AMERICAN-FALCONER

Bruce, Thanks for the information on the removal of a sarute. I'm glad I didn't have to learn it the hard way. What's your opinion of using wood from a cigar box to make shims or slats? Also what's your opinion of replacing the leather spacer that has shrunken and hardened with some new thick steerhide? I like your idea of using slivers of popsicle sticks to place inside the wood that's inside the handle already and or also using thin cloth to wrap around the wood. Maybe some pieces cut from an old silk scarf would work. As far as the popsicle sticks, should I use popsicle sticks from Japanese popsicles? LOL I'll be starting this project this coming Saturday. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all your ideas and info. Much appreciated!

I'm listening to all ideas. By the way I think I had a bout of dyslexia when I said this was a type 35. I guess I meant model 1935 and type 95. I had a good conversation with Robert Benson from Honolulu, Hawaii who does restoration on Japanese swords. He had told me that once apart He has used thin wood slats/shims made from cigar box wood. I figure it will also need a new leather washer. I plan to make one using the old one as a template and utilize some thick steer hide like used to make bridals for horses. That should last another 80 years. Robert referred me to the book Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945 Cyclopedia Edition by Jim Dawson, page 191 where it is supposed to display this exact sword disassembled. Anyway this thread has some excellent pictures of the wood insert and that's a pretty damn good start. I'm just a little wary of taking off the sarute and don't want to bend it too much that it breaks either coming off or pressing it back on. As far as that double slotted screw/bolt at the hilt, I plan using two flat tip screw drivers with the exact thickness and length of the slots. You guys have any other recommendations (except leave well enough alone)? As far as pictures of my Copper Handle NCO Shin Gunto, I'm sending a link of where my sword originally came from before I acquired it from it's latest owner who is an NMB member, Tom Clancy of Ireland. http://www.antique-swords.eu/copper-hilted-Japanese-ncos-shin-gunto-katana.html

I'm looking for the Gunto Shuri Genchi Hoshidan to do a house call on a sick Type 35 Copper Hilt Shin Gunto. It's not very ill but has looseness in the hilt. Does the Hoshidan have any repair techniques that I myself could possibly perform or is there a master repairman out there?

i have a copper hilt type 35 shin gunto and the hilt is somewhat loose. any remedy to this?

I have a Japanese NCO Shin Gunto type 35 with a copper hilt. The hilt is loose. Is it possible to make new wood replacement to whatever it is I will find when I disassemble the hilt? is there anyone you might know that can make the wood piece or pieces replacement? Any help would be greatly appreciated.