Our Handle Wrapping page has additional information regarding ordering handle wrapping cord (Tsuka-ito). To those who are unfamiliar with Japanese terms or how to pronounce them, (used on this page and others), you have my sympathy. I prefer using the word 'handle' over TSUKA ...but 'Tsuka' is the term used by collectors and practitioners of the 'slice and dice' philosophy. 'Tsuka-ito' (also called 'ito') is the Japanese name for handle cord. I guess it all makes sense, right ?
Cameras are easily fooled and computer monitors hardly ever display the exact shades of colors. (Top to Bottom) Navy Blue, Battleship Gray, Olive Brown, Chocolate Brown, Cranberry Red, Black and Ivy Green, More about the exclusive TSUNAMI handle wrapping cord.
Most 'users' of TSUNAMI will tell you that at first, it looks & feels like real suede leather but unlike leather, TSUNAMI does not get as gummy or slick as suede leather does and if it becomes soiled from heavy use, it is easy to clean. TSUNAMI is a 'man made' material with all of the good attributes and none of the bad. It provides the 'user' a comfortable grip and the satisfaction that the sword will not slip out of a users hands.
Shortly after we introduced TSUNAMI, I was contacted by a gentleman named GREG who said he heard great things about the TSUNAMI but wanted to know more about it from someone who had more experience with it. Because one of our earlier customers:( 'Russ McCartney'. formerly of Seattle), who had only recently set a GUINNESS WORLDS RECORD cutting Mats (Gozo) using his sword (one that we had recently wrapped with TSUNAMI), I encouraged Greg to contact Russ directly. The following is a copy of Greg's inquiry and Russ's reply.
GREG inquired: "Mr. McCartney, Fred Lohman suggested that it would be O.K. if I contacted you for information in regard to the TSUNAMI cord your working swords are wrapped with. I have a high-end Iaito which is my primary practice sword but the silk Tsuka ito is wearing out right where it sits in the crotch of my thumb. Obviously I want my handles rewrapped so it will last many years, and will not fall apart. Has your experience with Fred's work been 100% satisfactory, and is the TSUNAMI good to practice with? Thanks in advance, Greg.
Russ replied: "Greg, I would recommend Fred's TSUNAMI to everyone who is interested in a durable long lasting slip resistant Tsuka. Its texture and feel is far superior to any of the materials that I have used in the past (I have tried them all) and consistently meets my requirements for durability and most importantly, reliability and longevity. Of course various sorts of handle wrap material can do the job under light training conditions yet the TSUNAMI wrap holds up under the duress of hundreds of swings without gumming up like real suede leather (either Cow, Doe or Deer) or become slick like silk. Additionally, with Fred's TSUNAMI, there is not the heat issues from friction that accompany heavy training schedules. I have had over 15 swords wrapped in as many years and given the opportunity to do it again, I would have used Fred's TSUNAMI on them all. Fred's handle wrapping service is extra-ordinary both from the quality of the material to the symmetry of the diamonds to the tightness of the twists. Fred had a winning combination."
Domo Desu, Russell McCartney Founder and
Chief Instructor, Shin Koryu, IshiYama Battojutsu and Peak Performance Sword
Systems
PH: 206.321.8878 Email: info@virtualronin.com www.ishiyamaryu.com
A testimonial that tells it like it is ! Thanks Russ !
Another recent unsolicited letter received 2/27/12 "Hi Fred, Yes the tsunami wrap only seems to get better with time. The perspiration from the hands and micro amounts of skin that wear off during heavy use or prolonged swing sessions don't seem to bother it. I really like it because the more use it gets the more it seems to resemble 'old style' silk ito with the traditional pitch application under the wrap. But note: I can only assume it will get like this over very long periods of intense use. I have never needed to wash or clean it either. Thus far I only have about 20 thousand swings on this wrap (see picture). In picture #2 you'll see the hand holds are compacted nicely and the space between my grip holds still have nearly the original nap of the cord. This wrap has been in regular use on this Shin Shinto sword since I received it from you over eight years ago."
