Kitchen Knife Saya Liner

M

Masterjuggler

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Dec 22, 2013
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I'm going to make a few Japanese gyutos for Mother's Day. The sayas will be made of hardwoods like rosewood and maple. I don't want them to screw with the edge or ruin the finish, so I'm going to be lining them with something.

Does anyone have any suggestions on lining materials or techniques? I'm thinking about making the sayas two-piece, and either fully lining the inside or carving staggered sections for either felt or thin veg-tanned leather.
 
I advise against lining with anything. It is a guarantee that there will be problems down the line.

You can, however inlay a strip of leather or soft wood down the seam where the edge will seat.

The best wood to inlay along the edge is a soft wood like ho or bass. Inlay a 1/4"X 1/8" strip along the ha and the edge will always be sliding along a soft place.
 
When you say "problems down the line" are you talking about dirt and grit?

Just to be sure, you are talking about recessing a strip of leather into the saya on either side of the ha so it will be flush with the wood or slightly raised?

And it is a bad idea to also put a strip along the mune to act as the friction point?

Thanks for the help.
 
You can put a strip along the mune, but it isn't as much a concern as the ha (edge). The piece of wood or leather is pretty much the same as a welt on a leather sheath. You inlet the ha part of the saya halves to allow the piece to fit in. When in place, it should parallel the edge closely. The edge rests on the 1/8" wide section of this soft wood when in storage. One easy way to do it is a three piece saya, with the soft woff core being cut to exactly fit the blade profile. That makes for an easy-peasy construction.
 
I can drop by home depot and pick up some basswood strips at some point. Not sure if I'll find sheets of it to make a three piece saya, but I can line the important bits of the inside with it.

Stacy, do you suggest I go with basswood or something with more give to it like leather?

And when you say to inlet the ha part of the saya, you mean to put a single strip along the length of the ha for it to ride on, bridging the seam between the two saya halves, right?
 
Yes, in many saya, the edge is seated along a strip of softer wood that sits between the two outer shells. I would use bass, not leather.

Leather and felt can attract moisture, dirt, food, oils, etc. and make places that can rust the blade or stain it. They also wear out or degrade quickly.
 
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