So I've been considering having my Busse American Kensei customized with a tsuba and more traditional suka. I'm not particularly fond of traditional tsuka ito as I find it uncomfortable. But perhaps something like a leather wrap or tightly knit tsuka ito.
Something similar in appearance to this (but without the menuki)
or a tight Hineri style like this
Or Kira like so
I think if some of the steel is removed underneath the finger guard and spine ramp and the finger loop at the bottom is ground flush with the tang... that a uniform tang could be created with a stop at the top to rest the tsuba against. I don't think a habaki will work since it has a choil. But where the metal is removed to fit the tsuba I'd want the corners to be round instead of hard 90 degree angles so fitting the tsuba may require a wax form for casting. But truly I'd rather a stainless steel tsuba.
Here the red lines sort of indicate where metal would be removed...
I'd like a tsuba in a very basic shape. I don't require decorations or patterns. Just a 3/16ths to 1/4 thick stainless tsuba. Here are some shapes I find the most pleasing...
So anyway that's the idea. I'd like the handle material to be G10 since that is fairly moisture proof. The wrap can be leather, nylon, whatever as long as it's durable. Or even resin soaked cord or something. I'm fairly open.
Something similar in appearance to this (but without the menuki)
or a tight Hineri style like this
Or Kira like so
I think if some of the steel is removed underneath the finger guard and spine ramp and the finger loop at the bottom is ground flush with the tang... that a uniform tang could be created with a stop at the top to rest the tsuba against. I don't think a habaki will work since it has a choil. But where the metal is removed to fit the tsuba I'd want the corners to be round instead of hard 90 degree angles so fitting the tsuba may require a wax form for casting. But truly I'd rather a stainless steel tsuba.
Here the red lines sort of indicate where metal would be removed...
I'd like a tsuba in a very basic shape. I don't require decorations or patterns. Just a 3/16ths to 1/4 thick stainless tsuba. Here are some shapes I find the most pleasing...
So anyway that's the idea. I'd like the handle material to be G10 since that is fairly moisture proof. The wrap can be leather, nylon, whatever as long as it's durable. Or even resin soaked cord or something. I'm fairly open.