Having a new Mekugi-ana made ? Tang repair? (yari)

[GreyVR]

On my last trip to Kyoto, I picked up a damaged spearhead. It has a broken tang, and so was inexpensive. As it's finally arrived, I'm questioning what to do with it. IT doesn't have a shirasaya or the like, but I'd like to have some sort of wooden handle made. 

This was a low price acquisition, and while I want to treat it respectfully, as the tang is already damaged I feel a bit freer than I might otherwise about what I can or should do. 

It would seem reasonable to have a new mekugi-ana drilled by a professional. (Nothing has happened yet! I'm asking the group to advise me before any action is taken.) 

Never have commissioned such, and so I turn to the group for ideas. Now, a full nihonto conservationist might indeed be able to drill a new mekugi-ana, and I certainly wouldn't give the job to just anyone with a drill press, but I was considering a local gunsmithing shop for the job as they would understand metals and heat and cutting oil and have the right tools to make holes in hardened steel. Is this a terrible idea or a good one?

Little nervous about asking, so I repeat nothing has happened as yet! I'm NOT going to try to give it a fresh polish myself with home depot sand paper or drill a new mekugi-ana with a Dremel! I'm looking for advice on how I can respectfully do something with the tang, and I promise to listen before taking any action. 

I also had the idea of having a new tang welded on, since it is a low value item.... but that seems like it would be too much of a change to an antique.... but perhaps there are respected professionals who perform such procedures?  

What are the thoughts of the group? Also, does this spearhead look like any particular kind? I put one of the little brass hammers next to it for scale. 

[Tensho]

FWIW, the nakago should not be hardened.  I have about 20ish yari in my collection and its not uncommon for these to have broken nakago(probably from forcing them out of koshirae when they're rusty)

 

Personally if it were mine I would just leave it "as-is" I actually had 2 yari in shirasaya which didn't have mekugi-ana drilled out for the shirasaya even though the nakago had them. There is no habaki to "lock" the blade into the saya on a yari(the ebu/pole goes into the saya), and as such there should be no real worry of pulling the blade out of the handle. 

[Bugyotsuji]

A pretty spear head. It looks to have some age to it, especially with the long kerakubi. The Nakago has broken at the natural Mekugi-ana, the weakest point when being forced from a haft. 
Tempted to agree with Tensho, to fit a haft and maybe saya but not bother to alter it any further by boring a new Mekugi-ana, etc.

[John C]

George:

Here is a link to a yari shirasaya I made. Just for inspiration, you can do it with very few hand tools.

John C.

 

[GreyVR]

21 hours ago, Tensho said:

FWIW, the nakago should not be hardened.  I have about 20ish yari in my collection and its not uncommon for these to have broken nakago(probably from forcing them out of koshirae when they're rusty)

 

Personally if it were mine I would just leave it "as-is" I actually had 2 yari in shirasaya which didn't have mekugi-ana drilled out for the shirasaya even though the nakago had them. There is no habaki to "lock" the blade into the saya on a yari(the ebu/pole goes into the saya), and as such there should be no real worry of pulling the blade out of the handle. 

I know the idea of having a new tang welded on is likely really out there and crazy.... so I likely won't be doing that! (even if having the full tang back seems like a good idea....) But is having a new mekugi-ana drilled so very strange? I'd like to know whatever shaft I manage to acquire won't have the thing fall out from gravity if I point it slightly down..... A hundred-plus year old spear to the foot would be a silly thing to explain to an ER.... 

 

19 hours ago, John C said:

Here is a link to a yari shirasaya I made. Just for inspiration, you can do it with very few hand tools.

 

I may have to try. Though I'm so very clumsy with wood working....