Replacing gunto tsuka

[brocksamson7]

I own a type 98 gunto.

The ray skin is splitting in a few areas.

I know that I can get it re wrapped but I see that I can also buy old complete tsukas.

My question is, is it a simple plug and and play going this route or is it highly unlikely

that an old tsuka will fit my blade?

[ChrisW]

Its very unlikely to fit. Even amongst guntos, the tsukas vary wildly and were made for the individual blade.

[Ganko]

The possibility of it fitting well is about as good as the odds of winning in Las vegas. Better to rewrap the original.

[Dave R]

 I agree with all of the above, you are highly unlikely to get one that fits. It's only worth a gamble (at very bad odds) if you don't have a tsuka that already fits.

[Utopianarian]

I will prob be strung up and flogged with a wet noodle for saying it... but if you find a Tsuka that has the rough approx measurements and not too far off or extreme curvature or length of nakago. You can make slight adjustments by filing the inside of the tsuka to accommodate the nakago Kasane

[Surfson]

You can take the blade to a show and try the available tsuka for sale.  In some cases, if the fit is ok, you can put a new hole in the tsuka to match the hole in the nakago. 

[tbonesullivan]

Is it real ray skin or synthetic? You can always get it re-wrapped with fresh new ray skin, and you know it'll fit. That's probably the most cost effective solution to get the end result you desire.