Japanese Fittings

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Can anybody point me in the direction of where to find out how fittings for Japanese weapons are made. As well, how Naginata blades were connected to the staff (ie. hole drilled in staff or cutout in staff through the sides, ect.) I would like to make my own someday and want to know how the battle ready were created.

thank you

 

[Ronnal]

If you want to make one, it is propably a good idea to get some books, and possibly also get your hands on one properly made.

It is basically the same as a katana. There is a mekugi securing the blade to the shaft.

Unlike the Katana & tachi the handle was normally not wrapped. The naginata shaft was split, and the nakago was suken into one of the halves, and the shaft glued back on (dont glue with the blade in place...). There are vareous kinds of fittings that is closely fitted to prevent the shaft to split.

The naginata nakago is long and tapered and the mekugi is fitted about at the middle of the nakago.

Remember that the same rules applies to weilding a naginata as to weilding a katana. Know what you are doing !!!