Alex A

Hi Piers, no expert The most obvious difference is one seems to have delicate thin metal around the kogai ana, the other quite thick. Patina, level of surface pitting seems to differ between them. Both large as you point out Get the impression someone paired them together at some point. Impossible to say when but who knows, perhaps a previous owner in the past knows they were paired together, family history.

Amazing Piers, what a vast array there is.. We are very lucky to have you on NMB!. Do you know if all those cannon were manufactured in Japan ? .No expert, some look Japanese and some Western, i guess maybe influenced by Western Cannon around at that time, especially the one on the Naval carriage. One reminds me of a lantaka. A lot to take in, appears quite a few could come under the "swivel cannon" type. A really nice ornate cannon, looks bronze. Like the one on the carriage with the wood stock., that's fantastic, i want one. Lots of various cannon balls/shells. They actually remind me of that Sherman round from ww2. Absolutely amazing collection, id have a field day in there lol

Yes please Piers, love cannon, cheers Ps, about stuff in boxes. Was curious about the pocket pistol above and contacted the dealer. Always have doubts so asked if the box was original to the gun. Appears not, even though looks it. Live and learn, pays to be curious about such matters.

Wouldn't look forward to moving house with some of those cannons, look really heavy!

Boxed stuff, great to own. Like you only see in high end collections or via forgotten weapons etc on YouTube. Above, wow.

Piers, yes, those small fully stocked flintlocks. The only relevance to this thread being what Michael was saying. Been looking for several years and you just don't see them, good ones anyways. Then all of a sudden one dealer in particular seems to have a no ending run of them coming onto his site, its as though an old collector is giving it up and consigning his collection . Cant remember ever seeing one with the box, this type, same dealer A Small Cased Flintlock Pistol (garthvincent.com)

Piers, when something rare comes along that you have been after for a while then you have to pull the trigger (even when skint lol) Who knows when it will turn up again, maybe decades Well done, looking forward to seeing them Ps, coincidentally, also noticed a few rarities lately. Seems to be quite a few of those pocket pistols around lately that i like, does seem like some old collector has sent them on to the market.

Briefly read about the fleur-de-lys symbol and it is linked with Christianity. One issue i have is whether or not the pattern on the Kabuto is in fact fleur-de-lys decor ? Very little linking that symbol to Japan and its use there, but who knows, maybe I'm wrong. Just seems a very bold claim. I guess biased beliefs come easier when your on the selling end.

Know the feeling Russ. You see a random flintlock and then end up reading about Blackbeard Must work for them.

Well, this dealer is known for the odd cheeky monkey prices and write-ups. Also, possibly the "Shogun effect", a situation where dealers take advantage of tv shows. I fear some inflated prices ahead

That's a corker, with the old carved waves One that if i owned and sold, one day i would regret it.

Really ? The Lanes Armoury | A Beautiful and Most Impressive Nanban-Nari Kabuto High Conical Samurai Helmet. Likely of A Christian Samurai, Known As Krishitan, Momoyama to Edo Period. With Menpo Face Armour

Paz, There are differing opinions regarding papers. Some folks want them for every sword they own whilst others maybe when it comes to buying expensive swords. Others feel they don't need them at all. Depends on folks knowledge and how deep their pockets are. Some folks rely on papers because they have no interest in wanting to learn about swords, it can be daunting and time consuming so they see it as a shortcut to knowing a sword is authentic. Horses for courses. Thanks Jussi, a surprising amount of data to take in there, wow, 207 examples of a Nagamitsu swords. Makes me wonder. As you mention, NBTHK is a business and i kind of would feel slightly disappointed if they were not making headway down there regarding compiling information/images onto a pc and learning something new from it. Maybe i expect too much though. They have the opportunity to look further with the numbers they see and record, though obviously that would have to be independent of Shinsa. schedule.

Come back for one more point as this thread is interesting. Well Kirill, i understand what your saying. Folks can work stuff out if they have some knowledge and know what they see and give an opinion, obviously. Unfortunately, an Alex Hozen or a Kirill Hozen etc don't cut it in the sales market. There are more sought after opinions from wiser folks that give opinions with blade in hand and not images.

Seriously John, never going to happen but if NBTHK made ALL info regarding ALL Hozen mei available to the general public. Regarding all the well known smiths, I would assume it will blow anything we own out of the water and make those that think they have it sussed realise that they don't. Would bet even eyebrows get raised down there as to what got passed in the past. Though the ongoing nature of what they do puts them in charge and they get to see it in a perspective we will never likely see. Made the point, don't want to keep coming on here and upsetting folks. Will end on that, again lol. Bye.