TLDW #24 - Making an Ireko (nesting) Saya - Furusato Tanto
**WARNING: This is the longer process version intended for serious students of knifemaking. Watch the overview edit here: • SOTW #20 - Assembling ...
One of the most technical challenges of this project was creating the ireko saya (入れ子鞘, nesting scabbard) lining within the tight constraints offered by the original block of wood. A refined detail that is normally hidden from view, the ireko saya protects the blade from the hardwood. A focal point for the koshirae is the unique antler crown kurikata which is reminiscent of a mushroom contrasting against the dark wood of a tree.
Furusato (故郷, pronounced “foo-roo-sah-toe”) means home place or hometown and contains the ideas of being rooted or grounded wherever one may sojourn, and a confidence and longing for return. This tanto has a simple and elegant form with a natural and humble mounting that reflects the rustic satoyama lifestyle and suits the aesthetics of the way of tea.
The wood was a discarded scrap that was just barely large enough for this project and comes from the Congo/Zaire. The block of wood sat for several years waiting for the right blade to make the best and most use of it. This precious dark chocolate coloured hardwood is locally called Tshikalakala or Dikela, meaning turn around or circle back.
Materials for the wabisabi aikuchi style koshirae mounting include Tshikalakala (Wenge) wood for the kataki tsuka and saya, Hounoki (Japanese Magnolia) wood and cow horn for the ireko saya, copper bus bar for the habaki, buffalo horn for the mekugi, and pieces of shed antler for the kurikata and tsunakuchi. The tsuka and saya are finished in a thin layer of kijiro fukiurushi (wiped lacquer) made from natural source urushi lacquer.
"When difficulties come, I remember my home place…Someday I shall fulfill my task. And, then, return to my home place. To the green mountains and clear rivers of my home."
-- Furusato, Takano Tatsuyuki
More about this project: islandblacksmith.ca/2019/08/fu...
**WARNING: This is the longer process version intended for serious students of knifemaking. Watch the overview edit here: kzhead.info/sun/mtZxqNWlsX9rnIU/bejne.html One of the most technical challenges of this project was creating the ireko saya (入れ子鞘, nesting scabbard) lining within the tight constraints offered by the original block of wood. A refined detail that is normally hidden from view, the ireko saya protects the blade from the hardwood. A focal point for the koshirae is the unique antler crown kurikata which is reminiscent of a mushroom contrasting against the dark wood of a tree. Furusato (故郷, pronounced “foo-roo-sah-toe”) means home place or hometown and contains the ideas of being rooted or grounded wherever one may sojourn, and a confidence and longing for return. This tanto has a simple and elegant form with a natural and humble mounting that reflects the rustic satoyama lifestyle and suits the aesthetics of the way of tea. The wood was a discarded scrap that was just barely large enough for this project and comes from the Congo/Zaire. The block of wood sat for several years waiting for the right blade to make the best and most use of it. This precious dark chocolate coloured hardwood is locally called Tshikalakala or Dikela, meaning turn around or circle back. Materials for the wabisabi aikuchi style koshirae mounting include Tshikalakala (Wenge) wood for the kataki tsuka and saya, Hounoki (Japanese Magnolia) wood and cow horn for the ireko saya, copper bus bar for the habaki, buffalo horn for the mekugi, and pieces of shed antler for the kurikata and tsunakuchi. The tsuka and saya are finished in a thin layer of kijiro fukiurushi (wiped lacquer) made from natural source urushi lacquer. "When difficulties come, I remember my home place…Someday I shall fulfill my task. And, then, return to my home place. To the green mountains and clear rivers of my home." -- Furusato, Takano Tatsuyuki More about this project: islandblacksmith.ca/2019/08/furusato-tanto/
God how those videos were missed. Great master
I get chills from seeing the patience and precision in this work. I am working on my first full tanto, having before only made western blades and I am just in awe at the skills and the beauty and elegance of the design reflecting nature and serenity.
