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Post by rimuru on Jul 25, 2021 1:12:52 GMT
I saw some online DIY videos it looks like there are only two wood nails to hold blade and grip together, makes me nervous when I swing my sharpened sword... Is it good enough given the speed and impact we do to the sword? Is it gonna break ay some point?
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Post by Cottontail Customs on Jul 25, 2021 2:04:11 GMT
without going into too much detail, this depends a lot on many factors, including how well the tsuka was made and fitted to the nakago, the quality of the mekugi(which should be made of cured bamboo) and how well the mekugi are fit. most production katana don't hit very many high marks when it comes to all the details but with double mekugi and provided the core and other things mentioned aren't a total nightmare and you aren't completely abusing the sword, these pegs generally do their job and keep things together enough so it's considered safe to cut with, at least as safe as cutting things with a giant razorblade goes.
it's always a good idea to go over the safety checkpoints before and after your cutting sessions, including checking the sword and tsuka for movement or odd sounds and checking the mekugi to make sure they're in tightly and are intact. mekugi are meant to be replaced when necessary so having some extras on hand is always a good thing.
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Post by pellius on Jul 25, 2021 2:20:17 GMT
Good info as always. Thanks.
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Post by rimuru on Jul 25, 2021 2:32:20 GMT
without going into too much detail, this depends a lot on many factors, including how well the tsuka was made and fitted to the nakago, the quality of the mekugi(which should be made of cured bamboo) and how well the mekugi are fit. most production katana don't hit very many high marks when it comes to all the details but with double mekugi and provided the core and other things mentioned aren't a total nightmare and you aren't completely abusing the sword, these pegs generally do their job and keep things together enough so it's considered safe to cut with, at least as safe as cutting things with a giant razorblade goes. it's always a good idea to go over the safety checkpoints before and after your cutting sessions, including checking the sword and tsuka for movement or odd sounds and checking the mekugi to make sure they're in tightly and are intact. mekugi are meant to be replaced when necessary so having some extras on hand is always a good thing. Very informative, I will check as you said each time I do cutting. Thanks a lot!
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 25, 2021 2:43:01 GMT
Rimiru? Fan of the slime?
As has been said already, the primary fit is friction, just locked in by the (often just one) mekugi. It's a design that survived constant warfare for hundreds of years. It'll be fine in your backyard.
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Post by rimuru on Jul 25, 2021 14:26:18 GMT
Rimiru? Fan of the slime? As has been said already, the primary fit is friction, just locked in by the (often just one) mekugi. It's a design that survived constant warfare for hundreds of years. It'll be fine in your backyard. Haha, yes. Rimuru Tempest
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 25, 2021 15:58:03 GMT
Haha, yes. Rimuru Tempest Nice. Girlfriend and I are kinda dilly-dallying on the new season, but we did watch an episode yesterday. Nikki just was not good. Anyway, yeah. Mekugi are fine.
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tera
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Post by tera on Jul 25, 2021 16:04:37 GMT
If the two traditional bamboo mekugi worry you, you could replace one with a mekugi pin made of delrin. That is a very tough polymer that can take a serious beating. It is often used to make non-marring punches in gunsmithing kits.
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Post by rimuru on Jul 25, 2021 17:02:37 GMT
If the two traditional bamboo mekugi worry you, you could replace one with a mekugi pin made of delrin. That is a very tough polymer that can take a serious beating. It is often used to make non-marring punches in gunsmithing kits. Do you know any good vendors for delrin pins?
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tera
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Post by tera on Jul 25, 2021 17:12:03 GMT
I don't personally know of a vendor to recommend, but Cottontail Customs has an excellent article about them and how he makes his own. He is a well reputed sword customizer on these forums. www.cottontailcustoms.com/making-mekugi/It looks like, following this guide, you could make your own very inexpensively. I have only used bamboo mekugi, myself, but I do inspect before use. It may seem strange, but the traditional mekugi have worked very well for centuries. Still, replacing one with delrin might add some piece of mind.
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Post by randomnobody on Jul 25, 2021 17:18:29 GMT
Other folks have also used copper pins, but bamboo really is more than adequate.
Bear in mind, the pin should be cone-shaped; larger at one end than the other. Degree of taper varies, but this ensures it can only come out one way, and typically that is into the hand.
If you're swinging your sword or hitting things with it hard enough that you damage a bamboo mekugi, you've very likely also horribly damaged your sword.
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Post by paulmuaddib on Jul 25, 2021 17:19:54 GMT
You could also replace one or both with brass mekugi. Cheness, which is going out of business, puts one in towards the kashira end. An no I don’t know of any sources but if you have some skill and tools you could make some out of round brass stock.
