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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 27, 2012 23:34:29 GMT
I understand that my new katana is held on with two bamboo pins that I have to drive out to take off the handle.
But as I look at them I cant really see what direction to push them as both sides of each pin appear about the same size.
In normal situations is there a traditional way that each pin is normally positioned, and then driven in and out?
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Post by ineffableone on Mar 27, 2012 23:42:13 GMT
yes there is. The mekugi pins are designed so when your gripping the tsuka (handle) that your palms will be covering the side that comes out. So if you tap on the opposite side pushing the pins toward where your your palms grip the pins should come out.
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Post by ineffableone on Mar 27, 2012 23:43:30 GMT
Oh you will notice, as in holding the katana your palms will be on different sides of the tsuka, so will the directions of the mekugi.
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Mar 27, 2012 23:48:08 GMT
also note that traditionally katana are always used right handed no matter what hand preference you have. so right hand on top by the blade and left hand on bottom. . . always. at least according to tradition.
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Post by Chinook Kaze on Mar 27, 2012 23:56:52 GMT
All Japanese swordsmen are right handed....NO, all Japanese swordsmen are right handed. Additionally, if you look closely at both sides of the mekugi, you will see they are tapered. Drift them out from the smaller side. Which will be correctly oriented for a right handed swordsman (or woman )
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Post by Kumdoalan on Mar 28, 2012 0:33:10 GMT
Thanks!
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Post by chrisperoni on Mar 28, 2012 2:34:17 GMT
good info! Is this traditional set up maintained through modern production swords? Even low cost ones?
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Post by Chinook Kaze on Mar 28, 2012 2:42:16 GMT
I can't speak for all production katana, but all my Musashi katana ( 1045 and 1060 blades ) and my Ronin Dojo Pro follow this traditional pattern.
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Post by ineffableone on Mar 28, 2012 2:53:36 GMT
Here is a picture to help demonstrate Generally yes, though some low cost swords don't taper their mekugi or in the case of the really cheap stuff don't have mekugi and are epoxied on the tsuka, but these are generally SLO wall hangers not functional. One of the first signs to look for for functional katana is if you can dissemble it, if no it is doubtful it is functional unless some of the tactical scaled handled blades. But yes there are low cost katana with nontappered mekugi though this is getting rare to find as more and more forges seem to be learning the proper way to do it. In production swords you often wont see as much of the opposing angle of the mekugi, the two mekugi holes are supposed to angle slightly to help add to the retention of the nakago (tang) but you don't see this much in the $100-$500 range production models but do start to see it commonly in higher price ranges. It is these small details you start getting when you get into the higher prices that make those prices worth it.
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Mar 28, 2012 19:43:34 GMT
all the Cheness swords I have seen were non-tapered and a lot of the low cost Musashi's and Masahiro's too but it has been a while since I've seen their stuff and they may have changed it. I've seen a few low end Hanwei's that weren't tapered too or tapered so little as to make no difference.
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