I picked this up a month ago from an estate. From my research so far the Do and kote are 16th century and the other parts have been added on. It is in need of repair as some of the kuzazuri need to be re-laced to the Do. There are two smaller sections that are off completely. All of the kuzazuri are there. The helmet is confusing, as it is very light weight. It appears to be just a thin metal that has been laquered over. I would appreciate some opinions and some advice or repair.

Hi Jasper,
interesting Do, but can`t see iyozane plates. Looks nerikawa, or at least leather covered.
Kote 16th century... ...don`t think so.
Only first glance.....
Uwe

Hon iyozane maru dou are rather rare, it appears to have bear fur trim on the bottom of the kusazuri. Is there just one suneate? Dont count the zunari kabuto out as not matching as it is an etchu zunari which from what I have read was what would have come with an Hosakawa armor, which I believe your armor may be. I do not think this type of armor would have originally had sode (not all armors did). The kote appear to be of the correct style for this armor also. More pictures of the haidate and suneate would be helpful. Is the inside of the kabuto black instead of the usual red?

You can read some info here.
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/a ... r-hosokawa

You can compare your armor to this one that is a complete suit of Hosakawa armor incuding an etchu zunari kabuto.
http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz23 ... f%20armor/

Uwe, it is indeed a hon iyozane (true large scales) maru dou (no hinge), it is made from hundreds of individual large scales (iyozane), made from iron or mixed iron and rawhide (a magnet is needed to tell), the individual scales would be covered in leather (I have read dog leather) and lacquered and laced together. 1600s from what I have read but I have seen one that was reproduced supposedly in the 1800s armor revival.


Here is what the inside would look like.


Here is a link to another one.
http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz23 ... ?start=all

Eric/Jasper,
undoubtedly Hosokawa impression. Hence, the Etchu Zunari is to be expected. Sode are rather later added, as Eric said. Suneate and Haidate seems matching. Kusazuri in kirisuke kozane with bear fur. Well, I have to admit that the Do is Iyozane. What confused me at first, was the rectangular shape of the scales (no dovetail notch)
Uwe

I think that the Do' and Kote are original to each other and are not from the revival period as they have considerable age, but I could be wrong. The Do is made up of individual iron plates as are the kusazari, they are magnetic The sode seem to be the newest parts added and are not part of this style of armor as estcrh pointed out. That is why I think someone just added missing pieces to it over the years. I am missing one suneate and the menpo.

This was one of the first examples that I found.
http://tousando.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=armour&thread=3668&page=1#32730

Jasper -
Not sure anybody mentioned it but a damned nice first find - count me jealous...
-t

Not anyone yet, thank you! I was pretty excited when I first saw it and knew it's potential value right away.

Anyone have any ideas about the kabuto? It seems very light. Most of the weight of the helmet is from the shikoro.

More close-ups of the Do.

Hi Jasper,

Great find, I envy you. On the subject of the kabuto, from the pictures the plates appear to have some thickness, though this could be built up with lacquer. A similar helmet that I have has some weight to it and I wonder if perhaps this is a nerikawa kabuto? The magnet test might be in order.
Enjoy.

If the Kabuto is leather, the chips in the urushi spell disaster if not repaired ASAP. Once the leather gets some moisture in it, it will swell and flakes off the urushi.

It is hard to tell if it is leather. It is slightly flexable. It is not magnetic. The shikoro are magnetic and are much heavier. What other materials were used?

Any recomendations on repair and costs? The shikoro need to be re-laced. Also need some of the kusazuri re re-laced to the Do as well.

If it is not metal then it is nerigawa (rawhide). Here is a link to someone who repairs samurai armour. http://www.katchushi.com/

Jasper, A splendid iyozane maru do in what appears to be excellent condition. Do though be careful though when handling it, the internal laces holding the sane onto the kawashiki will be brittled and will break if flexed too much. Avoid opening it out too far - that is what will do the damage. As for your helmet, if it is nerigawa it is the first ever zunari kabuto made of this material I have ever heard of, never mind having seen. An exceedingly rare item to be cherished. As Justin says, be very careful of humidity. Rob Soanes will do a good job of the lacquer.

Ian Bottomley