Making a spare tsuka without the blade

[groyn]

Re: Getting new koshirae made in Japan without the hassle of transporting the blade. I'm going to Japan in February and I will have the opportunity for new koshirae to be made using some fittings I already have. If a blade already has koshirae, can a new set be made for it without the blade, just using the existing tsuka/new tsuba/saya as a template? If the existing tsuka and saya were dismantled could the slots for the nakago and blade be reverse-templated for a new tsuka and saya? I'm not bothered if the old tsuka/saya cannot be reassembled. Thank you for any insights.

Roy

[ROKUJURO]

Roy,

I don't think that would work. The craftsmen in Japan would need a "positive" model. What you could ask them is if a well made wooden TSUNAGI could possibly help in this case, but I doubt it.

In the past I have made such a TSUNAGI from steel for a customer (I am a bladesmith), but of course I had the blade as template. 

[Alex A]

Agree with Jean,

 

You considered getting it done in UK?

[Schneeds]

I've been wondering if anyone has ever tried using Lidar software and 3D printed a blade for this purpose.  In a controlled environment with a small object it's incredibly precise.  I would test it out but I don't, and never will, have an iPhone.  

[Salvatori Moretto]

That would have been my suggestion as well, have a 3d template crafted that matches your nakago exactly. I almost took such a commision a few years back and would have had no issues with it. 

Though with the entire blade not being present to get a good feel for the balance and look as you carve a new tsuka it may still be beneficial for them to have the old tsuka for those reasons? ( while starting to carve tsuka, before I decide where to do the chanel for the nakago relative to how I plan to angel the outside of the tsukas shape, I will check multiple times the angle at which the handle seems to be aligned with the overall blade shape, length, sori, etc to ensure it flows properly with the blade/saya.)

 

Just my two cents

[groyn]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I did think it would be tricky and require a certain level of skill or technology to pull it off. Agree with Salvatore re balance and they would have the old tsuka and saya for reference. I could try to get it done in the UK of course, but the forthcoming trip to Japan just had me wondering about the possibilities. It would be no great shakes to take the tsuka and saya and fittings with me anyway and see if they’ll give it a go. The worst that could happen is they can’t/won’t do it and I just bring it all back to have it done in the UK. 
Roy

Edited November 25 by groyn
Typo

[Tohagi]

Hello,

 

The urushi process will take almost 2 mounth and 1/2 for a squilled sayashi. You should try a good Smith in Belgium or UK...

 

Best regards,

 

Éric 

[groyn]

Hi Eric, you're right. If doable, I was going to leave it there and pick it up on my next trip or have a friend bring it back for me.

Roy