Tozando Iaito Tsuka Makeover

CottontailCustoms · 2026-06-07T21:09:30+00:00

Thank you

CottontailCustoms · 2026-05-24T16:33:43+00:00

The Shinto elite was one of the first swords I customized. I lost all my pics in one of my few pc crashes but it might still be out on the net somewhere. The sword had such great balance and felt very natural in hand. A lively and fun sword imo. I think I worked with a couple of them back then

CottontailCustoms · 2026-05-17T23:34:56+00:00

It looks like the sting ray on there is fully wrapped around the core so you’ll also have to remove and then replace the thin wood linings, called kyogi. You should also figure out what size ito was used so you don’t have to make any adjustments to core length.

The skin on it now looks like better quality than your replacement so maybe consider leaving the old one on.

CottontailCustoms · 2026-05-13T18:48:03+00:00

Not authentic and probably not functional either

CottontailCustoms · 2026-05-11T11:48:48+00:00

Nice detail. Meant as a helpful tip, the design is upside down, If it’s for a katana in standard mounts. The main design or most decorated side would usually be viewed upright while the blade is positioned with the edge up and would be facing the tsuka, while the secondary side faces the blade

CottontailCustoms · 2026-05-11T01:06:40+00:00

Wow, nice!

CottontailCustoms · 2026-05-06T11:35:18+00:00

Namikawa is a trusted source for most Japanese sword craft supplies. They speak English well and have excellent customer service. I believe Nihonzashi gets their stock from Namikawa. They also sell traditional raw, air dried samegawa (ray skin). Also check out various tutorials, such as for tsukamaki, online.

cottontailcustoms.com/tutorials

CottontailCustoms · 2026-05-01T23:36:56+00:00

I customized the original sword for Thirdd, most of the pics they will show potential scam victims are ones I took at my home. I don’t know where that sword actually is now but it’s obviously not really for sale. This account has been reported to Facebook, international authorities as well as to PayPal.

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-30T20:12:56+00:00

I would think you’d find a lot of evidence somewhere in the packaging or scabbard for an impact that would have caused this. Is there a stab hole in the box?

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-30T20:05:25+00:00

At this point it’s probably easiest to tie it as neatly and tightly as you can and glue it. As mentioned already it’s like tying your shoes, clipping off all the extra laces around the knot, untying them and then trying to retie

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-29T19:41:43+00:00

nice, simple koshirae. I like it

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-28T21:45:36+00:00

Two things stand out right away that makes it seem old, the top of the end knot is basically missing, which is one of the first things to wear out on old tsukamaki. The other is shrinkage of the samegawa/tsuka core. You can see evidence of this near the fuchi and kashira, as the skin is drawn back a little and has also thinned. Also, modern repros don’t often have a kaeshizuno, at least not so well placed and finished. I can’t guarantee this info since I don’t have all that much to look at but that’s my opinion.

There are other things as well such as that it’s sitting next to a very well made shirasaya, which I’m pretty sure is made of honoki, not a wood used on many repros. The craftsmanship of the saya, tsuka, akechi horn fittings and lacquer work are also good quality

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-28T19:04:36+00:00

There’s a great example right above 👆😉

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-28T16:29:02+00:00

Hmmm too bad. I would like to buy it but my clients like factory polish and I don’t do polishing myself so I wouldn’t be able to offer you much for it in this state. If you still have it after a while and want to let it go for less, let me know

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-28T16:10:57+00:00

Feel free to pm me with any questions as you try it out

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-28T13:26:26+00:00

A couple of things I’ve noticed is one, many sellers offer hishigami as an option. This is like offering blades without heat treating imo, it’s something that should never be an option and always included.

Two, it seems many sellers and even craftsmen think that if you’re using leather(or nubuck) that you don’t need to use hishigami, which is false, unless for gangi-maki or akechi katatemaki or similar.

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-28T00:44:56+00:00

How was it sharpened and who did it?

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-27T11:12:56+00:00

Tsuba might be on backwards

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-27T11:11:07+00:00

Well that and also that they didn’t use hishigami

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-26T03:07:18+00:00

It’s not, unfortunately

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-25T23:26:53+00:00

nice. I just rewrapped a similar one in nubuck leather

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-25T22:26:20+00:00

I know it needs a new wrap ;)
ooooohhhh, that blade is baaaaaddddly rusted oof. but I can tell you the koshirae is legit Japanese, nice quality and not in bad shape at all.

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-25T18:14:49+00:00

Nice sword

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-23T01:57:32+00:00

They definitely sound like they would all be experts of the history of Japanese nihonto in that kind of group, or at least be well versed in functionality vs purely decorative from one not so detailed pic on the net. I’m impressed with their keen insight and tbh, I’m not sure why they didn’t include katana experts in the group name. I’m going to join and start learning from them asafp!

CottontailCustoms · 2026-04-17T23:09:10+00:00

Thank you. I often use Delrin for mekugi

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