Kozuka (Utility Knife) questions

[gtstcactus]

I've got a couple of questions regarding Kozuka or the utility knife that some katana or wakizashi have (or have slots for on the saya).

 

Are they made to a "standard" size?

 

I have a wakizashi with a slot for a kozuka and the tsuba accomodates it, however the original kozuka is no longer with the sword. I would like to obtain one preferably of similar age.(I'm told 400 years) (Digital camera is charging I'll post pics soon)

 

So can I just pick one I find for sale be it on ebay or from another member here? Or am I somehow going to have to measure the depth of the slot and find a kozuka that fits my specifications?

 

Sorry if these seem like the answers are obvious,they aren't to me! So any info welcomed!

[Lee Bray]

Kozuka(handle) are of a standard size, however I've found that kogatana(blade) are not.

Kogatana seem to come in two sizes; standard and slightly larger. Both fit the standard kozuka size, though.

So, I'd say you're safe to buy any kozuka you see but exercise a little caution in buying the blade. That said, I think the larger blades are much less common.

[Guido]

Unfortunately "one size fits all" isn't one of the concepts of Kozuka - I learned it the hard way quite some years ago. Measurements (width x length x thickness in mm) can range from 14 x 95 x 4.8 to 15 x 98.5 x 6.8 and any combination thereof and in between. 1 mm is a tiny difference if the slot is wide enough, but buying the nicest (and quite expensive) Kozuka only to find out that it's 1 mm wider than the beautifully lacquered Saya slot is a real bummer, believe me!

[Jean]

Kozuka vary in size. The one used on tanto can be of smaller size (quite frequent)

 

The thickness is important as I had the same misadventure as John