Koryu Crafts:
Katana & Wakizashi Tsukamaki
Our Tsukamaki Services
There’s a reason silk ito is the standard for handle wrapping: it’s beautiful, durable, and holds up well under the rigors of regular use. Because silk will stretch tight during the wrapping process without breaking, this material also allows for a tighter wrap that will not shift as you practice throughout the years.
Silk ito also comes in the widest variety of colors. Choose something that reflects your personal aesthetic while retaining a traditional look and feel. Choose from our wide selection of ito to achieve the look you’re seeking.
A note on ito width: silk ito comes in different widths for different kinds of projects.
Katana tsuka: 10mm width
Wakizashi tsuka: 8mm width
Tanto tsuka: 6mm width
Leather ito typically comes in only one width, so if you want to maintain different ito widths for different handles in a daisho, then silk is your best option.
Nubuck is a durable wrapping material that is as beautiful as it is perfect to the touch. It has a softer feel and comes in some unique colors that are not available in silk.
A word for practitioners: nubuck by nature tends to show more of the hand oil, dirt, and sweat from regular training than other materials. It’s a luxurious leather that is perfect for displaying your favorite sword. The material feels great for practice — it almost “grabs” you back! — and will last well over time, but it will darken where you hold it faster than other materials.
Samegawa is the ray skin that sits beneath the wrap. It’s an extremely resilient material and the rough surface of a quality skin helps to hold the wrap in place.
Sword manufacturers will often save money on their production costs by using the cheapest possible grade of samegawa, or even substituting it for a cheap plastic. An undiscerning public won’t know the difference, but sword practitioners and aficionados will notice immediately.
Samegawa can only be replaced when your tsuka is unwrapped, so this is the perfect time to order this add-on service. I’ll upgrade your samegawa to a crisp, white, high-quality ray skin that will complement a quality wrap perfectly and show the sword world that you care about the details.
I offer three colors:
White: the classic choice that best shows off the texture and quality of the samegawa.
Black: another traditional choice, black samegawa helps the ito to “pop” against the dark background and puts more attention on the wrap itself. Functionally, it has the same durability and functionality.
Antiqued: antiqued samegawa takes on a more aged, slightly brownish hue. It is not antique, but rather is colored to look that way. Functionality and durability is not affected in any way. It is simply an aesthetic choice.
A note:
I’m not doing full wrap samegawa right now, only panels.
This is the material that I consider to be the best of the best. It’s what I choose for my own sword handles because it’s soft and luxurious while standing the test of time as well or better than other materials. It’s difficult to find, and is available in a limited supply of colors. However, this material will truly be the envy of fellow practitioners.
Deer skin provides the perfect upgrade to your aesthetic: it’s beautiful and practical without being ostentatious. As appropriate in both the museum as on the dojo floor, this rare handle treatment provides a top-of-the-line look and feel that you’ll appreciate for years to come.
Ben Couch, Tsukamakishi
Koryu Crafts is a one-person endeavor that aims to provide practitioners with the highest-quality, most durable wraps that will last for years of use.
When I started training in Japanese sword arts, I grew frustrated with how long it took to get a quality rewrap of my various tsuka. If I wanted someone who would do an excellent job, the waiting list was months at best, years at worst. I started learning to wrap handles because — well — I’m an impatient person! Maybe you are too. If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Fortunately, my teacher was an excellent tsukamakishi himself, and he was willing to teach me. I spent several years as his student, learning the fine points of the craft.
I originally started Koryu Crafts in 2016 to support the sword community in our mutual practice and appreciation of quality work. After several years and a lot of fun projects, I needed to reclaim some time in my personal and professional life, so I went on sabbatical.
Now, I’m opening my queue again to provide fast, high quality wrapping services for practitioners who need a handle rewrapped, an upgrade to their handle, or a new aesthetic.
