Zebulon Vitruvius Pike (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dime_novel_hero) wrote2013-03-03 04:23 pm
dime_novel_hero) wrote2013-03-03 04:23 pm
Entry tags:
Katana resheathing
My steampunk persona spent nearly a year in Japan on behalf of the U.S. Aeroship Cavalry observing the Boshin War and advising the Emperor's generals on things aeronautical. I have wanted to incorporate some international elements into my apparel and have thus far not been any more successful than having a Chinese dragon patterned vest, (he also spent time attached to the U.S. Navy's Asiatic Squadron patrolling the Yangtze River and hunting pirates in the East China Sea) and a fez, (he was at the opening of the Suez Canal).
I have a katana (a mediocre replica) and thought to wear it with my cavalry uniform rather than the cavalry saber I already have. (Actually it's a Model 1850 Field Officer's Sword rather than the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Sword.) I wear a cavalry sash, which would pass for the way the sword is traditionally worn by the samurai tucked in the cloth belt, but it wouldn't work with the issue belt and holster. My cavalry saber hangs off the belt and I could build something similar to hang the katana, much like the "Western" style swords and hangers of the Second World War, but that would take more work and I'm not sure I could make it the way I want. The other option I thought of was to tie the cords found on traditional katanas (called sageo), but add a few rings to attach to the sword hangers.
Last night I had a flash of inspiration. Would the katana fit inside the saber sheath?
No. It wouldn't.
But it was a very near thing because the cavalry saber would fit inside the katana's scabbard, just not the other way around. The curve of the blades were identical but the katana blade was just slightly thicker. I thought perhaps I could file out the scabbard opening a little bit but that was insufficient.
I dismantled the katana by knocking out the pin holding the grip to the blade to make sure it would be as easy as I thought it would be. Then I went to the hardware store and got a piece of wood 1/8" thick and about a foot an a half long. I laid that out and cut it down to match the tang of the katana and the blade of the saber. I then filed it into the triangular blade cross-section so that it would fit into the grip and the sheath. It took some trial and error but wood files easily and, as it would be completely hidden, appearances counted for nothing. In about an hour It was complete.
The final product has a number of advantages. Not only does the katana look unique and add to the steampunkiness of the look when matched with the Civil War-era cavalry uniform, at conventions it will not raise the ire or con security because there is not an actual sword blade in the sheath. Not even a dull one. There is a slight fragility to it because it is a thin piece of wood. Hopefully I can keep it from breaking because, if id does, it will be quite a challenge to pull the blade from out of the sheath. I may cut it shorter to lessen the difficulty should that occur.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
I have a katana (a mediocre replica) and thought to wear it with my cavalry uniform rather than the cavalry saber I already have. (Actually it's a Model 1850 Field Officer's Sword rather than the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Sword.) I wear a cavalry sash, which would pass for the way the sword is traditionally worn by the samurai tucked in the cloth belt, but it wouldn't work with the issue belt and holster. My cavalry saber hangs off the belt and I could build something similar to hang the katana, much like the "Western" style swords and hangers of the Second World War, but that would take more work and I'm not sure I could make it the way I want. The other option I thought of was to tie the cords found on traditional katanas (called sageo), but add a few rings to attach to the sword hangers.
Last night I had a flash of inspiration. Would the katana fit inside the saber sheath?
No. It wouldn't.But it was a very near thing because the cavalry saber would fit inside the katana's scabbard, just not the other way around. The curve of the blades were identical but the katana blade was just slightly thicker. I thought perhaps I could file out the scabbard opening a little bit but that was insufficient.
I dismantled the katana by knocking out the pin holding the grip to the blade to make sure it would be as easy as I thought it would be. Then I went to the hardware store and got a piece of wood 1/8" thick and about a foot an a half long. I laid that out and cut it down to match the tang of the katana and the blade of the saber. I then filed it into the triangular blade cross-section so that it would fit into the grip and the sheath. It took some trial and error but wood files easily and, as it would be completely hidden, appearances counted for nothing. In about an hour It was complete.
The final product has a number of advantages. Not only does the katana look unique and add to the steampunkiness of the look when matched with the Civil War-era cavalry uniform, at conventions it will not raise the ire or con security because there is not an actual sword blade in the sheath. Not even a dull one. There is a slight fragility to it because it is a thin piece of wood. Hopefully I can keep it from breaking because, if id does, it will be quite a challenge to pull the blade from out of the sheath. I may cut it shorter to lessen the difficulty should that occur.Not bad. Not bad at all.