I’ve tried making them before succeeding in making the handle and blade but nether the sheath it to hard for me and I don’t know why
I love this but I feel like Xibit when I see this - "Yo dawg I heard you like daggers so I made a scabbard for your scabbard so you can sheathe while you sheathe" XD
yep!
The perfection of his hand is valuable. Your hands show patience and discipline. The great value of your hand is great and I hope you prosper at all times.
every project produces more patience! this one was a long one...very much appreciated!
Goodness, what a luxery it must have been to be able to devote such time to perfecting this craft. Maybe in my next life I will be half as fortunate.
you only get one opportunity, if this is what you are made to do you will find a way, never know 'til you try...one old car, live in a rented garage, no vacations, work for a few $ an hour and many hours for nothing, study every free minute you have, repeat for a couple decades and you get a free luxury lunch! ^__^
I know you always hear people say that your work is always so beautiful but every time you post something on Instagram or here on KZhead I always feel just so cheerful, I absolutely adore what you do.
the encouragement is very much appreciated!
This is by far my favorite that you have done. Magnificent !🙌🏻
Very nice. I like the fact that the wenge wood with its coarse grain pattern resembles the natural bark of a tree with the mushroom shaped kurikata.
yes, that's it!
I love watching you work. Its so relaxing and wonderful. Great work as always👍🏻
Simple and beautiful in it's design but obviously the work of a master. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
You're truly an inspiration to 'go that extra mile'! Magnificent.
Wow! Truly next level craftsmanship! Thank you for sharing such amazing work!
I am not a knife making student but I watched this whole video with great interest. The craftsmanship is amazing.
much appreciated!
What a work, guy!!!!
Always an inspiration. Thanks for sharing.
Stunning work as always! We really enjoyed your video too.
much appreciated, thanks for providing some of the scenery! ^___^
Нет слов! Шедевр!
yea no hurry take youre time xp good work mate love to see this work of art
Nice work!
Beautiful job
So subscribed, you got me at the first chisel cut! Beautiful work!
much appreciated...that was a tough piece of wood...
Outstanding
Nice work 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Brilliant work.So much attention to the details😯 Really impressed. What is the glue that you're using?
Guau. Is beautiful!!!!
La perfection même génial
You keep pushing me. Im getting pretty good but man your the best. Love your stuff.ill give this a try but man I know I'm going to get frustrated. Thanks for the video.
bonjour excellent , je comprend maintenant la repartions du koiguchi !!!
ура новое видео!!
Using bone is fun, but I am trying to envision a saya for my bone kwaiken and it's very hard with the material I have. Unfortunately I do not have bonding agents aside from epoxy and super glue. Do you suggest I persevere and try a bone saya or try my hand with wood? This is my first ever build. I am greatly inspired by your work and hope to share it with you soon!
That is fascinating and an elegant solution to using wood like wenge.. I'd never seen that before... Cooll!!
Is that what that wood is? I thought wenge had a tighter grain than that.
ireko saya are relatively rare but you can usually find a few antique examples if you look up 入れ子鞘, quite a bit more work than making a regular saya but lovely when finished!
the grain is relatively tight but coarse textured, the scabbard is less than 1.5" across...and there are open pores in it...some folks probably fill these but i purposely brushed them clean before applying urushi to show the interesting texture inside them...
@@islandblacksmith definitely has a more natural aesthetic combined with the color of the wood as well as the bone elements. It's a simple but powerful design. Love it
@@islandblacksmith I did a saya in wenge once and brushed it really heavily to get into the soft wood between the strong grain lines. It's an interesting wood that can be really changeable. Once again, Excellent work!
Does that glue made from rice really work that well?? Could you show us how to make it
Great work! Question--What practical purpose does a nesting saya satisfy? Or is it just cool factor (which is high)? Secret compartments or something like that?
