Thanks. This research will help me with a joint project with my nephew. His " coming of age" ceremony is " make a blade" using a mixture of modern and traditional techniques. ( He jumped into the deep end and went with a kodachi/ wakizashi build. That sweet summer child. 😂)

@michaelrizzo5523

4 ай бұрын

Nice! I'd love to see how it comes out!

This is awesome! This is exactly what I needed to see as I'm about to make a new tsuka for a blade. Excellent and full of tips and legible, understandable directions.

@michaelrizzo5523

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad it was helpful!

Thank you for these patient care instructions, Sword Doctor Mike. Im sure i will need them.

Those diamonds looked really good. You mentioned using super glue, I use a hypodermic needle to inject the glue into the knots. Man, it really stiffens up a knot.

I get to the part where I tie it to the "itto" like in part 11:13

Nice to see other knot variants. Would you say you consider the classic knot delicate from design or just the ones on chinese reproductions? I lacquer all my tsukamaki jobs with water based poly, been meaning to ask you what you used on your type 94.

@michaelrizzo5523

Жыл бұрын

The knots on Japanese nihonto seem better done than what I've dealt with in reproductions, which may be technique, quality of the cord material or both. Purists swear by them, and they're pretty much mandatory. Even old gunto ito seems to fail more often somewhere other than the end knots. I've been using thin polyurethane lacquer recently, as it soaks into the ito and sort of "starches" it without making it feel polymerized or change the appearance. Back when I did the 94, the odd recommendation around the dojo was clear nail polish, which is thick stuff. It kept those old laces in place (a lot of the originals were slipping badly or straight-up unraveling from age and abuse) but gave a very "plastic" feel. I regret doing it, but it's kept the sword solid and functional. Amusingly, my 98 ito, lacquered the same way, disintegrated when I was gripping the sword with my wedding ring on--the ring cut through it like a chisel. There's probably a lesson there.

@pablosoto9636

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelrizzo5523 I noticed that silk tends to become more " plastic like" when lacquered compared to cotton, which gets a rough texture. I have to say though, I dig that polimerized look on silk ito especially for an antique look, so I really like the look on your type 94.

Great video! I like to use plastic sewing yarn needles too,along with flat screwdriver and tape the end of ito when doing the ending hold knot.

@michaelrizzo5523

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yes, things get easier with some pokey-pushy-pully but not shreddy-rippy tools to help shape the ito as you go. Now if I could just figure out a better tool for sageo presentation knots. Crochet hook?

@samuraibyrd

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelrizzo5523 thats what i used before j figured out how to with just my fingers

@jayjohnson3160

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelrizzo5523 is it bad that I use chopsticks ? It just works really well. I do have some crochet hooks though I could try. I need to practice sageo knots more.

@michaelrizzo5523

Жыл бұрын

@@jayjohnson3160 I do use chopsticks for sageo knots, but it still can be a struggle.

excellent idea thinking out of the box in trimming the wood core, will also benefit the grip, but will it make the wood "thinner" less durable? very much enjoyed this

@michaelrizzo5523

Жыл бұрын

I only take off a few mm. It was a huge concern on historic swords with short tangs, but these mostly full-length reproductions are pretty well supported.

Great vid mr Rizzo!, I hope it saves a lot of swords😁

@michaelrizzo5523

Жыл бұрын

I know a lot of folks are reluctant to send a $200 sword to a pro for work.

@armoredsweatpants3997

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelrizzo5523 not to mention, where do you find a pro?, there’s no “Ken’s katanamart” down the road😞

@michaelrizzo5523

Жыл бұрын

@@armoredsweatpants3997 Back in the 70s and 80s, I just had to figure this all out, reverse engineer. Today, well, there are folks in our sword community who know a trusted pro who will put thousands of dollars work into a thousands of dollars sword, and it's true art, but that ain't in my budget. Plus, I like not worrying if my sword gets beat up during use.

I'd like to get a Japanese style sword again. But the menuki will need to swap sides or I'll go crazy. So.. I've just faced the fact that it's up to me to do it. Sigh..

@michaelrizzo5523

5 ай бұрын

Your best bet for getting palm-side menuki (also a preference of mine) is on a reproduction gunto or tachi, but that's not consistent. I think I've re-wrapped nearly half of my current 30+ Japanese style swords because I didn't like the taper, koshirae, factory wrap and/or menuki placement.

@uticacrib1664

5 ай бұрын

@@michaelrizzo5523 Yeah, I'm looking at a Ronin Ko Katana. Something less unwieldy. I had a Cheness Oniyuri years ago, and really appreciated it in its own right. But alas, Cheness is no more due to the Covid economy.

oh my god...gruesome