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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2013 22:50:17 GMT
Can anybody tell me why when I swing my katana I can feel and hear the tsuka shifting. Is it simply because its wood and the metal blade moves slightly. I have a masahiro 1045 and a Ryan sword 1095 clay tempered folded. Both are brand new and make the same noise. I'm hoping its common. And is it common for katana fittings to have some movement, even if its hardly noticeable.
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Post by Bluntsword on Apr 13, 2013 1:41:51 GMT
Welcome to SBG,
Please take it a part to see if the tsuka is cracked and if there is anything else wrong (is the mekugi tight fitting/loose as this holds the handle to the tang). With loose fittings shim it or wedge something hard in between to stop it from wiggeling around.
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Post by Beowulf on Apr 13, 2013 2:26:34 GMT
Yeah, take it apart and inspect!
Katana tsuka need to be built and fitted just right. When I bought my first couple of katana I really enjoyed them, then either the ito unravelled or I found out that the tsuka were ill-fitted or cracked.
I think the best way to think about purchasing katana when new to them or wanting lower end swords is to think about the tsuka's build and the manufacturer's track record on tsuka before the blade's construction or anything else. Without the tsuka you don't get to enjoy the blade. I learned this the hard way, wasting money on weapons I never should have considered.
I hope it works out for you. Show us some pictures or otherwise tell everyone what you've found.
good luck
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2013 3:11:52 GMT
so I took apart my masahiro and low and behold a crack in the tsuka. the fuchi and menuki are loose. I guess that's what I get for purchasing a cheap katana. but my ryan katana does not. the fittings are tight and the sword seems like a well built katana. its really not that bad and you can hardly notice it. when I swing it and only when I swing it hard I notice it. it sounds like a squeak in the wood. its not loose when I swing it. its nice and firm. maybe im just being too picky. overall I love the ryan sword, its a beauty. 1095 sanmai clay and folded. I know $275 with shipping is a little low for a sword with those stats, so it makes me wonder where they cut corners. maybe cheap wood for the tsuka. don't know. I want to show a pic of the swords but I cant find the attach button
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Post by Lobster Hunter on Apr 13, 2013 3:25:58 GMT
The Masahiro tsuka can be fixed by unwrapping the ito and glueing the crack with wood glue. Wrap it with rubber bands until it sets. Then welcome to the world of tsukamaki! The fuchi should fit tightly. Either build up the mouth of the tsuka by glueing a thin strip of wood or shim it with a paper "collar".
The other one probably has a loose nakago/tsuka fit. Try shimming it with a piece of stiff paper in the shape of the nakago.
These problems are common with even higher end katana.
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Post by frankthebunny on Apr 13, 2013 3:50:40 GMT
shims of wood or paper in the tsuka should help the movement as mentioned above but as for the crack, the reason it's cracked in the first place is probably because the space was too small for the nakago and forcing it on caused the wood to split. if this is the case, gluing it closed again might result in the same thing happening when you put it back on. I've repaired these cracks before but it's tricky and won't always work. you usually have to remove some material from inside where it's tight by using a thin file or sandpaper glued to a popsicle stick (or similar) and then glue it.
movement of the nakago inside the tsuka is something that will eventually happen at some point to most katana that are used often for cutting and again, as mentioned above, even on higher end katana that had the tsuka carved for that individual blade. it's only wood after all and it takes an enormous amount of pressure and stress every time you strike a target. replacing and/or repairing tsuka on katana that were used often was/is pretty common
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Post by chrisperoni on Apr 13, 2013 4:58:18 GMT
with whatever fix you do I would suggest epoxying the tsuka to the nakago and making it a permanent assembly. Safer and imho better to have a solid sword you can't take apart... no real reason to have to take it apart much anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2013 15:35:02 GMT
Those are all great awnsers. I unwrapped the tsuka. Then painted the fake rayskin black. Then wrapped black electrical tape where the fuchi goes so it fits nice and tug. Wood glued the crack. Re wrapped the loose sageo and tied a knot I learned on YouTube( it looks nice). Then made a sheet metal seppa with snips. Now the tsuka fits nice and snug. I think I did a better job then the assemblers. It's ashame I had to do all this work on a new katana. It looks better though. Then I took apart the ito on the says and wrapped it to match the tsuka like mashones katana off the walking dead. I wish I could send a pic but there is no attachment button. All this was done on my masahiro. My ryan sword is fine. Nice and tight. I can barely here or feel it
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Post by Lobster Hunter on Apr 16, 2013 6:25:06 GMT
Congrats on the successful fix! Swords, like most weapons, need fine tuning and maintenance once in a while. It's a good feeling when your swords are in tip top shape.
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Post by Beowulf on Apr 17, 2013 10:12:04 GMT
I feel you on the frustration. I think you might want to study up on how the katana is constructed, what the mekugi actually does, what the nakago and it's file-marks are for, etc. These weapons MUST be made correctly in a really narrow set of parameters. I'm not criticizing them, but it is the truth. When they are made right they're good and reliable weapons.
I got to the point I was starting to wonder if katana were just crap. Then after understanding what all was meshing together in the tsuka to make something durable I decided my purchases were crap. It was sort of scary to realize what was passing as a "good deal" to some people. Something where the blade was held in the tsuka only by the poor mekugi, or something where the nakago was hammered into the tsuka cracking %60 of the weapons made.
I've had good luck with everything I've gotten once I found trusted and time-proven makers.
cheers!
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