Ah, the pictures were DEMANDED by a beta-reader (a black belt student in my martial arts club) who just couldn't get a mental image from my clumsy words! In fact, I spent a happy hour researching the pictures (just couldn't find a genuine Japanese one showing the small knives in situ - hence the Spanish interloper! - no doubt because I am limited to searches in English) and am now interested, at some time, to buy a humble tsuba as a trophy, a bit like a compostela scallop shell!

Thanks very much for your encouraging words about finding the info interesting. I know it's not most people's cup of tea but, as Gackt will be appearing on our screens as the Sleepy-eyed Swordsman very soon, I really do want to offer people the chance to learn more about the sword that he has been practising with all these weeks. You know how he likes people to do their homework ;=)