Mounting new Koshirae on blades

[Harry]

I have an old Tanto in Shirasiya that I would like to purchase Koshirae for. Getting the hole cut in the tang in the right location seems to me to be the tricky part. Has anyone here done this before? TIA!

 

Harry W.

[Ray Singer]

You do not want to do this. Commission the assembly of a new koshirae fitted to your sword.

[Harry]

Thanks Ray. I am a newbie and would not dream of attempting this myself. I would likely spoil it if I tried, and I don't want to be that guy. Can you recommend someone experienced at this I can contact? Thanks again for your help with this and the registration paper!

 

Harry W.

[Ray Singer]

Hi Harry,

 

    To elaborate on the quick comment above, you would not want to have a new mekugi-ana drilled into the nakago of an antique blade by anyone. It is not generally advisable to fit blades into pre-existing antique koshirae. Where are you located? If you are in the US I would recommend John Tirado (https://www.facebook.com/johntiradosayashi/) to have a new koshirae made. You can also have this work done in Japan via an agent such as Paul Martin (http://thejapanesesword.com/) or Mike Yamasaki (http://tetsugendo.com/). An agent can also help locate appropriate tosogu.

 

Kind regards,

Ray

[raynor]

I am also plundering on having koshirae made for a blade in shirasaya and recommend you follow Ray's very qualified advice, he is lightyears ahead of us both.

 

Build it around the blade, dont alter it in any way to fit pieces you like and dont skimp on the craftsmen you ask to put it together, we get what we pay for

[Harry]

Good advice. Many thanks!

[Jason N]

I have an old Tanto in Shirasiya that I would like to purchase Koshirae for. Getting the hole cut in the tang in the right location seems to me to be the tricky part. Has anyone here done this before? TIA!

 

Harry W.

As mentioned, contract a professional. Drilling the hole in the Tsuka to match the Mekugi-ana should not be a problem, which I assume is what you mean. I wouldn’t want to drill an antique nakago to fit a contenmoprary Tsuka.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Harry,

While there is nothing wrong with commissioning new koshirae for your tanto, it will be very expensive if you do it right and when the time comes to sell (it will) you or your heirs will be lucky to get half what you put into it back.  Alternately, you could buy an existing tanto koshirae with tsunagi (wooden filler blade) to display next to your tanto in its shira-saya.  This route allows you to spend a lot less for the same quality or spend the same and get higher quality parts.

Grey

[raynor]

I might as well post this somewhat relevant question here as I imagine it might help others in my shoes down the road. The original saya for the blade I plan to eventually have new koshirae made for is showing its antique age and needs replacing.

The original habaki came with the sword and naturally a new saya must fit around it, this also affects choices for fuchi a bit. Looking at koshirae online for comparison and dimensions I think this fuchi in the photo is in the clear at least regarding the width, but is it perhaps a bit too short to fit flush with a saya made around the habaki?

 

It is hard to figure out even with the original saya since it is splitting and missing the koiguchi.

 

[Geraint]

Dear Omar.

 

I assume you are concerned about the width of the habaki against what could be called the length of the fuchi.  I don't think you will have a problem, once seppa and tsuba are fitted I think it will look fine.  It is not always the case that the fuchi is exactly the same size as the saya.

 

All the best.

[SAS]

Presumably you will also have seppa and a tsuba between the habaki/saya and the fuchi, so the closeness in size shouldn't normally be a problem, imo.

[raynor]

Thank you both. Yes I account for seppa and tsuba, just want to be sure that the fuchi will look somewhat flush with new saya dimensions when it is all mounted before I lock in this fuchikashira set for the project. Rather not have the craftsman tell me I need to go look for a new set of fittings when it's my turn in the queue!