Water Buffalo horn has been the material of choice used by Japanese craftsman for making long lasting and beautiful Kurikata, Koguchi and Kojiri and many other parts for the sword (Saya). Each of our parts on display are made entirely by hand by skilled craftsmen.  For those customers who wish to try grinding and shaping their own parts, block shaped cubes (part 1 & 2) are available that can be (with patience and skill) ground to shape and polished. 

The Fred Lohman Company is the source and the manufacturer of these high quality horn parts.  Each part is made by hand and are shaped and polished to such a high degree of accuracy and consistency that they are used throughout the world by those who perform major and minor sword restoration.  Each separately designed part is an exact copy of original parts chosen to be used as models.  The original 'models' were removed from museum quality swords.

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All Kojiri are produced slightly 'oversized' to allow custom fitting to the dimensions of your Saya. With exception of parts 28 & 29, all other parts are ready for installation.

Illustrated below are a number of different styles and sizes that have been most commonly used on sword Saya.

The 'hook' part # 3 (aka: Tsunakuchi, Kaishizuno or Soritsuna) is available in three sizes and was designed to catch the bottom edge of the wearers Obi so as to prevent the Saya from being pulled out with the blade in an emergency.

The Koiguchi (part # 28) was purposefully made oversized and the center hole left smaller to allow for a custom fit. 

Measurements given of the below parts are those of the 'foot print' of the part.

Kurikata part # 32 (available in 2 sizes) is a design that was produced with a slightly larger and polished hole to allow easier passage of the Sageo and to eliminate its common fraying & snagging.

Horn Kurikata part # 16 was not available at the time this photo was produced but will be added shortly.

Horn Prices