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tera
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Post by tera on Jul 25, 2021 17:24:29 GMT
I agree with Cottontail Custom's article in which he points out the benefit of the elasticity inherent in properly prepared bamboo (and delrin) mekugi. I wouldn't personally go with a metal one as, if crushed it will stay crushed. True, it would have kept everyone safe.
I use delrin as the bolt buffer for my 10/22 to reduce bolt noise. Can't tell you how many rounds I've run through it and no sign of compression or damage yet.
Not to over-advocate the material, as again I stick with bamboo mekugi for my swords.
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Post by treeslicer on Jul 25, 2021 19:13:08 GMT
I suppose that if you are nervous about using the traditional smoked and cured bamboo mekugi design which has served for over 1000 years, you could bring the design into the 21st. Century by using milspec aerospace locking hardware:
safety bolts, retained with castle nuts, and secured with safety wire.
But then, someone like me would look at the sword, and remark, "Wow dude, your katana is like totally and professionally screwed!"
You wouldn't want that to happen, now would you?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2021 19:18:47 GMT
Tbh, I think everyone over estimates the force in which a blade is pulled at. Two bamboo pegs, even chop sticks, would be more than sufficient for back yard cutting even in an ill fitted grip
Has the blade ever slipped out of a handle on a katana? I've never heard of that happening. Surely two pegs would suffice more than glue, which some cultures have had success with
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Post by treeslicer on Jul 25, 2021 19:25:41 GMT
Has the blade ever slipped out of a handle on a katana? Yes. Bystanders have even been killed at demos. Consult Nakamura, and other practical cutting authors. It's why some of us favor two mekugi, or the combination of a bamboo mekugi in front with a brass one in the rear.
I've never lost a blade into the crowd, but I have had mekugi break. The reason for favoring bamboo over wood is because the fibers in the bamboo tend to retain the blade when this happens. I suspect that when the more lurid accidents happen, it's because an initial break is ignored, or the mekugi haven't been checked for wear. Mekugi do wear through use, BTW. Any bent, notched, or flexible mekugi should be replaced.
OTOH, my "modest proposal" above would be ridiculous overkill.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2021 19:45:50 GMT
Has the blade ever slipped out of a handle on a katana? Yes. Bystanders have even been killed at demos. Consult Nakamura, and other practical cutting authors. It's why some of us favor two mekugi, or the combination of a bamboo mekugi in front with a brass one in the rear.
I've never lost a blade into the crowd, but I have had mekugi break. The reason for favoring bamboo over wood is because the fibers in the bamboo tend to retain the blade when this happens. I suspect that when the more lurid accidents happen, it's because an initial break is ignored, or the mekugi haven't been checked for wear. Mekugi do wear through use, BTW.
OTOH, my "modest proposal" above would be ridiculous overkill.
Oh damn, I never knew that, my bad. I never heard of anyone being killed at demos before Personally, if I am using chop sticks, I do tend to make sure it's friction fit as well. Heck, I glue my handles in as well. Well, the more you know I guess, always use proper mekugi and make sure to shim it guys
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Post by Ari L. on Jul 25, 2021 20:11:42 GMT
I’d recommend against using anything too hard to replace the pins, if you’re applying enough force that it would have damaged a bamboo pin, then you’re almost certainly applying enough force to cause a hard metal pin to bite into the wood handle potentially cracking it in an unexpected way or widening the pin holes which could cause them to fall out.
The tang also isn’t smooth polished but rough and angular, sometimes even with hash marks or signatures that increase the roughness further. Gripping and swinging the blade by the tang with bare hands isn’t a fun experience because of this. Add in some wood and there is a surprising amount of friction in a properly sized and gripped tsuka.
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Post by Adventurer'sBlade on Jul 25, 2021 20:30:05 GMT
They are bamboo, less brittle than typical wood and considered adequate. I still think it's obsolete way to build a sword. Consider that bystanders have been killed by meguki failures during demos by experienced swordsmen using traditionally constructed blades. I prefer permanent brass pins, steel tubes, or steel Chicago bolts for removable grips. But I'm a tactical sword scumbag.
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Post by paulmuaddib on Jul 25, 2021 21:03:33 GMT
They are bamboo, less brittle than typical wood and considered adequate. I still think it's obsolete way to build a sword. Consider that bystanders have been killed by meguki failures during demos by experienced swordsmen using traditionally constructed blades. I prefer permanent brass pins, steel tubes, or steel Chicago bolts for removable grips. But I'm a tactical sword scumbag. As a fellow tactical sword scumbag (I prefer the word aficionado), I also like Chicago screws. Which interestingly I found yesterday that they are also called sex screws. 😎 Interesting take on the metal pins possibly bending and also possibly cracking/breaking the tsuka. Thanks for that info. Although I never cut hard targets still something to keep in mind.
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