Handle wrap durability

Z

zignal_zero

Joined
Apr 16, 2008
Messages
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I'm hoping y'all can help me out, here. I use a SRKW Rodent Waki and am considering a more traditional japanese styled sword. I have a functional katana, now, but it is an inexpensive model and not the quality I am looking for. A few things have worn out, on mine, one of which is the handle wrap has loosened up and gotten all missaligned to the point wood is exposed in areas.

My concern is - how much does it take to make this happen on a sword of higher quality? I do not study JSA and do not know if my handles take more or less punishment than one wielded by someone who does which I would assume is the intended user when this type of sword is produced. Some of the techniques I practice, while doing air cutting drills, involve making a cut in one direction then immediately cutting in the opposite direction. This coupled with the fact I tend to grip the handle very close to the gaurd make me concerned that I will wear the wrapping loose on any sword. Is this likely? Or is a higher quality sword made to take a greater deal of inertia induced twisting force on the wrap without it loosening? I ask because, as much as I do want a more traditionally styled (not necessarily historically correct) sword, if I'm still likely to encounter this, I'd be inclined to go with a sword that has solids handle scales like the Hanwei Tacticals.

Thank you.
 
A quick Google Images search shows only Micarta and G10 handle slabs on the Rodent Waki. Now the Scrapizashi has a wrap, but not wood as far as I'm aware. Could you put up a picture to show us what you are dealing with?
 
I guess I didn't explain it, correctly. I have more than one sword, but only one katana. I would like to get another, ko-katana to be specific, but am worried I mint end up with the same issue even though the new one will be a higher quality.
 
The wrap on japanese blades was obviously designed to stand up to hard use. While a better wrap will last longer than a poorer one, no wrap will last for ever (unless it's fixed with epoxy or lacquer). If you buy an expensive sword that you plan to train with a lot, you should expect to have it re-wrapped periodically — it's not cheap but it's a part of the maintenance cost for a good sword. If you buy a less expensive sword you can rub epoxy into the wrap (M.S. Wally Hayes uses a toothbrush) and it will last pretty much forever (don't do this with a nice sword).
You can also learn to do tsukamaki yourself. Unless you're doing something horribly wrong, you aren't going to mess up your handle (but you might waste some ito). This could be a route you go whether you buy a cheap sword or an expensive sword.

- Chris
 
Wow, so it's inevitable :-( bummer. I wish I could find someone in FL that did sword maintenance. Then it wouldn't be such a big deal. I can sharpen my own swords, but I really dont know how to wrap or even where to learn. Guess ill start searching for a book, then practice on my beater katana, and if I get it right then ill buy another one w/o concern.

Or I might just take the epoxy idea, does it make a big difference in the way it feels on yer hand?
 
There are some good youtube videos on tsukamaki:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZhNWU9cepM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbDETzm39oQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjjButNY_54
And a good website: http://www.tsukamaki.net/

I've never used epoxy on a sword, so I can't comment from personal experience on how different it feels. What it will do, however, is make the ito harder (duh). This will make more or less of a difference based on the material the ito is made of and how the wrap is done. Some traditional swords, as I understand, had lacquer over the ito that would fix it in place, much the way the epoxy does. During the middle of WWII, the japanese army started making the handles of their swords out of cast metal. These swords were usually pretty crap, but it's another way in which there is historical precedent for a very hard, firm handle. My point is that if it was good enough for the people who invented the swords, it shouldn't ruin it for you.
Wally Hayes also has a good video on making a tactical katana (I think he invented those), in which he has a great section on tsukamaki and how to fix it with epoxy.

- Chris
 
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