tsuka wrapping video

A

artcreek

BANNED
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
74
Has any one seen or purchased a new video by kirby lambert ??? do yourself a favor dont but it.! the lighting was bad and he used a dark samekawa and a dark ito ? you could not see any detail of what he was doing kept dropping tools ,almost cut himself and kept saying any way you want to do it is ok ? In my opinion its not ok tsukamakie is an art form and knots are tied a certain way. He did not tie any knots he just filled kashira with glue , he called kashira a "headcracker" I knew I wasted my money right then.I purchased a good video from walter sorrels what a difference . I guess some people will do anything for a buck. Money is nothing when your reputation is on the line. the guy is a real novice...................JIM
 
I didnt realize Mr Lambert made Japanese swords.
From what I can see, he does an approximation of Tsukamaki using resin impregnated cord wrap. I couldnt find reference to a Tsukamaki video on his website either....

Mr Sorrels on the other hand makes Japanese swords, and appears to wrap them traditionally.

If I were looking to purchase a video on how to wrap a Tsuka, the choice would be somewhat obvious to me.
 
Hello, I know walter personally and his video will be out in several weeks, mr lamperts video was terrible I call it gluecamaki not even close to a real wrap. what is unfortunate is there is not a lot of info about the subject especially if you want to learn some different styles. the ura and omote knots are the best looking feature of tsuka wrap to leave those out, is comparable to leaving out the hamon on your tanto. But, that is my opinion I could be wrong I do know what looks good ........ Bubba-san
 
token kono has a very good tsukamaki video. step by step with good lighting with only a few frames out of focus.
 
I think you're on of the few people in the community who'd call Kirby Lambert a novice. Sorry you didn't like his video, but your personal relationship with Walter Sorrels makes the bashing sound more like promotion to me. I'd recommend Scott Slobodian's book or his old BLADE magazine article on wrapping tsuka - yes I'm friends with him and no I'm not bashing anyone else's materials.

Complaining about tsuka-ito cost and saying it's the same thing as shoestring doesn't exactly add to your reputation for being able to sniff out amateurs in the Japanese arena.
 
Hello acrid, With all due respect when it comes to wrapping japanese sword tsuka he does,t seem very professional but, that is my opinion I could be wrong.I don't know kirby personally . Have you seen the video yourself ?? you absolutly cannot see what he is doing he uses black ito and black samekawe it's not very clear. had he have used a lighter ito it would have been fine ! I also have some bad news for you Ito cord is made on same machine as shoestrings. go to www.nwbackpack.com. I have been mak... ps when you get to site put in ( nylon lace)
 
I think it's important to understand that what Kirby and many others are doing with the resin-coated wrapping technique is not offered as tsukamaki. It simply borrows parts of the authentic technique and implements them in a new form, much like the "Americanized tanto" holds little with Japanese tradition but takes some flavor from their designs.

One certainly doesn't have to like them, but there's little sense condemning them as failed renditions of authentic because they are not intended to be so.

Thanks for that Token Konno lead, Bill! I think I'm going to order that video today just to see how it's done authentically. I only recently learned "gluecamaki" (I love that name, Jim! :) ) and am intrigued to see how tsukamaki is done.
 
Mike has better words than mine.

Scott told me that he believes everything we do outside of Japan is a close approximation at best. Many makers aren't interested in doing a wholly traditional wrap because so much of their sword is not traditional. Few of us are using ho wood, nor are we using tamahagane, freshly collected rain water or age-old family secret clay. Most makers are using poplar or ash, 10 series or w series steels, brine or fast oil, satanite or A.P. Green's. The videos and articles the knife makers are putting out about doing handles isn't generally for people who restore authentic nihon-tou.

The ito may indeed be made on the same machine, but it's not the same thing. Shoe string refuses to flatten the way ito does. That's just my opinion, but maybe I'm using the wrong shoe strings.

I don't know Kirby Lambert personally, but I know his knives. I know that he's very well respected because he makes a nice blade. I don't have a problem with legitimate criticisms of the video (in fact I welcome them because I haven't seen it) but it looked to me like writing went beyond critical review. If I was off base then I owe an apology.
 
I understand what you mean and I appreciate kirbys art for arts sake and I think he could probably do an authentic wrap without too much problem I try and make all of my blades from imported chinese style tamehagane when I can get . I am too dam old to forge myself anymore and building an authentic tatara and then tearing it up when you are through is rediculus.I always use japanese ho wood for my saya and tsuka.It is so easy to carve nothing like it i know of. I have outfitted quite a few forged tamehagane blades with vintage hardware fittings ,it is a way of getting rid of all that stuff I collected over the years . Plus It looks great! I do use satanite .the shoestrings are truly flat and are made for backpacking . When I was younger I was in yokosuka,japan and I was trying to find some for a project and I did not know any japanese, when I tried to convey what wanted and it seemed futile using hand signs ,then two of the guys standing there laughed and pointed to my feet and said "shoestrings " Kirby is probably a very good artisan I just am more of a purists traditional as much as possible. no apolgy needed. domo arigato Jeimuza. they used to call me bubba-san
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top