how to repair navy gunto saya?

[kaigunair]

I have what use to be a very nice kaigunto saya/scabbard made of the rayskin same nodules. The lacquered saya nodules are pretty large, and the fittings are better than the typical set. I got all the fittings off (and found out that they used lacquer or some other hard tar like substance under the hangers). The problem with the saya is that the skin had come loose, probably dried alittle, and pulled away. Probably stored in a barn somewhere for a long time....

 

The skin is currently attached to the top ridge of the saya, but the rest of it is free and bowed out along the length of the saya. They actually used two pieces, and hid the split under one of the hangers.

 

Is there any way to repair this saya using the same skin?

 

I was thinking about plugging up the saya mouth, then letting this sit in a large tupperware over a thin layer of water. if I do this during the summer months, I'm thinking that maybe the humidity will rehydrate same skin, and maybe make it pliable enough to reglue. I'd use rice glue unless there are better suggestions.

 

Any thoughts or opinions? Is there someone who does this type of work?

[Kai-Gunto]

Any photos?

[Kam]

If you can post some pics of it's current condition I can point you in the right direction. I regularly repair these and have pics somewhere of the basic process, I will hunt them down and post them for you. Getting the Same to conform back to the shape of the saya is not to complicated just a bit of patience is needed.

 

Kam

[kaigunair]

will try to get some photos up asap! thanks in advance...