Parts of the Japanese Sword Saya (Sheath. Usually made of honoki wood, a type of magnolia) -Koiguchi (Saya opening. Carps mouth. Sometimes reinforced) -Kurigata (Cord knob. Used to fasten the sageo to the saya) -Sageo (The cord used to affix the katana to the obi, to tie the tsuka and sword into the saya for transport, etc) -Kojiri (Cap at the end of the saya, used to protect the wood from damage. Sometimes horn, sometimes metal) Tsuka (Handle. Core is also ideally honoki) -Kashira/Fuchi (Pommel/upper grip ring. Often matching in theme) -Tsuka-ito (Handle wrap. Ideally silk, sometimes leather. More often than not, it is cotton, immitation leather, or nylon on modern made blades) -Samegawa (Rayskin between the tsuka core and ito. NOT MANTA RAY! Usually cow nosed ray, or a type of Japanese skate or one of the many species of shark in Japanese waters. Applied traditionally in panels or a full wrap) -Mekugi (Security pin/rivet. Usually bamboo, though metal versions called neji menuki/mekugi, which act like Chicago screws, were sometimes used instead. Well made tsuka need one or none, as the friction of the nakago and tsuka core is enough to lock it in. Two or more is unneccessary, unless the tsuka is very poorly made. Tapered, so inswertion is directional) -Menuki (Handle ornaments. Originally used to hide mekugi, they are now mostly for decoration, though some ryu-ha have menuki placed in the palm of the hands when gripped so that the tsuka fills the palm cavity better ...
Tags: Katana, nihonto, parts, koshirae, shinogu, kissaki, hamon, saya, tsuka
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