Good looking shinai tsuba!

[Kaoru]

Actually, I have seen a Honbekko (real tortoishell) do-dai, so it must be pretty tough. If anyone has a few grand knocking about and you live in a country where it is not now illegal to import tortoishell products, I can get one for you if you want...

Ooooo, I bet it is pretty! And, I guess is MUST be tough if it can take getting hit all the time! I had no idea doh could be made out of tortoise shell. Have any photos? And geez, they are expensive... Thank you for the info!

Oh, and I didn't know that online shop was yours until just now. When did you start doing that? That's pretty neat! I hope it has been working well for you.

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

GOOD STUFF! thanks all! I may buy one today... (not gonna put it one yet, I think i'll wait a month...)
Do you see different one's at tournament? I just mean not the same ones over and over? Although they are very nice, I seemed to see the same tsuba's on most of the sites...

If you are a craftsmen would they let you make one if it falls in a certain weigh, material and thickness? Or do they need to be certified by some organization or association?

You're very welcome! Let us know what you end up getting... Can't help but be curious!

No idea about your question though... Sorry! Maybe someone else will know.

Kaoru

[Chev-san]

Really? Wow, that's nice to know! They sure are pretty. I'm surprised they don't scratch easily. That's pretty cool. Why... are they heavier or lighter than usual? Thanks!

Kaoru

they are a little heavier then a regular tsuba

[Kris]

I do iaido as well as just starting kendo and am looking for my 1st shinai. I think the whole tsuba thing on shinai should be like it is with iaito or shinken, you generally go with what you like as you are the one using it and in custom swords, it can generally reflect who you are as a person. I am probably going for the koban gata style shinai but there isn't much I can find with regards tsuba for it...... Any ideas where I could get a selection of tsuba for this style of shinai?

Cheers.

[D'Artagnan]

Ooooo, I bet it is pretty! And, I guess is MUST be tough if it can take getting hit all the time! I had no idea doh could be made out of tortoise shell. Have any photos?

http://www.kendo-bogu.com/help_options.asp?ID=23 - Very bottom, on the right, entitled 'custom dou lacquer'. The photo I have used as an example is of a Honbekko Do-dai. They are very beautiful, though I have only ever seen one in the flesh, and it belongs to a hachidan.

I also have seen one made of Seal fur, and one with a painting by Hokusai on it... but they weren't as cool...

[Kaoru]

they are a little heavier then a regular tsuba

Ah, I see. Thank you.

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

http://www.kendo-bogu.com/help_options.asp?ID=23 - Very bottom, on the right, entitled 'custom dou lacquer'. The photo I have used as an example is of a Honbekko Do-dai. They are very beautiful, though I have only ever seen one in the flesh, and it belongs to a hachidan.

I also have seen one made of Seal fur, and one with a painting by Hokusai on it... but they weren't as cool...

Wow, thank you for sharing! That really IS beautiful. There would be NO way you'd get your doh mixed up with someone else's, lol. I bet is is even better in person. You're lucky you have seen one. Way cool! Yeah, I'd expect that it would be a hachidan who'd have one.

Really?? Seal fur? The fuzzy soft stuff or just the leather part of it? I bet it looked interesting! I think the painting on the doh would be neat to see though.

I saw a pink doh on that page... I LOVE pink... Guess I'd be a nice target with one of those, though... hehehe! I never knew they came in such a nice pink color.

Kaoru

[KenshiNewbie]

Woo...Nine do's! I like the one that is labeled tame with maple leaves!

[Tort-Speed]

D'Artagnan, If one liked the looks but preferred a tsuba not crafted from a seal's coat or tortoise's "house," could the craftsman substitute similar looking, non-animal materials? As when patching up a men, one can opt for synthetic or Bambi, perhaps.

[Kaoru]

D'Artagnan, If one liked the looks but preferred a tsuba not crafted from a seal's coat or tortoise's "house," could the craftsman substitute similar looking, non-animal materials? As when patching up a men, one can opt for synthetic or Bambi, perhaps.

What kind of question is that? There are already synthetic tsuba.

He was talking about doh made with seal fur and tortoise shell... (Unless I missed it, and you are just joking. If so, sorry! ...But I couldn't resist asking.)

Kaoru

[D'Artagnan]

D'Artagnan, If one liked the looks but preferred a tsuba not crafted from a seal's coat or tortoise's "house," could the craftsman substitute similar looking, non-animal materials? As when patching up a men, one can opt for synthetic or Bambi, perhaps.

Tort-speed> Yeah, there are synthetic versions of the tortoiseshell tsuba's and do-dai, in fact the faux-tortoiseshell do is on that page too, about half way down, next to the 'kamakura' pattern do...

Kaoru> The seal fur one still had the hair on it, but I can't imagine anyone wearing it...

[Tort-Speed]

Hi Andy, The thread began with tsuba and I went off do do some stuff, came back and jumped to the bottom. (Kaoru, u jus 2 quick 4 me!) D'Artagnan's 'kamakura' dou is so nice, more so given that fewer items are made these days with that pattern. 'Guess the craftsmen have passed on and their sons became PC people.... By the way, may I confirm, since you're the expert: 1) A former Sempai (but not in Japan, anyway) claimed the rougher-finish dou can affect someone's dou-strike if their shinai is too dry, weak or the cut angle poor, so he only wore a matte-finish rough doh for shiai. 2) Although my favourite due to its classic look, my (black) Amitake's 'protectiveness' feels different from a standard bamboo or even fibre dou's if someone does a kaishi-dou on me. Thank you for any advice or input, Tort-Speed

[D'Artagnan]

Yeah, I think the Kamakura Dou is cool too.

As for rough finish, I have heard that theory too, but in my experience when it comes down to it, it doesn't tend to make a huge difference. If someone makes a good do-uchi it will make a solid sound on either a matte or gloss finish do.

With regard to Amitake, I think they look cool too, but even the manufacturer's agree that they are not as protective... Basically as they are lacking a leather coating - and instead just have lacing, they are more flexible, and therefore strikes can be felt more by the wearer... actually, there is talk by the manufacturer's of discontinuing them...

[Kaoru]

Kaoru> The seal fur one still had the hair on it, but I can't imagine anyone wearing it...

Thanks Andy-san,

Poor seal... I'd want to pet it... I like soft things! I would NOT want that on my doh though. That would be to me, too much like hitting a poor seal. That would be mean!

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

Hi Andy, The thread began with tsuba and I went off do do some stuff, came back and jumped to the bottom. (Kaoru, u jus 2 quick 4 me!)

hahaha, I'm sorry! I couldn't help myself... But I see why now!

That tsuba I was given that I mentioned in my first post in this thread? It is a very nice synthetic imitation tortoise shell tsuba. It's really pretty! One of the sites listed earlier in this thread has one on it, if you are interested. I can't remember which one it was though. Sorry!

What is Amitake? I've never heard of it. Thanks!

Kaoru