I love the tsunami wrap and recommend it to everyone. As a prolific stylist and cutter in the Ishi Yama Tradition my 5th Dan Black Belt Steve Baxter just received his new sword with this tsunami wrap from you and seems to love it as much as I do. I'm sure Steve would also be happy to provide updates on his experiences with it too. He can be reached through an additional new web site for IYR Battojutsu, www.ishiyamaryu.net
Russell McCartney
Battleship Gray above.... Cranberry Red below, with a slight 'waisted' shape.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GENUINE 'SUEDE LEATHER' CORD:
WE HAVE RECENTLY ADDED genuine 'SUEDE LEATHER' CORD FOR THOSE WHO HAVE USED IT IN THE PAST AND PREFER IT. IT IS AVAILABLE IN BLACK AND 'SAND' COLORS ONLY... AND STILL ONLY $4 PER FOOT.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
STINGRAY SKIN:
A NOTE about 'Stingray skin' (aka: Same', Samegawa and: 'The pebbly white stuff under the wrap", Shark, etc). The skin of the common Stingray has been used on Japanese Sword handles for a very long time mostly due to its rough texture which when wrapped with 'cord', denies the cord from slipping. When 'full wrapped' around the handle (in difference to strips or side panels) makes the Tsuka (handle) considerably stronger and less apt to fail during stressful situations. In its natural state, the skin is dirty, smelly and is mostly prized for its extremely rough texture. In an effort to make it presentable for commercial use, the outer side of the skin is scrubbed with heavy duty wire brushes in their effort to remove the yuk & guck.
As part of the cleaning process, (after meat has been removed from the bottom of the skin for food), hard working men using scrapers, wire brushes and large rasps (files) to scrape away all of the remaining flesh from the bottom of the skin, a process where the goal is to make it thin and smooth to the touch. The scraped & cleaned skins are soaked in containers of high strength Hydro Peroxide to remove the dirt until the skin becomes almost snow white in color and at this point, technically classified as 'rawhide'.
Those of us who have been involved as dealers purchasing skins in large quantities from Asian suppliers fully understand and appreciate the time and effort involved in the cleaning process. As a word of caution, there are a few web site 'suppliers' who will send photo's of their skins, make promises and take your money,,, the problem is that they don't deliver the skins. ( frigging thieves ! ) And their local cops do nothing. Ask me before sending money to anyone who you may be unsure of.
NOTE: Care should be taken to avoid mistakenly ordering 'tanned' skins. As part of the process, tanned skins are sanded smooth and dyed a variety of colors so that the skin can be used for making billfolds, boots, motorcycle seats (etc) and because they have been sanded and polished smooth, the tanned skins no longer have the ability to grip the handle cord, and the cord quickly loosens which makes it totally unsuitable for Japanese sword handles.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TSUNAMI is a man made Suede fabric which looks and feels just like suede leather. A major benefit to the user is that TSUNAMI cord is available in a single continuous piece throughout its entire length and there are no weak & ugly 'joints' (like those found on Deer or DOE skin. A ninety day comparison test was planned (although the results were determined in less than a week) in which we provided several customers with two handles (one wrapped with TSUNAMI and the other with Doe skin, and after the test period in which both handles were used equally, we were all amazed that the TSUNAMI still looked new, it did not curl up on the edges, did not soil quickly or get slick as leather 'suede' does and unlike Deer (aka DOE), it has no joints' where to pieces were joined together. While the 90 day test actually only lasted one week, based on the results that were verified, we are here to state that TSUNAMI will outperform any and all natural skin and material (Cow, Horse, Pig, Water Buffalo, Hippo, Donkey or female deer (DOE) skin TEN to ONE in customer satisfaction and it will look better as well.
***********************************************************************************
FINE LEATHER Our exclusive GENUINE leather cord (TSUKA-ITO) is now fully available. Our leather cord is judged to be the finest because it is NON-STRETCH and as a result, it can be tied tightly with the assurance that it will not stretch like a rubber band and loosen as other types of leather will.
==============================================================
The undisputed elegance of black Leather on black Same'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SILK TSUKA-ITO (Handle-wrapping Cord)
