Custom Tsuka Blackened Mokume Black Silk Katate-maki

Custom Tsuka Black Silk Katate-maki | Blackened Brass Mokume Fuchi Kashira | Blackened Brass Kurikara Dragon Menuki | Fully Wrapped Black Samegawa with Emperor Node | Genuine Japanese Silk（正絹）

The Custom Tsuka Black Silk Katate-maki is individually made to suit the customer’s existing Nakago, combining a restrained black colour palette with bold dragon-themed fittings and a traditional battle-inspired wrapping style.

It features Blackened Brass Mokume Fuchi Kashira together with matching Blackened Brass Kurikara Dragon Menuki. The darkened brass finish gives the fittings a subdued, aged character, while the Mokume texture adds visual depth and contrast against the black silk wrapping.

The wooden Tsuka core is fully wrapped with genuine black Samegawa, rather than using individual panels. A prominent Emperor Node is retained within the full Samegawa wrap, adding both a traditional high-grade detail and a distinctive natural feature to the finished handle.

The Tsuka is wrapped with Black Genuine Japanese Silk（正絹） Tsuka-Ito using traditional Katate-maki（片手巻）. This distinctive wrapping style creates alternating exposed sections and tightly secured crossings, giving the handle a strong, martial appearance while maintaining a firm and structured grip.

Combined with the Kurikara Dragon Menuki, darkened brass fittings, black silk and fully wrapped black Samegawa, the finished Tsuka presents a unified and powerful aesthetic with strong traditional Japanese sword character.

Specifications

• Fuchi Kashira: Blackened Brass Mokume Design
• Menuki: Blackened Brass Kurikara Dragon Design
• Tsuka-Ito: Genuine Japanese Silk（正絹）
• Tsuka-Ito Colour: Black
• Tsukamaki: Katate-maki（片手巻）
• Samegawa: Genuine Black Samegawa
• Samegawa Construction: Fully Wrapped
• Emperor Node: Included
• Tsuka Core: Custom Two-Piece Wooden Core
• Production: Individually Made and Hand Finished

Custom-Made for Your Nakago

A properly fitted Tsuka should be made around the geometry of the individual Nakago（茎）, rather than relying on a generic replacement handle.

For customers who cannot conveniently send their complete blade to us, this Tsuka can be produced using detailed photographs and accurate measurements of the existing Nakago.

Please provide:

• Clear photographs of both sides of the Nakago
• Photographs of the Ha-side and Mune-side
• A clear photograph of the Nakago-jiri
• Photographs of the Mekugi-ana from both sides
• Nakago length, width and thickness measurements
• Mekugi-ana diameter and position
• Desired finished Tsuka length

For the best results, photographs should be taken directly above the Nakago with the camera lens perpendicular to its surface. A ruler or digital caliper should be included in selected photographs for scale.

The Tsuka length, external profile and Menuki position can be adjusted according to the individual project.

Remote Fitting

Because the physical Nakago is not available for direct test fitting during production, remote fitting cannot completely replicate the traditional process of repeatedly fitting the Tsuka core directly to the blade.

Accurate photographs and measurements allow the Tsuka to be made specifically around the supplied Nakago geometry rather than using a generic internal profile. However, minor final fitting adjustment may still be required after the completed Tsuka is received.

For customers seeking a higher level of geometric accuracy, a Professional 3D Scan of the Nakago may also be supplied together with reference photographs and key caliper measurements.

Tsuka Core

Our tsuka cores are made from Linden, a wood selected for its excellent balance of strength, stability, light weight, and workability. Among commonly available alternatives, Linden offers one of the closest overall combinations of properties to Japanese Honoki, making it particularly well suited to high-quality tsuka-core construction.

Namikawa Heibei Co.,Ltd. Tsuka-ito Silk 10mm Wide