Mekugi anna check.

[bobO]

A heads up for us all. I was messing with my DF Katana(which is in pieces still) When I noticed the Mekugi anna had not been deburred at all. This is not a good thing. For one, every time you take your sword apart your scoring a channel on the inside of your tsuka. It also adds quite a bit to the profile of the nagako, this could be why a lot of tsuka's get stuck. Just be sure to check and file them suckers if necessary.

[Brian Brazier]

This is a common problem with production katana's, my PC's have had the same issue, I don't usually take them apart, but if I do that is the first thing I check, good head's up Bobo +1

[Mako]

I posted this pic on the old forum...it's a Chen Bushido bought here in the U.K. from a respected retailer who exchanged it for another and gave a discount without being asked.
The holes in the tsuka were central so you can imagine what a bad fit the nakago was inside and it looks like a small weld was made to patch up the mekugi-ana too.:-O

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/7969/btang11ap3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[bobO]

This is why I take my swords apart and inspect everything. Mako, even the weld is half as#. Buyer beware, Thank goodness for honest merchants.

[Brian Brazier]

Wow that is a colossal mess, it takes real talent to miss the nakago that badly. I took all of my swords apart today and inspected and filed those that needed it

[Taygrd]

Wow, cannot say that I have ever seen one quite like that. Make you wondr how many are like that out there being used without the owner knowing the condition of the nakago.

BobO good point. I have never really thought of that on my purchased swords. I debur my mekugi-ana (oh that sounds bad=))). Take 2 " I debur the mekugi-ana on my blades but have not on the ones I purchased unless I drill a new one.

[RobbyDoom]

Wow, cannot say that I have ever seen one quite like that. Make you wondr how many are like that out there being used without the owner knowing the condition of the nakago.

BobO good point. I have never really thought of that on my purchased swords. I debur my mekugi-ana (oh that sounds bad=))). Take 2 " I debur the mekugi-ana on my blades but have not on the ones I purchased unless I drill a new one.

Does drilling a new mekugi-ana effect the strength of a nakago?

[Taygrd]

Does drilling a new mekugi-ana effect the strength of a nakago?
Holes in the nakago should not weaken it unless it looks like swiss cheese. Quite a bit of nihonto have several holes in the nakago. The number of mekugi-ana do affect the value of the older swords.
On new swords if it it a quenched sword the nakago should still be relatively soft or non-hardned. There could be exceptiions to this, however the goal of the smith is to leave the nakago or tang soft to absorb shock and keep the blade from breaking at the guard. I think that the tsuka or the mekugi would fail long before the nakago would.