#hand guards

The latest from R&G as they launch new black coloured hand guards; Giving riders a new option for protective customisation, the black hardware is available for a wide range of machines and is compatible with Barkbusters’ various collections of stylish outer plastic guards. Created using the same heat-treated aluminium for the same level of strength and impact protection Barkbusters is renowned…

An assortment of tsuba (sword hand guards) crafted during the Tokugawa period (1600-1868) by various craftsmen. Tsuba are highly sort after collectables for their artistry.

Apart from gold and silver, the Japanese aren’t at all fond of raw polished metals. They prefer to accelerate corrosion and produce a dark patina on iron surfaces, which can then be enhanced with gold and silver inlay.

Shakudo, an alloy of copper containing up to five percent gold, became quite popular for sword fittings during the Tokugawa period. It acquired a dark purplish-black colour with great rich tones.

Another popular choice was shibuichi, an alloy of copper with around twenty five percent silver. This exhibited various shades of silvery-grey and could even have a fine flecked effect that caught the light if properly mixed.

Added to these two popular alloys were sentoku, a type of brass which has variations of yellow and brown, as well as some lead bronzes that exhibit darker browns and even navy greens.

Using these alloys together with gold and silver as well as copper and iron, a craftsman could produce exquisite motifs and images of incredible detail.