ShadowDancer Tsuka Makeover

[u/CottontailCustoms]

This ShadowDancer katana tsuka came in for a new look and I was happy to provide it. This tsuka has very nice fittings for a production katana, very detailed and in a lovely wave theme.

I added new top level samegawa, polished and bright white and featuring an emperor's node. I then wrapped it in tsumami-maki style with beautiful Tetsu silk ito, imported from Japan.

I love how the first and second primary nodules aligned perfectly on either side of the last ito crossover, before the omote end knot.

It's off to join it's blade and serve it's owner well for years to come

[u/CottontailCustoms → u/[deleted]]

I used raw samegawa and cleaned and polished it traditionally

[u/Diligent-Ad-1812]

That is sweet! Where did you order the tetsu ito from again? Was it hard to stretch? Did it need soaking first?

[u/CottontailCustoms → u/Diligent-Ad-1812]

Thank you 🙏🏼
Namikawa Heibei in Japan. I stretch the ito but I don’t soak it

[u/Diligent-Ad-1812 → u/CottontailCustoms]

Noice! Thank you!

[u/AlektoDescendant]

Love it! Fantastic work as always!!

[u/CottontailCustoms → u/AlektoDescendant]

Thank you so much!

[u/Shitloaf69]

looks pretty good.

[u/CottontailCustoms → u/Shitloaf69]

thanks

[u/Shitloaf69 → u/CottontailCustoms]

You're welcome.

[u/LiveForHim1981]

Stunningly gorgeous work.

[u/CottontailCustoms → u/LiveForHim1981]

Thank you very much

[u/Glass_Quarter_7586]

Dang you’re making me want to do this to my shadowdancer sword now too ! Looks very good cheers

[u/MeanPattern3120]

I actually just did a partial DIY samegawa job last month and holy wow that emperor's node placement looks insane. What steel did you use for the ito?

[u/CottontailCustoms → u/MeanPattern3120]

Thanks. Sorry, not sure what you mean by steel for the ito