Order (or Custom-made) slowly closing
We produce new swords for you. Of course real Japanese blades made by traditional method and material.
There are three types to order swords/blades.
1) Blade with Shirasaya. (Only blade within a plain wood scabbard for preservation.)
2) Blade with Shirasaya and Koshirae. (Koshirae is a mount of sword, there are various types.)
3) Blade with Koshirae.
(=> Estimates of the costs for Koshirae producing)
Free Request available
One more option that is easier system for beginners to obtain favourite sword. It is like a request to DJ on radio program, but I don't have suitable word for it yet.
Temporarily, I call the system "Free Request for New Sword".
Notice; We don't sell a new blade without polishing. (=> Why we don't sell a new blade without polishing)
1) Blade within Shirasaya.
- We make a plan of the blade together with you. We settle what blade the customer does want, some terms are acceptable and some terms are not.
(- We don't need deposit for the order.)
- Smith makes the blade trying to accord with the order. Then habaki is made out, and the blade is polished up within shirasaya to show the result to you.
But making blade is quite hand-made, the result depends with fire and water, so it is impossible to get perfectly fit for the order. So sometimes we have to make several blades to satisfy you.
- We send pictures of the blade to you, and accept questions from you.
- When the blade is accepted by you, we ask the cost of the blade.
(- If the result of the blade is not acceptable for you, there are two options. One is making another blade. The other is cancelling the order itself.)
- Then we send the blade to you.
This mission may take at least 3 months, sometimes one year or so.
The costs for example are bellow. They include full polishing by Sashikomi (classical style) or Hadori (modern style), silver habaki, shirasaya, bag, and the shipping cost by EMS with insurance.
Tachi blade with Shirasaya (800,000.yen for example)
Wakizashi blade with shirasaya (500,000.yen for example.)
Tanto blade in Hira-zukuri style with shirasaya (300,000.yen for example)
Osoraku-zukuri style Tanto with Shirasaya (300,000.yen for example)
Yari in Hira-sankaku-zukuri style, blade length 30cm, with shirasaya (300,000.yen for example)
2) Blade with Shirasaya and Koshirae.
In this style of order, we take two steps to produce the sword.
Step 1.
- We make a plan of the blade and the mount together with you.
(- We don't need deposit for the order.)
- Smith makes the blade trying to accord with the order. Then habaki is made out, and the blade is polished up within shirasaya to show the result to you.
- We send pictures of the blade to you, and accept questions from you.
- When the blade is accepted by you, we ask the cost of the blade.
(- If the result of the blade is not acceptable for you, there are two options. One is making another blade. The other is cancelling the order itself.)
- Once the payment is done, we move to the next step.
Step 2.
- We start mount producing. To design mount is complicated and including many terms to select.
- We keep to report you on each step of progressing to control the design.
(=> an actual example of producing koshirae)
- When the mount completed, we ask you the cost of it.
- And then we send the completed sword to you.
This mission may take at least 6 months, sometimes one year or so.
The cost is chaged by the fittings and works of the Koshirae those you need.
Tachi blade with Shirasaya and Koshirae (1,100,000.yen for example)
The koshirae has a wood blade for display. Of course it can be replaced with the real blade.
3) Blade with Koshirae.
We don't recommend this style of order for beginners, because it is a little troublesome for both you and us.
- We make a plan of the blade and the mount together with you.
(- We don't need deposit for the order.)
- Smith makes the blade trying to accord with the order.
- We put part polishing onto the blade to show the result to you.
- And we send you the pictures of it. And answer your questions.
- You have to guess the result of the blade by the part polishing, and decide to accept it or not. But it is difficult for beginners. (On this stage, we can't put full polishing on the blade, because it has no scabbard. So we have to explain the result by words. But sometimes it becomes a source of misunderstanding.)
- When you accept the result, we ask the cost of the blade.
(- If the result of the blade is not acceptable for you, there are two options. One is making another blade. The other is cancelling the order itself.)
- And then the blade goes to koshirae producing.
- When the scabbard completes, the blade goes to polisher.
- When the blade and the koshirae complete, we ask its cost.
This mission takes at least 6 months, sometimes one year or so.
