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Language: Japanese
Source: In common use

The kozuka (小柄) refers to the handle of a small utility knife that is carried in the scabbard of Japanese swords and daggers. It was used for whatever the main blade was too big or too precious for. The whole knife is called kogatana (小刀), but in collector's circles, the whole is often called kozuka. Like with Japanese sword guards, tsuba, there is quite a collecting culture around the handles alone.

 

Nanban kozuka

A nice kozuka with nanban style decoration.
Sold by Mandarin Mansion in 2017.

 

They were typically worn on the side of the scabbard facing the body when the sword was worn, and part of their hilts would stick through a hole in the tsuba () or "guard" called kozuka-hitsu-ana (小柄櫃孔).

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Made in Canton, China, for the Japanese market.

€400,-

Both blades signed, its koshirae fine maki-e lacquer work. Ito school tsuba and Mino Gotō style mounts. …

Price on request

Considered one of the best makers of naginata, he worked for the household of Fukushima Masanori.

Price on request

Made in the 16th century, for the warrior monks of the Hozo-in temple in Nara.

Price on request

A masterpiece of the genre. The Yagami school were excellent carvers of iron.

€1800,-

Fine work and one of the very few enamelled tsuba by this maker.

€1800,-