... :laugh:

[Charles Lockhar]

They have 'em at Omochaya on Maui... :laugh:

Then I'm just waiting on the superferry...

-Charles

[NigelSponge]

Bingo!
That's the stuff.

http://www.zen-sankei.co.jp/products/2_tsuba/list_eng.html

Those are really nice!


Thanky!

those are purrty <3
but not too cheap ><
gotta get that tsuba hole enlarger for ¥7,500! (about $80[?])
But if you want to spend a decent amount on a nice tsuba, i'd get it from there. Never seen a lot of those designs.

[Paburo]

http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_Quality_Leather_Tsuba_bokuto_tsuba_style_p/hir-ken-shi-tsuba-bstle.htm

love this one. would buy it if it wasnt so damn expensive! and i already got some leather tsubas but dont use them too often... imho, best for shiai is a plastic, 9cms, light plain coloured tsuba.

leather makes a dodgy sound when hit with shinai, not good for shiai... plastic sounds a lot more brilliant when hit, nice sound when a cut has been effectively blocked :D :D

[JoDuncan]

THIS (http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0080723) + THIS (http://ehousehub.com/store/images/uploads/stanley-knife.jpg)

= Custom made tsuba that will look just as good as your kendo, guaranteed.

And if you crave that design no one else has got how about a trip to your local nerd to borrow his TRUSTY TSUBA (and dragon) DESIGN KIT (http://www.unispel.com/catalog/images/gwpaintset.jpg)

[Kenzan]

THIS (http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0080723) + THIS (http://ehousehub.com/store/images/uploads/stanley-knife.jpg)

= Custom made tsuba that will look just as good as your kendo, guaranteed.

And if you crave that design no one else has got how about a trip to your local nerd to borrow his TRUSTY TSUBA (and dragon) DESIGN KIT (http://www.unispel.com/catalog/images/gwpaintset.jpg)

Touche.
I should be thankful that link wasn't to a Hagus factory.

[JoDuncan]

"Hagus"????

Hagus... hagus, hmmmm.... Oh!!! You mean "haggis"!

There is no Americanglish spelling for haggis.... and they don't come out of a factory, they are hunted.... with claymores.... the sword not the mine.

:p :D ;)
(enough emoticons me thinks)

[By "Touche" did you actually mean "Douche"? hehe, i'd deserve that more!]

[shred_lord]

You can hunt them with Clymore Mines but you end up cutting your gums open when you eat the wee beastie!

[Nik.Koch]

Try this: http://www.mybogu.de/

[JoDuncan]

Try this: http://www.mybogu.de/

Why they deliver bogu without a fright charge!

Do they ship them using ghosts?

[mugen no junin]

I've got this one

http://www.e-bogu.com/Big_Stitched_Double_layer_Leather_Tsuba_p/hir-ken-shi-tsubabigstitch-.htm

but 3 layers instead of 2...feels quite heavy and IMO changes the balance of the shinai, so it's not so comfortable...I supposed that the 2 layers is better.
Anyway go for the leather ones, they're everlasting and looks good and with a Fudo tsubadome you've done it.

[Nik.Koch]

Why they deliver bogu without a fright charge!

Do they ship them using ghosts?

No, his is just new in the online business (bogu for over 30 years), so that is his service in order to get known better.

[hl1978]

just take a normal shinai tsubaof any color, find a machine shop or high school with a lathe. you can make some interesting patterns.

[Davey]

You could make your own i found a link i thought might help :D

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-3304.html

[ZEROtoNINE]

My sensi got me this one when I first started:
https://www.kendoshop.com/Eng/index.php?channel=view&cate=102101101&number=1006
It's held up great for the past 4 years. It looks nice too.

[budo74]

They have 'em at Omochaya on Maui... :laugh:

but why they don't show it on their web site?only few photo of some kitty stuff and nothing else.....damn i'm too curious....i collect the kitty chan straps, i've got the okita sohji and kondo hisami's kitty chan straps and also the mitokuni kitty strap but a kitty tsuba never heard (and saw) before...i want it!!!!!!

[kendochamp1919]

If I could pile on......anyone know where to get a size 37 plastic simulated tortoiseshell Tsuba? Any place I can order on on the internet?