katana wrapping cord?

[J.Marsillo]

Ok I'm at a loss for this one i remember seeing the site once,
I need some tan para cord , or whatever is used for wrapping katana handles..It looks like para cord without the inner strands

 

[butchesforge]

you can find all types colors paracord on Ebay--good luck Butch:thumbup:

 

[Keith Montgomery]

http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme gear/accessories main/paracord.htm

 

[bowdude]

To get the paracord flat, you have to cut off what you need then start working the core out of the outer sheath. I believe needlenose pliers is the best to grasp the core. You have to sort of work the core out, you can't just grab the core, grab the sheath and zip it out. Once the core is out, wet it then hang a weight(s) on the ends to get the stretch out.

A great guy name of Brian Vanspeybrock uses paracord to do tsuka-ito a la the japanese style cord wrapping. You can do a search for him and see what he does. The method I sketched over just now is essentially the way he gets his colored synthetic cord.

I'm sure there are other makers with their own methods and favorite materials for tsuka-ito.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

This site sells silk cord.

http://www.japanese-swords.com/pages/silk.htm

 

[J.Marsillo]

thanks for the help guys that was exactly what i needed.I'm gonna go with the para cord because its an el cheepo sword.Honestly its for one of my wifes friends sons.He wanted me to sharpen it but i'm only going to fix the handle.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It is called Ito. The wrapping of Japanese style handles is called Tsuka-make
,literally "handle wrapping".There are tutorials on the knifehow site - www.knifehow.com .
A good source is Shadow of Leaves, http://www.shadowofleaves.com/
Stacy

Added: You can pull the core out of paracord and use it much like ito (I always pull the core anyway).When done coat the whole handle with just enough thin epoxy to absorb into the cord.It will be very durable and wear resistant .