If you’re unfamiliar with shirasaya, you may be wondering what these relatively plain Japanese swords are for, and how you are going to wield them when they have no tsuba and tsuka-ito. Actually, shirasaya swords are not meant for combat, but if you are looking for a sword that will last a long, long time, then these are your best options.
The shirasaya mounting keeps a sword healthy when it is not expected to be used for a while, unlike regular koshirae which can damage the blade after prolonged contact. Shirasaya samurai swords are simple and elegant, making them ideal decor pieces for the modern home or office.
We carry shirasaya swords that are made from various types of wood including hardwood, rosewood, redwood, and bamboo. Blades can be stainless steel, spring steel, or high carbon steel. Some models come with extra items such as a display box or stand, a cleaning kit, and a sword bag.
Shirasaya literally means “white scabbard”. It is a type of plain wooden mounting worn by Japanese swords when they are on display, in transit, or will not to be used for a period of time. It is a relatively simple and externally featureless type of mounting, consisting of a tsuka (hilt), saya (scabbard), and mekugi-ana (peg hole) for securing the nakago (tang). Some shirasaya swords also have sayagaki (blade information). Shirasaya is not suitable for tameshigiri (test cutting), actual combat, practice, or training. It lacks the tsuba (guard) that balances the sword and keeps the hand from sliding onto the blade, and tsuka-ito (handle wrapping); therefore, it would be dangerous and impractical to use a sword that is in this mounting.
As previously mentioned, this type is worn when a sword is to be displayed, transported, or stored. This is due to the fact that the lacquered wood of koshirae, the mounting used when a sword is being carried by its owner, may retain moisture and promote corrosion, ultimately damaging the sword blade. In the past, shirasaya was used when delivering a blade to a collector who wanted to customize their sword’s fittings by themselves, or when transferring high quality blades to and from polishers.
Shirasaya is traditionally built from honoki wood, a species of magnolia. This type of wood is not too soft and not too hard, and easy to work with. It is also very resistant to the absorption of moisture in the air. To make a shirasaya katana, a long, rectangular blank of honoki wood is cut in half and smoothed out. The sword blade is placed on the wood, and the position of the habaki (blade collar) is marked.
The blank is cut once more to create the pieces that will become the tsuka. The outlines of the blade and tsuka are traced and carved, with the fit checked regularly. Rice glue is used to join the halves, and the exterior is contoured until it is the correct shape. If you own a shirasaya katana, you should keep in mind to not paint or varnish the saya in order to allow the blade to “breathe” through the wood and to prevent mildew or rust from forming on it. In addition, a shirasaya sword should always be kept indoors as the uncoated wood does not provide much protection against rain or snow. However, when taken care of properly, these samurai swords will stay in good shape for a very long time.