Kissaki-moroha style Tachi blade with Tachi koshirae (1,000,000.yen for example)
Tachi blade with Katana koshirae (1,000,000.yen for example)
Kissaki-moroha style Tachi blade with Walking Stick mount (880,000.yen for example)
- Caution -
This koshirae means a walking stick style mount. It doesn't mean an actual undercover weapon. Such a sword like stiletto in cane is illegal in Japan.
Wakizashi (ko-tachi) blade with Wakizashi koshirae (700,000.yen for example)
Engravings
We can make some simple engravings on the blade.(=> Some examples of engravings)
One or two simple engravings are free. But if you need more, we need some extra costs. For example, extra cost for one Sanskrit letter is 20,000.yen.
Kogatana (blade for kozuka, with simple polishing, 30,000.yen for example)
Kogatana with integrated kozuka (blade and handle is made of one piece)
(The handle is shaped like bamboo, with simple polish, 40,000.yen for example)
Tsuba, it can be forged together with the ordered blade. The smith makes it from the same material of the blade. It means a set with blade as work of sword smith, so it is not decorative, only plain plate or Tosho style. (50,000.yen for example, we don't make it as single by itself.)
Tsuba for tanto (30,000.yen for example)
The smith can make a simple silver habaki for his blade.
Tanto blade with Kaiken koshirae. The scabbard has gold drawing of autumn flowers. (350,000.yen for example)
Free Request for New Sword
I am afraid if many beginners hesitate to order new sword because of considering many terms. In fact, we have had some troubles with customers that coming from misunderstanding, even though the produced sword would be very good quality. Therefor I prepared one solution to produce swords that you would like.
As you know, we are producing new swords on the "Newly Producing Sword" section on the catalogue page. And some samples on the Gallery page (=> Newly Produced Sword)
The swords are not by customers' order, they are produced under our control. Then, if you have some image of sword in your mind want to obtain, please give us your idea as request. It doesn't mean an order of you, but just one of requests. If it would be acceptable for us, we produce such sword considering your request. But it is directed by Usagiya ourselves, we can design it freely. So you are not under obligation to purchase it.
We will post the progress of producing the sword on the Newly Producing Sword section. You can reserve it anytime when you become to want it. And of course you are free not to reserve it.
The swords on the section are opened for all the customers to purchase. Anyone can reserve it without deposit. If some defect appears on the blade, you can cancel the reservation freely.
I think this is an easier way for both you and us.
Why we don't sell a new blade without polishing
We had accepted orders of new blades without polishing in the past. We didn't recommend such purchase style, but some customers wanted such a blade so much.
But now, we don't accept such an order. Because we got many troubles with the customers by such an order.
When we offer just a new blade without polishing, the blade is shaped up by Arato, Omura or Binsui stone, and has a part polishing. The customer has to decide to buy it or not, by studying the blade in such a condition. If the customer agrees with the blade, this dealing is going to complete.
After some months, the customer complains us.
For example; "An open layer appears after polishing." or "The polished up hamon is different from the image before." And they claim us to receive the blade and pay the money back.
All of such cases in the past, we couldn't accept the claims, because all the blades were destroyed the shape by poor work. Probably they thought to bring the blade to their friendly polisher to cut the cost down. But a poor craftsman easily destroys the blade. Unbelievably, some customers ask also the polishing (destroying) cost!
We couldn't pay back the full amount of the blade cost, because it had been destroyed. And never the destroying cost. The customer never had a will to take a responsibility of his decision of purchase. It became a serious problem.
In this style of dealing, it includes a risk about the result because no one can see the result before polishing. We shape up the blade completely and let the customer study the blade carefully. Of course we discuss details of the blade before they purchase it. Therefore, if some open layer appears after grinding the blade, or the hamon is different from the image before, it is not a matter of our responsibility. In other words, the customer can't claim discontent of the finished blade once he decides purchase.
Such a trouble is very bad for both the customer and the blade. Therefore we don't offer a new blade without polishing.
(=> A tanto blade of worn out)
We still service such a blade only for professional dealers unwillingly. Because they want it by taking a responsibility for their own decision.