An ireko saya (入れ子鞘, nesting scabbard) is a lining inside the saya which protects the blade from the hardwood (this wood dulls chisels quickly)...it also has the potential to be removed for cleaning which would historically allow the valuable hardwood scabbard to last much longer without having to be split open for maintenance like a lacquered one..a lined saya is a very "high end" feature which adds a lot of time and complexity to the build, and even more so if it is the removable type...and there are historical examples of secret compartments in scabbards as well...
Hi Dave. The tanto is absolutely amazing, just beauty in simplicity. 1 question though - is there a purpose for such a complicated saya? What it was used for?
An ireko saya (入れ子鞘, nesting scabbard) is a lining inside the saya which protects the blade from the hardwood (this wood dulls chisels quickly)...it also has the potential to be removed for cleaning which would historically allow the valuable hardwood scabbard to last much longer without having to be split open for maintenance like a lacquered one..a lined saya is a very "high end" feature which adds a lot of time and complexity to the build, and even more so if it is the removable type...
@@islandblacksmith Thank you for the explanation Dave! I took a look at it from the different perspective. Now it looks amazingly well designed.
excellent! yes, even though it appears to be a relatively simple tanto it was actually an intentionally challenging professional development project for me!
This is a wonderful video and wonderful craftsmanship! I am looking for more information about mounting a Kogatana that can be drawn through the Tsuba on a Katana. From what few images I have located, it looks like the main Katana Saya is also the Saya for the Kogatana. Can you confirm this and maybe get examples or drawings of how it was made?
you will have to do some research on that, i have not done a related article yet...here is a start showing one method: web.archive.org/web/20100925025553/sayashi.com/project%20pages/koshirae_saya1.htm
@@islandblacksmith Thank you so much! This was exactly what I needed to get started. On a side note, I do not see any fullers cut into your blades. You might not have the information I am looking for, but you might know a good starting point. I would like to get my hands on a traditional sen with changeable blades for cutting the BO-HI. I do not read or write in Japanese, so I have having issues finding resources. They are such a specialized tool and they do not seem to be used here in the US. I have seen them in several of the books I have on Japanese blade crafting that look professionally made so I am guessing there is a source someplace.
all the ones i have seen are made by the smiths that use them...one more challenge!
It’s beautiful but what is the reason for the double scabbard
to quote the description and pinned comment: " A refined detail that is normally hidden from view, the ireko saya protects the blade from the hardwood." more info linked on the website...
Beautiful. I've made 2 tantos and I'm making my third one. However, none of them stand up to your incredible standards and talent. May I ask, is it ok to use Indian basmati rice for the glue? I'd love to use Japanese rice but unfortunately basmati is all I have.
i don't know, you would have to do some testing and comparison...i think the short grain rice is stickier but it could be possible...
I am trying to make a tanto but i keep failing when making the handle and saya you make it look so easy
for the record, this was a long and hard project...you can find some process and tanto geometry articles on the website that may help your journey, keep at it!
Do you have a video where you polished your tanto??
i don't think anyone would want to watch several hours/days of me moving a blade against different stones...i'm not much of a polisher anyways, i just can't find anyone else around here to do it... ^____^ ...but there is a fairly comprehensive walk-through with photos on my website in the process section...
Sir if you read this what kind of wood are you using to make this. Thanks. Biggest fan ever.
check the description, pinned comment, or full article on the website for more information than you want to read...
@@islandblacksmith thanks ....love your stuff...I'm ok at smithing but man you push me ...thanks
Why the ireko saya? Is it for at home or transport of the blade? It wasn’t carried? I’m fascinated
An ireko saya (入れ子鞘, nesting scabbard) is a lining inside the saya which protects the blade from the hardwood (this wood dulls chisels quickly)...it also has the potential to be removed for cleaning which would historically allow the valuable hardwood scabbard to last much longer without having to be split open for maintenance like a lacquered one..a lined saya is a very "high end" feature which adds a lot of time and complexity to the build, and even more so if it is the removable type...
