How to remove leather covering on WWII shin-gunto saya?

[grapppa]

I would like to remove the leather covering on the scabbard. The leather is somewhat pliable but not enough to remove the leather without destroying it. Any suggestions?

[Henry Wilson]

My suggestion would be to not remove it if you are going to destroy it.

 

Why do you want to remove it?

[grapppa]

I want to display the sword ex the leather. I would be surprised if no one ever wanted to remove the leather (intact of course). ... and hasnt done so successfully...

[Brian]

Paul,

 

Check out this thread:

http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessa ... .php?t=973

I only know how to remove the covers that have the snaps at the top, and were removable.

The others seem to be shrunk on permanently, and removing them would involve unpicking the threads and basically destroying it.

I am one of those that advocates leaving it on as part of it's history. Sorry I can't help more.

 

Brian

[pcfarrar]

They often have just plain wooden scabbards underneath so it wouldn't exactly look good for display.

 

Unless yours has a nice lacquered old saya?

[grapppa]

The scabbard underneath is metal with ornate decorations at the ends...

[Guest Simon Rowson]

Hi Paul'

 

You said that :

The scabbard underneath is metal with ornate decorations at the ends...

 

Sounds like a standard shin-gunto saya to me and often, rather than being protected from 60 years of dirt and wear by the leather cover (as one might expect), they are corroded to hell when it is removed. Moisture retention I guess.

 

Anyhow, if it's metal then it's definitely not an old laquered saya so I'd leave well alone and display it as it is.

 

Simon

[Stephen]

Ill have to play devil advocate here ...as I usually do...I have removed a few leather covers with various results, if your cover is tatty and falling apart as some do id remove it, it will for the most part be ok, some collectors of military want it untouched some sword collectors always remove it as it makes for a better display. Do what your gut tells you, if you think it'd be better with if off do it. The humidity of Nippon must make them corrode as I have seen few like that in the USA.

[BenoitD]

If you see metal under it, you probably have remove the leather covering already.

 

Do you have pictures of before and after?

 

BenoitD

[grapppa]

No, I havent removed the cover. What I observed was from what I could see on the end. The scabbard is green painted metal.