An Antique Japanese Samurai Horse Bit or Kutsuwa - Bit415 sandwich This heavy steel bit is

This heavy steel bit is a straight bar loose ring snaffle with three rotating discs

5cm) x 15¼" (39cm)Mount measures 26⅜" (67cm ) x 21¾" (55cm)

They have circular heelplates from which hand chains with flower shaped fasteningsThey have large sawtooth rowels

Such bits were used when breaking in

An Antique Japanese Samurai Horse Bit or Kutsuwa - Bit415 sandwich This heavy steel bit isThis bit is made of iron, its surface is dark and a little pitted, but it is in a very stable condition. It has a single jointed mouthpiece, the cheekpieces have cross bars and a split loop which would have suspended the bit from the headstall. The bit has simple circular rein rings. There are no makers marks or stamps, so dating this bit is difficult, it is probably 18th or 19th century, but this design can be seen in much earlier bits. Mouthpiece