Is this sticky rice really strong enough to bond firmly?
depends where and how it is used, it is quite strong but not as strong as the wood, allowing joints to be reversible for maintenance...it has a thousand year track record for use in sword construction, we don't know what modern synthetic wood glue will do in a century as it has only been around for a few decades...here are some articles to help your research: islandblacksmith.ca/tag/sokui/
@@islandblacksmith Thank You very very much for the explanation :)
i wonder how long your knifes will last, and how many lives they might take, how many are sold to japan?
because they are made with the same materials and techniques, with proper care they could theoretically last at least as long as the 700 year old ones now in museums in japan...i pray they are only ever used for good and just purposes for the remainder of human history...only the smaller sized knives are available in japan due to strict import issues...
What is the extended cut for at the tip of the blade?
excess oil reservoir...
@@islandblacksmith thank you for the quick response. I figured it was for something like that.
Beautyful 😘
Hello Sir , i really admire your work ! May i ask a question? What is that Glue exactly made of ? Is it just rice and water ? Im trying to build my first tanto . Your Help would be greatly appreciated ! Arigato 🙏🏼🙂
yes, rice and water, more info here: islandblacksmith.ca/tag/sokui/ this is an important series for your project, take lots of notes: islandblacksmith.ca/tag/tanto-geometry/ and check the links at the bottom of the process page...
@@islandblacksmith thank you very much , Sir !
❤️❤️❤️
В чем смысл внутренних разборных ножен?
What is the groove in the handle for?
called tsukigata ("moon shape"), tsukigata were originally designed to make room for the end knots to sit lower on wrapped handles, however they are often included on the omote side of unwrapped handles as a decorative feature, they also provide a registration point for the blade orientation on a draw in dark or confined conditions.
how do you make your rice glue?
islandblacksmith.ca/tag/sokui/
4:55 это рис? И его используют в качестве клея? И хорош ли он?
islandblacksmith.ca/tag/sokui/
That glue? Is that boiled rice and water only? Or i'm wrong
yes, it is called sokui, just cooked japanese rice and water: islandblacksmith.ca/2015/10/making-sokui-rice-paste-glue/
How long is this tanto?
blade is 227mm, about 9"... islandblacksmith.ca/2019/08/furusato-tanto/
Why you don’t glue the inner core in?
shortest answer is it doesn't need to be...there are types that are glued in but the whole point of ireko is that you can take it out for cleaning without splitting the hardwood saya..more info in the description...
@@islandblacksmith oh, I see, do they make katana saya like this as well?
it is very rare in general, especially a hardwood scabbard on a katana sized blade, but there are a couple out there...
Is that gluetrally just rice and water mashed up till you get the right consistency??? I know japanese have a rice glue. But there's no way it's that simple
it is that simple...but it is specifically japanese short grain rice, particularly a delicious batch that was cooked a day or two previous to use...mash first, then add water slowly... islandblacksmith.ca/2015/10/making-sokui-rice-paste-glue/
Hm!...Any relation to Paul Mann (Shihan) of Abbotsford?...Don't remember asking!? 🤔
just loosely geographically ^___^
Hello, let's do it on hamon
this has a hamon, suguha...a video on hamon? there are a few: kzhead.info/sun/n71vmNh9f2R-YK8/bejne.html
Why don't you make swords?
technically i do, the tanto is one type of japanese sword...at this point i don't make larger swords like wakizashi, katana, or tachi because my area of study and specialty is tanto, i also find them to be a very beautiful form factor...perhaps if i ever get them figured out one day i will move on to the next size up! (...a knife/sword 2x the length is not 2x the work, it is actually at least 4x...)
You ever watch paint dry ??
no time! ...and there's no paint around here, just traditional urushi lacquer made from a tree sap ^___^
No I meant ,video is slow and boring..but is educational.
i know, just turned it into a teachable moment though...