Suitou
(Samurai Canteen)

Description

Suitou (Sui-tou) is a canteen typically made from bamboo or gourds which were used by samurai, ashigaru and peasants alike throughout the history of Japan. The suitou samurai canteen can be used for carrying water, wine or of course any liquid.  Typically cut from maturing bamboo, a natural canteen in itself, they are quick and easy to make and found in abundance throughout most of Japan. The sui-tou gourd canteen are more complicated to make as more time / care is required in cleaning and lacquering to ensure the outer skin is preserved. The gourd also features a bamboo plug with rubber ring to ensure leak free, freshness of your beverage. The gourd canteen can also be used as a Kayaku Ire (Gunpowder Flask), an important accessory for your teppo. Used for centuries, both the bamboo and gourd canteens are natural and safe to drink from. Water can stay fresh for several days and the canteen can be re-used for years. Like the waraji, the suitou bamboo and gourd canteen are essential to any samurai armor set or display.

These Suitou (Canteen) are cut, smoothed, cleaned and crafted by Iron Mountain Armory from the bamboo groves and farms just outside the armory. We offer the option, for both bamboo and gourds canteens, to burn a samurai clan mon or your own personal mon / logo into the side. Please note that this option might add some extra time in the crafting of your Suitou canteen. Weather and influx in orders can also slow crafting time so please be patient when ordering. If you need your order quickly, please let us know.

Order Notes: Please select which style of natural canteen you would prefer, bamboo or gourd. Both are reusable with proper care (see instructions below).

Features:

• Traditional and Natural
• Can be used for drinking, storage, display
• Average Bamboo Dimensions: 20 ~ 25 cm tall by 8 ~ 10 cm wide / Holds average of 20 to 24 ounces of water
• Bamboo canteen comes as seen.
• Average Gourd Dimensions: 15 ~ 20 cm tall by 8 ~ 10 cm wide / Holds average of 18 to 20 ounces of water
• Gourd canteen comes with base stand, funnel and cleaning packet (as seen).

Caring for your canteen: Sui-tou are typically meant for short term use, however with proper care they can last for 1 or more years. Store in cool dry place, out of direct sunlight. Fill your canteen to 25%, add cleaning seeds (provided with gourd) or small beads, close the top and shake vigorously for 25 seconds. You can sanitize your canteen by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Mix the sanitizing solution in your sui-tou by shaking it for 25 seconds (do not let soak). After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water and let dry.

All Suitou (Sui-tou) are handmade by Iron Mountain Armory at the time of your order.  Items are seasonal and there may be some delay. Please allow at least 1 week for crafting of this item.

Additional information