Try tying one of these when the sageo is...

[Geordie Ross]

Nicely done!

[Spring Forest]

Well I wouldn't recommend trying it out on your raptor, start on something cheaper

What an eye opener this was Geordie.
I couldn't get the blade to separate from the tsuka using the traditional 'slap on the wrist' method, I had to literally prise them apart. Before I could even consider the next stage I had to tidy up the tsuka as it looked as if it had been put together by someone who had failed O-level woodwork. Then I couldn't get the tang back in its' hole and had to use a long thin drill bit to rout the cavity out.
When I did get it back together the seppa looked wrong so off it came again... there are 16 combinations of how to mount two pieces of brass face on, and none of them looked right... so out came the rat tail file... drone, drone, drone...

The biggest disappointment was the tang itself. I wasn't expecting a haiku verse, but I was hoping for a foundry mark, or at least something more than an acid etched "9".

Chen it may be, but it's a poor example of something produced in a factory setting where little or no pride seems to be taken in the quality of the components. When the bit of poplar I have is ready I'll make my own tsuka from scratch and try and improve the sword, but if I was asked I wouldn't recommend this manufacturer to anyone.

That said, thank you for your kind comment on the tsukamaki.

[Geordie Ross]

You can't expect too much from the lower end chens, and raptors are the "very" economy range lol, second only to the practical katana with plastic samè and can't be disassembled. They're primarily focused towards tameshigiri so they're built to be wrecked.
Either way, I do like the new look of it you could have tried "battle" wrapping it

[the blade master]

your wellcome

[Spring Forest]

You can't expect too much from the lower end chens, and raptors are the "very" economy range lol, second only to the practical katana with plastic samè and can't be disassembled. They're primarily focused towards tameshigiri so they're built to be wrecked.
Either way, I do like the new look of it you could have tried "battle" wrapping it

Okay, I'll bite. "Battle" wrapping?

Found it online... I'm about to re-wrap one of these ~ http://www.blades-uk.com/large_pic.php?product_id=3428 ~ I'll try it on that and see how it looks.

[Moon]

Okay, I'll bite. "Battle" wrapping?

Found it online... I'm about to re-wrap one of these ~ http://www.blades-uk.com/large_pic.php?product_id=3428 ~ I'll try it on that and see how it looks.

Google katate-maki, loads of tutorials on youtube.

BTW
Nice job on the tsuka-maki.

[Geordie Ross]

Yea lol katate-maki, aka "battle" wrap

[Moon]

Yea lol katate-maki, aka "battle" wrap

There are over 50 styles of tsuka-maki Ross and not all 'battle wraps' are katate-maki, some are just simple bindings.

[Spring Forest]

Google katate-maki

Do that and then click on the 'images' page... Wow! Some nice looking swords on that page.

This is nice ~ http://sbgswordforum.proboards.com/inde ... read=14907

[Geordie Ross]

Yea lol katate-maki, aka "battle" wrap

There are over 50 styles of tsuka-maki Ross and not all 'battle wraps' are katate-maki, some are just simple bindings.

Ahh I see, cheers moon.
Many ways to skin a cat

[pjm]

Yea lol katate-maki, aka "battle" wrap

There are over 50 styles of tsuka-maki Ross and not all 'battle wraps' are katate-maki, some are just simple bindings.

Ahh I see, cheers moon.
Many ways to skin a cat

Only if yer sword is sharp enough Geordie

[Geordie Ross]

I could skin a cat with a brick

[pjm]

I could skin a cat with a brick

not even going to ask if you've tried, id be worried of the answer lol

[Dotanuki2K]

Just a word here.
You should invest in a awl (looks like a icepick) to line up tsuka with katana ana (hole) or use chopsticks to line them up. (awl works better)
You shouldn't have routed the hole out bigger, if later you get a rattle in your tsuka, you will now know why.
Also since you didn't mention this, invest in wood clamps.
They look like giant clothespins. they will keep your tsuka-maki in place and tight while you wrap your way down the tsuka.
This was in case you weren't already doing this.

Also, buy a metal engraver, this way you can engrave a famous swordsmith's signature into your katana, helps if you want to resell your sword.
(I am joking on this last one)

[Spring Forest]

Just a word here.
You should invest in a awl (looks like a icepick) to line up tsuka with katana ana (hole) or use chopsticks to line them up. (awl works better)
You shouldn't have routed the hole out bigger, if later you get a rattle in your tsuka, you will now know why.
Also since you didn't mention this, invest in wood clamps.
They look like giant clothespins. they will keep your tsuka-maki in place and tight while you wrap your way down the tsuka.
This was in case you weren't already doing this.

Also, buy a metal engraver, this way you can engrave a famous swordsmith's signature into your katana, helps if you want to resell your sword.
(I am joking on this last one)

Yeah, bought two plastic spring clamps, couldn't have done it without them... don't need an awl, I've still got a lot of very fine surgical instruments from when I was a chiropodist... the last idea is great, anyone know how to write 'Munechika' in Japanese?