Monday, February 22, 2016

 

Making a Katana handle out of oak


I recently purchased a cut and thrust katana blade from Castille Armory. I had them create a period style tsuba, but no handle.  Not knowing anything about knife/sword handle making, this is my attempt. This is a prototype to get me by.  I plan on making a second one out of period Japanese materials.  Please leave comments to help out.


Shape - maru gata (round)
Started with a branch from a oak tree. 
"Hilts were also of magnolia wood, carefully fitted to the tang and held in place by a peg..." 
        I. Bottomley. Arms and Armor of the Samurai. 1988.

Cut the sides down to size with the bandsaw.
Cut the top and bottom down with the band saw.  Cut off both ends.
Measurements are 11" x .75" x 1"
 Cut it half.
Used the Dremel to router out a groove for the tang.  Tang is 3/16" thick.
Marked peg holes.
You can see where the tang (nakago) lays that I did not cut a big enough curve in the hilt (tsuka).
The redo will have a bigger curve.
Clamped it in place to check my measurements.  I was a little surprised it lined up.
Wood glue applied.
Clamped and drying overnight.
 Shaped and sanded. 40 grit, 80 grit, then 150 grit
 Checking to see if peg holes still line up.
 Leather spacer and 1/4" mild steel pegs
Pegs and spacer in place.
My first attempt at a period style hilt wrap (tsuka maki).
Ito feels like a poly cotton.  I bought it from a Chinese company through Ebay.
Next time I plan on making my own ito using kumihimo.

That's it.  Please let me know what you think.

# posted by Akimoro @ 6:53 PM
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