Very Tight Wakizashi saya

[Robert C. Walker]

I recently received a wakizashi and I am pursuing learning more about it. The saya that came with it fits too tightly and it appears impossible to fully sheath the sword (I have not tested whether it is actually impossible or not). Is it common for a saya to become too tight over time? Does anyone have advice on possible solutions?

[Brian]

Robert,

 

Judging by this pic when edited, I would say that it isn't the original saya at all, and forcing it will probably do damage to the blade.

Maybe during the war when this was acquired, it didn't have a saya and one was picked up that was a close fit to transport it. This is fairly common, and the saya could have been for another sword.

The best way to proceed would be to have a shirasaya made for it, and display the original koshirae separately.

Otherwise one of the craftsmen could make a new saya to match.

There are links to some of the guys on the links page under restoration.

 

Brian

[Brian]

Hmm..on second though, it might just be the correct scabbard. :?

Looks a fraction short, but the sugata seems to match.

There could be some material inside the scabbard interfering with the fit. I think the only way to sort this out would be to take it to someone who could split, clean, rejoin and re-laqueur the saya. Have you tried to gently tap the mouth on a piece of rubber or cloth to see if anything falls out?

The other thing to check is if it goes in all the way without the habaki. Try it without this, and see if it seats to the correct depth. It might be the habaki that is too wide for the current carved area, and this would be easier to remedy.