RONIN KATANA VOTING CONTEST WINNERS.
Sept 23, 2017 22:52:56 GMT
Post by masterofossus on Sept 23, 2017 22:52:56 GMT
I received my fourth-place prize on Thursday.
I picked the tsuba #19, which shows a crescent moon showing through clouds.
My plan was to turn my Dojo Pro #17 (the model with extra sori) into a themed sword, with the gleaming and curved sword showing like the crescent moon peaking through dark clouds. I prefer the artistic, design, "theme" type tsuba to the purely geometric ones, but the model with extra sori only comes with that one specific tsuba. Nice to have a chance to change it!
Since I'm still a newb with katana (I've spent much more time with European swords), this was actually the first time I had removed a tsuka from a sword. I even tried (very, very unsuccessfully) to push the mekugi pins holding the sword together out with the handle of the brass hammer, rather than just using it as intended.
However, after only a few minutes of experimentation, I had the pins out. Removing the tsuka took only a little pressure, from there. A few cautious taps with a rubber mallet removed the existing tsuba.
Here they are, side-by-side (old "geometric" #17 stock tsuba on the right; new "crescent-moon-through-clouds" on the left).
I did have to take a needle file to the new tsuba to get it on, but after about an hour-and-a-half of very cautious work I managed to get the fit just about perfect. It's very snug, and flush with both of the seppa and the habaki, as well as the tsuka. Holds it all together, perfectly.
The remodeled sword looks... pretty much like it did, before. A casual observer, honestly, wouldn't ever notice it without me pointing it out.
But I do like the theme of it, now: drawing the gleaming sword from the dark saya is now analogous to the crescent moon emerging through the clouds on a dark night.
HUGE thanks to Ronin Katana. RK and the people who make it happen for us: Thank you! Not only was I fortunate enough to win a great prize, but I also got to read some wonderful content submitted by everyone. Many of them were interesting and informative, and I appreciate that the contest got everyone to share. Ronin makes good products, and I'll definitely continue to buy from them in the future.
Also, big thanks to everyone who voted for me from amongst a field that was crowded with great and interesting stories.
Finally, congratulations to the other winners. I hope you guys are loving your new blades.
I picked the tsuba #19, which shows a crescent moon showing through clouds.
My plan was to turn my Dojo Pro #17 (the model with extra sori) into a themed sword, with the gleaming and curved sword showing like the crescent moon peaking through dark clouds. I prefer the artistic, design, "theme" type tsuba to the purely geometric ones, but the model with extra sori only comes with that one specific tsuba. Nice to have a chance to change it!
Since I'm still a newb with katana (I've spent much more time with European swords), this was actually the first time I had removed a tsuka from a sword. I even tried (very, very unsuccessfully) to push the mekugi pins holding the sword together out with the handle of the brass hammer, rather than just using it as intended.
However, after only a few minutes of experimentation, I had the pins out. Removing the tsuka took only a little pressure, from there. A few cautious taps with a rubber mallet removed the existing tsuba.
Here they are, side-by-side (old "geometric" #17 stock tsuba on the right; new "crescent-moon-through-clouds" on the left).
I did have to take a needle file to the new tsuba to get it on, but after about an hour-and-a-half of very cautious work I managed to get the fit just about perfect. It's very snug, and flush with both of the seppa and the habaki, as well as the tsuka. Holds it all together, perfectly.
The remodeled sword looks... pretty much like it did, before. A casual observer, honestly, wouldn't ever notice it without me pointing it out.
But I do like the theme of it, now: drawing the gleaming sword from the dark saya is now analogous to the crescent moon emerging through the clouds on a dark night.
HUGE thanks to Ronin Katana. RK and the people who make it happen for us: Thank you! Not only was I fortunate enough to win a great prize, but I also got to read some wonderful content submitted by everyone. Many of them were interesting and informative, and I appreciate that the contest got everyone to share. Ronin makes good products, and I'll definitely continue to buy from them in the future.
Also, big thanks to everyone who voted for me from amongst a field that was crowded with great and interesting stories.
Finally, congratulations to the other winners. I hope you guys are loving your new blades.