How to choose your Iaito

The Hamon on the Iaito is for purely aesthetic reasons and has no effect on the usage of the weapon.
On Shinken (Katana), it results from selective quenching, and its quality depends heavily on the forge.
The Iaito being made of aluminum, it cannot be sharpened, the Hamon is made by sanding it using a stencil. In the same category of Hamon (e.g. Notare, Midare), the workshop has dozens of stencils, all slightly varying, so that there are very few identical Hamon.

The groove, called “Hi” or “Bohi” in Japanese, has several purposes; it can make the blade lighter and more flexible or help draining the blood for instance, but some options are simply aesthetic (such as the design of the bottom and end of the groove).

The habaki is the piece of metal circling the base of the blade. It has the two main purposes, locking the tsuba in place, maintaining the sword in the Saya. Unlike Shinken Habaki, that can be incredibly expensive, Iaito Habaki are standardized and gently forced in place. This means that it is not recommended to remove/change the Habaki on a Iaito blade.
The seppa are washers used in front and behind the tsuba to tighten the fittings, made of copper. They are mandatory to keep the Tsuba in place securely.

Minosaka offers 3 different models: Muji (plain), Shonai, and Yujo, that are available in brass finish, gold plated finish or silver plated finish. The Seppa are available in bronze, raw brass, gold plated and silver plated finishes.

The Tsuba has two main functions: aesthetic and balance adjustment.
A heavy Tsuba shifts the balance towards the Tsuka, making the Iaito easier to handle whereas a light Tsuba will push the balance towards the Kissaki (choose the latter if you decide to focus on cutting training).
Tsuba are usually made of Iron, sometimes stainless steel, with different finishes.

Minosaka offers 19 models to chose from, for all Minosaka models.

The Samekawa or "shark skin" is the part under the Tsukaito. Despite being called a "samekawa", and because shark hunting isn't really a thing nowadays, stingray skin is used instead. Its main purpose is to keep the Tsukaito in place and to reinforce the Tsuka structure. The same is sanded and polished in order to produce a durable high quality type of leather. On live blades (Shinken) mount, the Same is a "maki same", wrapper around the Tsuka wood. However, for cost reasons, Iaito Tsuka are made with two rectangular pieces of same embedded in the Tsuka. This is called Tanzaku-same. The Maki-same option is possible on Minosaka Iaito on request.

Same exist in different quality and type.
Minosaka offers both classic white and black finishes.

The Fuchi is a hilt collar between the tsuka and the tsuba. It serves as a reinforcment for the Tsuka (handle). The tang of the sword goes into the tsuka through the opening in the fuchi.
The Kashira is a pommel on the end of the tsuka, which serves, similarly to the Fuchi, as reinforcement for the Tsuka (handle). It usually features a hole that is used to secure the tsukaito (wrapping). Some kashira, and notably Suigyu (water buffalo) made Kashira do not have a hole, which forces to slightly change how the maki (wrapping) is done.

Minosaka's Koshirae (models) are based on the Fuchi and Kashira featured. Minosaka does not offer full custom workshop, so fuchi and Kashira modification is therefore not possible.
All Fuchi/Kashira are available as standalone products and all technical information for each Fuchi/Kashira is detailed on each product page.

Menuki are ornaments on the tsuka to fit into the palm for grip and originally meant to distract the eyes from the mekugi (peg). It is generally placed under the wrapping, but may also appear over the wrapping, especially with a Ikkan-maki or Hira-maki wrapping style. Although the Menuki may influence the balance of the weapon, it is very subtle given its light weight.
Minosaka offers 14 models to chose from, for all Minosaka models.

The Tsukaito has two main purposes: it serves as a grip and it holds the Tsuka tightly together. A tightly wrapped Tsuka is extremely important for security.
Cotton allows a better absorbtion of the sweat but is less durable than silk and leather. It is the standard option on most Iaito. Silk feels a little harder and may not be recommended for beginners but has a significantly longer lifespan. Leather does not absorbs sweat but offers an excellent grip and is the most durable material. Leather is available in standard and suede version (napped finish). The latter has a slightly better grip, it keeps dye better and is therefore available in more colors than standard leather; it is, however, slightly less durable.
Minosaka offer cotton, silk and leather Tsukaito.

The Saya is made of two piece of Japanese magnolia wood that are glued together. It is reinforced by both the Sayajiri (end of the Saya), the Koiguchi, and of course, the lacquer. For cost reasons, unlike Shinken, the lacquer of Saya for Iaito are not made from traditional Urushi lacquer but from modern urethane lacquer.

Saya lacquers are usually separated into 4 groups: "classical lacquers", "Kawari-nuri" for combinations (multiple lacquers used on the same Saya), "Kizami" for lacquers applied on a modified Saya (e.g. Saya with shapes carved into the wood) and "Maki" for Saya partly wrapped in another material (such as shark skin or wicker). Kawari-nuri cannot be combined with Maki or Kizami. Each available option is detailed on product pages.

The Kurikata is the piece placed 7.5 cm from the Koiguchi (Saya hole) on the Omote side of the Saya, used to nest the Sageo. It is possible to move the Kurikata on request for all models (see product options).

The Sayajiri (saya butt) is usually finished with buffalo horn (synthetic material in the case of Iaito), but it is possible to replace the buffalo horn by a piece of metal called a Kojiri, which significantly reinforces the Saya.
The classic shape of traditional Shinken Saya is slightly narrower at the end than at the koiguchi. It is therefore recommend to select a Kojiri that is slightly smaller than the fuchi. Kojiri are very often made from the same design as the fuchi and kashira.

Minosaka does not offer any Kojiri option. However, three models have a Kojiri "by default" on their Koshirae: Toppei Koshirae, Shinto Higo Koshirae and Tensho Koshirae.

The Sageo, the braided cord that comes on the Saya kurikata, has two main purposes; it is tied to the Obi (belt) to prevent the Saya from falling when the sword is with its owner, and it has an ornemental purpose when the sword is displayed. Some Koryu also teach how to use the Sageo as a weapon or to tie an opponent's hands (hojujutsu). It is also said that the cord serves as a spiritual bond between the samurai and the sword.

Minosaka offers classic cotton and silk Sageo as well as a check pattern cotton model.