Saya internals

[MadMaxxxOZ]

Hi folks. I have another newbie question for you. Does anyone have a picture or diagram of the inside of a Saya? I find myself wondering what exactly, if anything, guides the blade and what make that lovely sound on withdrawing or replacing the sword?

 

Thanks.

[The Blacksmith]

There are two wooden liners in the military metal saya. I had a beautiful and rather unusual Shin-Gunto katana, and when I took the liners out they were absolutely covered in kanji. Unfortunately I never got round to translating them, somethinbg that I deeply regret.

[robinalexander]

Hi Max, 

 

Here are a couple of Type 95 inserts FYI.

 

Not sure about the sound you refer to though, I am a little 'deef' but I think all mine are pretty quite.

 

Rob

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes,

If the sound you are referring to is the lovely silence of blade sliding on wood, then we understand! But if you mean Hollywoods notorious "Schwingggg", then that, my friend, is pure fiction.

 

This is the only diagram I have, there may be better one's out there:

 

 

Here is a photo of one of my mantetsu with the liner out.

 

[Bruce Pennington]

I haven't made a practice of getting shots of the opening of the saya, but I did find one of a kaigunto.  You can see how the blade would only make contact with the wood not the metal koiguchi.

[Scogg]

The wooden interior is something I've wondered about myself! Thank you @Bruce Pennington for that diagram and photos. I've been messing around with wood projects, so this interests me. 

A few questions if you remember from dismantling your Mantetsu:
- Any idea on the type of wood used?
- Are the inserts glued together at any point?
- Or are they simply held together with tension by the exterior metal saya?
- Is that a small wooden peg/notch on the kissaki end?

Thanks again,
Cheers,
-Sam

[The Blacksmith]

I cannot answer for Bruce's sword of course, but the sword that I referred to earlier, they were two separate pieces that simply sat in the says. In the case of the saya mentioned here, it was an aluminium Shin-Gunto saya.

The blade slid in effortlessly, and without any sound at all.

[Bruce Pennington]

Sam,

Rob probably has more experience with them than me.  That one with the butterfly lock/notch at the end was unique.  Most of them have smooth ends that simply, like Russ said, slide in and out.  Rob could tell you what type of wood they used too.  I know it's been mentioned on various threads.

[Scogg]

Thank you Bruce and @The Blacksmith . That’s interesting and helps. I’ll dig around the forum some more too

 

thanks again! 
cheers,

-Sam 

[MadMaxxxOZ]

Thanks Gentlemen, very helpful and informative. The level of knowledge and expertise here is amazing.