What is the Seppa on a Katana sword

Katana Seppa: What You Need To Know

Seppa are like washers. It goes between the tsuba (guard for protecting your hands from the blade) and the handle. This component is very important to make the katana usable and absorb shocks and impacts. While they're seemingly interesting, there's more to them than meets the eye.

Purpose of The Seppa (切羽)

Seppa are very thin washers. Therefore, if you don't pay close attention, you might miss them entirely. These washers are placed right between the Tsuka (handle) assembly and the tsuba (hand guard). Plus, there's one on each side of the tsuba.
It's used to tighten the tsuba to the sword and make it more secure and robust. The seppa is also very important for adjusting the fitting as well. Seppas aren't there only to fill in the gaps and give a tight fit.
When using a katana, you'll need some cushioning from the impact. That's where seppa come in. These metal plates or washers act as impact absorbers or cushions, which makes using the katana more comfortable.

Common Seppa Design And Materials

Seppas can be made to look very exquisite. Although some mass-produced swords can have seppas that look a bit more unpolished and are there purely for the functional aspect of them, Brass and copper are common materials.
They can even have gold plating. As a result, they can look more premium and exquisite. Brass or copper are popular since they're both durable and relatively soft metals. The relative softness can help cushion impacts and shock.
High-end and exquisite seppas can be made from silver, leather, or even gold. Of course, the more expensive the material used to make the seppa, the more expensive it will be.

When buying a custom katana, you can let us know the kind of seppa you want for your katana.

Interesting Facts About The Seppa

Although the seppa is an important part of the katana, it can be slightly loose in low-quality katanas. There's a one-size-fits-all mentality with seppas, which can be the culprit.
However, there's a workaround for that. If a seppa doesn't fit well, you can use a punch to squeeze the seppa into place. If you're buying a high-quality katana, this won't be a big problem.
Another interesting fact is that seppas coated in silver or gold can take up to 1 month to finish. It's up to you to decide whether that long time is worth it.

Seppa FAQs

Q. How much do seppas cost?
Ans: Mass-produced seppas don't cost that much. They're usually $5 a pair and made from brass or copper.
Q. Are custom-made seppas expensive?
Ans: Custom-made seppas can cost upwards of $300. The more premium they are, the more they'll cost. Some can even cost about $500.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, although seppas might be very low-key, they're very important. However, exquisite seppas might not always be worth it. But at least a high-quality one made from brass or copper is a must. Check to learn more katana parts.