Some tsuka (handle) wrapping questions

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
5,786
I am making some small tantos for groomsmen gifts next June and wanted to use wood handle scales and traditional Japanese tsuka wrapping on the handles. I have a few questions:
1) I followed some instructions I found at www.stud.uni-hannover.de... and they are pretty good, but they sort of fall apart at the end when the final knot is described. What would be ideal is to get pointed to another website, or better yet, if someone could photocopy some pages from a good book on Japanes blades and mail it to me (I'd pay for it).
2) It seems that the traditional materials are pretty expensive. I used black military shoelace material for my first effort, and it doesn't look too bad. Is there a source for traditional material that I should look at or should I hope for the best with the shoelace stuff?
3) Any other hints on how to make the process easier and yield more perfect results would be helpful. My knives will have handle lengths of 3-4 inches, mainly, so they are pretty small.
I would just as soon not epoxy all over the handles as I think that looks kind of bad. Is there a way to just glue down the knots to make sure they don't shift around a lot with use? Tips, please!!!!
wink.gif


------------------
My Custom Kydex Sheath page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/kydex.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
agocs_s@dd.palmer.edu
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
tannk.jpg


Chiro,
At the back of the handle I have a 3/8" hole that the wrap passes through after the last "cross" that will fit on the handle. The back of the blade is round and the hole is in the center of that radius. I keep passing both ends of the wrapping through the hole covering the end of the handle. At the point where they meet in the center, I make one more pass through the hole with both pieces laying on top of each other. To finish it, I pass them both under the last cross in front of the hole. When I epoxy coat the wrap, it shrinks so don't cut the excess wrapping until the epoxy dries.
Im sure this is not be the traditional way to do it. I learned from trial and error and lots of lacing material! My larger knives are easier to do than this Neck Knife.
I've seen two of Randy Martins kives and he is by far the best at doing this!!
Email me if I can be of further help,
Neil


------------------
Just updated 10/31!! New Knives, New Pics!!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html

 
There are at least two or three very good pages out there I have looked at, but didnt bookmark
frown.gif
do a search for tsuka maki or tsukamaki and you should turn them up. The traditional way uses a special bench with a tang shaped extension to put the tsuka on that allows for very tight wraps, and each knot is clamped before moving on to the next. You should probably put the blade in a vice to give yourself something to pull against and use a spring clamp or something.

T. J.

------------------
I love my country! I just don't trust my government!
 
Chiro75,
I've ordered a video on Tsukamaki from Japanese swordsmith Tatsuhiko Konno on the west coast for $25.00. The video is pretty good, a little on the low quality side, informative none the less, it's the closest one will come to getting direct instruction on tsukamaki from a Japanese swordsmith. It gives a pretty detailed description on how to tie the final knot. It still takes practice. The address for the video is: http://www.iserve.org/fujishiro/sword.htm

After every wrap I use soft jaw vice grips to hold the wrap in place. It's easier on the hands, plus you can set it down and come back to it, it's also nice when you have to tie the final knot so the rest of your wrap doesn't come loose.

You can also get supplies like Tsuka-Ito (silk cord - $3.50 per foot) and Same (Stingray skin - $70.00) at Bugei Trading Company. http://www.bugei.com

I think they have 3/16" wrap which should be pretty good for your application.

Fred Lohman also has most anything for wrapping and swords. (Good guy to deal with) http://www.japanese-swords.com/index_bmk.htm

You can also find more rayskin at StingrayProducts.com. http://www.stingrayproducts.com/sting2.htm

The site you metioned above is pretty good. I'll look at home to see if I have anymore illustrations and email them to you.

Hope this helps.

Take care,
Tom

 
Chiro75,
I have photocopies of an article by Scott Slobodian in KNIVES ILLUSTRATED that show step by step tsuka wrap.
I will be more than happy to snail mail them to you. Send me your address via e-mail. Use this e-mail address and not the one on my profile, it is not working.

jknives@gamewood.net



------------------
If a man can keep alert and imaginative, an error is a possibility, a chance at something new; to him, wandering and wondering are a part of the same process. He is most mistaken, most in error, whenever he quits exploring.

William Least Heat Moon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top