Kurikata questions

[Drago]

Hi,

 

I have a couple of questions about Kurikata placement and fitting:

1. Where to place it? I heard from Iaido people it should be placed one hand below the guchi so that the pinky lies on the Kurikata. Is that true?

2. How are metal Kurikata fitted? I know they are put on a wooden core, but do you have detail pictures?

3. What do you do if the curvature of the saya (circumference) and the curvature of the Kurikata don't match?

 

Thanks.

[Ruben]

Hi Drago,

 

I just can answear your first question partly. So in old days most were mounted 6-9 cm from the koiguchi, I belive.

For me its like this, when I´am squeezing my palm the sword should unlock. I mean when my left thump(maybe indexfinger as well, depends on the style) is placed on the tsuba, it should open just with the squeezing movement of the left hand. So the distance should a bit less than the broughtest part of your palm.

It´s the most usefull way to draw a sword in my opinion and has many advantages.

 

Best regards

 

ruben

[Geraint]

Interesting question. I have looked again at the swords I have with metal kurikata and the answer seems to be that they may be glued to the wooden core which itself is glued to the slot cut in the saya but the shitodome lock the kurikata to the core as well, passing through the holes in the metal body and then through the corresponding hole in the wooden core.

Hope that helps.