Tsuka

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Daisho tsuka

As Tsuka ( Jap. ) is called to handle a Japanese sword, Katana , Tachi , Dotanuki , NagamakiNihonto . He is part of the Koshirae and the Shirasaya .

The basic material

The handle is mostly made of wood, but there are also tsuka made of ivory or bone, which were only made as tourist souvenirs in the 19th century . The handle of the Guntō for NCOs could be made of painted aluminum or simple copper .

The upper

The traditional tsuka is usually wrapped with cotton or silk ribbon, but leather can also be used as a tsuka-ito . For an even better grip, a specially folded triangular piece of paper (hishi-gami) is placed under each "diamond". This little paper swells up due to moisture / hand sweat and ideally completely fills the small cavity under the diamond, thereby expanding the winding tension and thus increasing the grip. This tsuka-maki winding is underlaid with same-gawa (鮫 皮), ray skin . The skin is fixed with a rice floss as an adhesive.

Numerous styles are possible for the winding. In wakizashi and especially in tanto , the tsuka-ito was sometimes dispensed with.

Accessories - Kodogu

The handle is also equipped with various metal parts. At the end of the handle, the kashira completes, this could also be made of buffalo horn. At the other end, the foot of the handle , is the fuchi , a metal ring with a base and nakago-ana . This is where the Nakago , the little blade , is introduced. There are two Seppa , small washers, between the base of the blade and the fuchi . The tsuba is mounted between the seppa . A decorative piece of metal, called a menuki , is wrapped under the tsuka-ito on both sides .

Mount the Tsuka

There is a hole in the Nakago, the Mekugi Ana . At the same point there must also be one in the handle. A small bamboo pin , the mekugi , is then stuck through both to hold the blade in place. The mekugi can also be made of horn or metal, but the sword would then hardly be suitable for combat. Modern katana blades are often attached with two mekugi in the handle to improve safety.

With today's decorative weapons, the blade is simply screwed at the end.

Web links

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