Why waste your hard-earned pennies on a brand-new kodachi?
On this page we'll provide the step-by-step instructions on how to assemble
your own kodachi (short sword) used in two-sword (nito) matches.
Once you are finished you'll be using something you created with your own
craftsmanship, imagine how proud you'll be!
I'm sure you have plenty of left-over broken 39 shinai, we'll need at-least
four good bamboo slats and the leather fittings. A saw, a file, scissors, and
some super-glue.
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1. Locate your shinai with the broken slats.
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2. You'll need to cut the slats of below the broken points leaving
enough length for your kodachi.
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3. Your blade length will need to be 40cm from the widest point of the
shinai
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4. And your handle with need to be 20cm from the widest point.
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5. Your Kodachi length should be no more than 60cm overall.
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6. Mark the required cutting points with a pen.
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7. Cut off the ends evenly, try not to slip.
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8. If we leave then ends square like this the leather ends will
eventually tear through.
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9. So, use the file to round the ends.
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10. They should end up looking nice and round like this.
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11. You will need to use the saw to cuts slots for the butterfly, make
sure you line them up before cutting.
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12. Insert the butterfly into the slats.
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13. The leather tsuka cover should measure 18cm when completed.
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14. But mark the tsuka cover 1.5cm longer (with a scissor cut) to allow
for the stitching.
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15. Turn the cover inside-out (but not all the way).
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16. Measure up 7mm from the cut for your stitching holes.
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17. Punch four holes about 1cm apart.
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18. Weave the thread through the holes (you can use shinai cord).
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19. Pull the knot very tight (I suggest pliers).
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20. Put a drop of superglue on the knot.
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21. Cut off the rest of your tsuka cover at your mark.
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22. Trim the rest of the thread ends.
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23. Turn the tsuka cover rightside-out.
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24. Slide the tsuka cover onto your Kodachi.
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