Looking at Common Katana Handle Wrap Styles
If you've ever spent time looking at Japanese swords, you've probably noticed that katana handle wrap styles—properly known as tsuka-maki—are incredibly varied and often quite beautiful. It isn't just about making the sword look fancy for a display case, though. The way a handle is wrapped fundamentally changes how the sword feels in your hand, how well it absorbs shock, and even how long the handle itself will last through heavy use. ...