does it really make a diffefence if there is 2 does it make it studier?
Posted by: schanne
Re: 1 mekugi or 2 - 07/26/06 08:04 AM
According to one book on MJER I've read there was a historical preference for only one. This is really a question you should ask your instructor. If the tsuka is made properly, one should be all you need.
Posted by: Benjamin1986
Re: 1 mekugi or 2 - 07/26/06 04:28 PM
It really is personal preference
The amount of material lost is minor and supported on both sides, so unless the blade is trash to begin with, don't worry about losing strength to the holes. Your tip is still the weakest link, not the tang.
Also, if the blade is well made, the mekugi are mostly decorative, the sword should hold together without them (like a good, new sheath should hold the knife when it's completely upside down). As it wears, a single mekugi will be able to hold it.
Having two or three might reduce rattling when the grip starts to wear on the inside, but if gets to that point (it shouldn't without years and years of heavy use or termites), then you should have new furnishings made anyway. Of course, there is the comfort of having backup systems, but I haven't heard of mekugi breaking in the past.
Your choice.
Posted by: paradoxbox
Re: 1 mekugi or 2 - 08/06/06 05:19 AM
One mekugi is not adequate for most people. There was an incident in Japan where an iaidoka had forgotten to replace the mekugi and the blade flew out and killed a child.
I'm sure similar things happened in the past but went unrecorded for the history books.
2 mekugi is what most people ought to have in their blades. 1 mekugi is for genuine swords made in the traditional way and used for traditional purposes only, with the utmost care being taken at every step.
It sounds strange, but the bamboo mekugi are far more reliable than the people who wield the blades.