Another Opinion

[Brian Brazier]

Hey all, my next perchase from SOM is going to be the Bushido Set from Paul Chen. And once I get them I was going to have the tsuka rewrapped in the same color brown silk, I was also thinking of replacing the Mekugi with these
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t97/bbrazierkendo/Menuki_Aoi_Small.jpg
and I was wondering if anyone had an opinon, or knew of a better set of Mekugi for those swords

[rick]

those look pretty cool. where did you get them?

[Brian Brazier]

I havent bought them yet but they are availible here http://nihonzashi.com/Menuki.htm

[rick]

just wondering why brown???

[Firehand10k]

Actually looking at the little flower inlays in the saya I think those mekugi will be very nice there. Are you going to get it wrapped so the center disk is fully displayed?

[bobO]

Brian,Like those,I'm thinking battle wrap for my kat.Are you going to have Justice do it!

[Mako]

Very nice Brian...looks like the Tokugawa Shogunate mon.



http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/JonFury/180px-Mitsubaaoisvg1.png

[Travis Morris]

I think you shold get these: Ushiwaka Menuki

Stick more to the "samurai/bushido" theme

[Brian Brazier]

Rick, I really like the swords as they are, that is why I will go with the same colors, I just want silk to make it more traditional, and to personalize them. Not sure which wrap I will go with yet. Fred Lohman also has these http://www.japanese-swords.com/menuki-gallery/frameset.htm looking at #17 and or #51 a little pricy but I am only gonna do this once

[bobO]

Brian,My two cents.I like the first ones you picked,like the ones Travis picked.I like the Kenmaki ,The bottom one of the two,and the Daikoku(I like Koi).But I love the Mnt.Fuji ,very classy,very japanese.IMO. Are you going to "reverse" the menuki?Can't wait to see this done!

[Brian Brazier]

probably wont reverse the menuki, I would like to keep it as traditional as possible, of course I will share lots of pics of before and after. Does anyone know if the Katana and Wakizashi traditionally share the same Menuki? I am not sure, if not I will probably get the Mt. Fuji for the Katana, and the one of the samurai themed for the Wakizashi. I will also get silk sageo for all three eventually, but my main focus is getting the tsuka finished first

[bobO]

Brian go here.Http;//www2.una.edu/Takeuchi/Drt_Jpn...atate_maki.htm I don't know how to link,sorry,hope this helps.

[Brian Brazier]

after reading a few different articles (thanks for the address bobo) it is my understanding that it really doesn't matter which side they are on, traditionally they were to cover up the Mekugi Ana, but that is no longer in practice, so I guess I will reverse them so the Menuki are in my palms, I like the feel of that better anyways. Still not sure if they matched, but I will scour the net tomorrow for an answer

[bobO]

Brian,your welcome.Yeah I always liked the gyaku Te placement.As to everything matching,I bet it was one of those deals,where the well off guys stuff matched and everyone else just put there swords together the best they good.Now I'm just quessing here.I know where to go to find out,just gotta work up my nerve to go there.I just know there gonna tell me to ask my sensei.Brian go to SFI,then goto nihonto,Theres the answer,it's what I thought.Or just hit new posts you''ll see it .

[Brian Brazier]

SFI was my next step, I have an accout there, I just havent had the time to post the question

[bobO]

Well I posted the question on the nihon-to forum on SFI,we got 1 reply.Some guy posted that he was going to start his own style,so there pretty busy tearing this poor guy a new one!They'd rather do that then answer a legit question.

[Brian Brazier]

Figures, I will talk with Fred Lohman after the Holidays, and check around SFI

[bobO]

O-kay,What do you guys think of a new tsuka core full same wrap,dyed black.battle wrap( silk midnight blue) ,menuki in middle.For right around 300 bucks.Think I'm gonna have to go with this.Same will have emperor node apparent.

[Brian Brazier]

that is a steal IMO, I would rather pay someone to do quality work on my stuff than wing it myself. What sword will this be going on? Who is doing the work?

[Brian Brazier]

I also found someone that makes custom sword bags on SFI, I will be getting one for each of the set in this pattern and color
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t97/bbrazierkendo/ebay20017.jpg

[rick]

very very nice

[Brian Brazier]

Also once I get the tsuka re-wrapped, with the new menuki, and new mekugi, I may have to get one of these to display them http://www.cashanwei.com/product_details.asp?id=AH2081&mg=0 I think the colors will go well, and it doubles as a sword stand