Sword Forum Bugei

I recently purchased a Shobu Zukuri Tanto from Bugei, and I just noticed a few days ago that both seppa and the fuchi are a little lose. I'm not sure if it came that way, or if they got jarred loose during a failed cut (or three...). Although they don't slide up and down the blade, they do slide around a few millimeters perpendicularly when very little force is applied. Although the tsuka, tsuba, and habaki are all nice and tight, I am a little concerned that this could be foreshadowing greater problems in the future. Could anyone tell me if this is normal, and if not, how I can go about repairing them?

On an somewhat unrelated note, there are some mild surface scratches on the side of the blade (Hiraji, I believe?) that were undoubtedly sustained during failed cuts. Although they certainly don't compromise the integrity of the blade, they are a little unsightly. Can anyone recommend a reasonably cheap way to polish these off?

Thank you very much!

The slightly loose fittings are probably weather related with temperature and humidity changes you can have expansion and contraction in the wood, combine that with " failed cuts" and you get alittle play in the fit . As for the polish, cutting is a great way to fuz up a blades polish, as your technique improves this will lesson but it is always part of the picture.

A little movement like you describe is completely normal, and is experienced in a lot of the swords I've handled. It is when the little bit of movement is inside the tsuka that a real problem is brewing. Also, if the movement starts to be able to go up and down the blade, that's a problem. From the sounds of what you're experiencing, I wouldn't be worried in the slightest. The biggest thing to watch out for is if the nakago gets loose inside the tsuka. If that isn't happening, you're fine to use it.

As for the scratches, the only way to avoid them is to not cut with the sword. If you plan on cutting with it, then you'll just have to live with them. The only way to get them out is to have someone do a finishing polish on the blade. The thing is, you'll ruin it with your first cut. Each time you polish it, you'll be removing steel, so you don't want to polish it all the time.

You should see the blade on my Samurai! If you think you have unsightly scratches, you can't even see the hamon anymore on my monouchi. Since I'm not using it that much anymore, I'm saving up for a new polish... Ultimately, as sword doesn't need to be pretty to cut well. And that sword cuts like a monster!

Thanks for the replies! I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't think about the weather effects on it... That would certainly explain such minor movement. To make sure, I disassembled the tanto, and the tsuka was practically impossible to get off and on again with my bare hands - certainly not loose! I guess that's just the way this tanto is

Thanks again!