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Showing content with the highest reputation on 09/24/2020 in Posts

  1. 6 points
  2. HI all, Just for fun I thought I'd ask about blade lengths in Rinji mounts. Now, I haven't really been taking notes on this, but GENERALLY speaking, I think I notice that the "government mandated" type rinji made in Seki/Nagoya/Gifu with steel scabbard, tends to have a (government regulation?) short blade c. 62 cm while the private order mounts with lacquered wood scabbard and hilt have longer blades c.64-66 cm. To illustrate this, here are two of my Rinji: 1. Privately made/mounted gendaito blade by Tsukamoto Masakazu (older bro. of Okimasa of Tokyo) with a blade length of 69.5 cm. This is the longest blade I have seen in a rinji mount. 2. Seki Sword Co. made Govt. mandated steel mounts with RJT blade of Nakata Kanehide at 62.5cm. Any comments...examples? (BTW, the long sword is much lighter than the short sword). Regards,
    3 points
  3. Possibly the other way around. Tanto lost importance with the decree of the Bushi to wear a pair of swords (katana and wakizashi) in the Edo period. Only in Bakumatsu did this rule soften and Tanto became popular again. Nevertheless, the tanto was reserved for the nobility and the samurai. Certain commoners were allowed to wear a wakizashi, but not a tanto. But it's only one possible explanation ...
    2 points
  4. While I am pretty confident it is a repro, remember that F&G do talk about the Type 32s that were made in Japan and sold to foreign military's (I think they say these lacked the 'cannonball' stamps), as well as foreign made swords that are basically aesthetically identical. They only briefly mention it, but thought it was worth dredging up some basic from so long ago in case people have forgotten. Oh, they were not talking about the PLA swords either. Those are an entirely different pattern they mention separately. I still think repro; Stephen has mentioned a few times that there were a ton of these made quite a few decades ago, so patina might be genuine, even if the sword is not.
    2 points
  5. These in orange are a) most of the original *Chinese style inscription, and then below that is b) Aoi Art's Japanese "説明" setsumei explanation as to the meaning, for Japanese customers. *The full stops/periods will be Aoi Art's decision on punctuation. c) is their English version. For accuracy I take no responsibility, but here is my own easier English version. Please forgive any artistic license. 'On the 8th February of the year Kanoe-U, a child appeared and apprenticed with many swordsmiths. He was given the name Itten Kun, (One Heaven). This my Tachi took 17 days before I could go and receive it; allegedly the Ken blade was created by folding and tempering more than 70 times. The child appeared again and declared that this blade would keep the country free of disasters for 200 years, that it would pacify the land, and that no enemy opposing this blade would be able to strike or escape even if they tried for three years. "I am the child of the Jizo" he said, and then disappeared. This story is hereby recorded for posterity.' 切付銘: 庚卯二月八日童子来。鍛冶随多一天君賜名。 我大刀可得一七日以後降来ト。日去某不審成。七十余 度鍛此剣作童子又来此剣貳百年迄国土治此羽 向敵不打共不官三年我ハ地蔵之童子也ト玄給為 末世記之置物也 説明:庚卯二月八日童子来たり鍛冶多きを従えて一天君の名を賜る 我が太刀を得べく十七日以後来と 日ひて某不審成とも七十余度鍛え此の剣作  童子又来り此の剣二百年官災いを避けて国土治まる 此れに刃向かう敵は3年逃れられず(3年は生きてはいられない) 我は地蔵の 童子なりと去り給いて末世の為に之を記し置く事なり Kiritsuke Mei(Explanation): 8th February Kanoe-U year,a child came and received the made of Ichigenkun with a lot of swordsmiths. We wanted and waited for 17 days for a sword. The sword was forged over 70 times. This sword 200 years avoiding this country disaster and the enemy who faces this is not able to escape for 3 years(enemy can not live for 3 years). A child said he was a child of Jizo(Kshitigarbha). And he left. I wrote this for posterity.
    2 points
  6. Hi, Goto Sakujo + kao 後藤作乗
    2 points
  7. Try putting a wire down inside the Saya to see how far it is cut out. I have seen long Saya with shorter blades that were cut out for that blade and as Gwyn said they were made to “ look bigger” Others were just repurposed from longer blades. MikeR
    2 points
  8. Call the Post Master at your local USPS. Give him/her the tracking Info and ask for help. Explain how long your package has been "stuck". Hopefully the post master can track it and get it moving. I've always had good luck with long delayed packages and "stuck" tracking by doing that. Hope you get your sword soon. Rich
    2 points
  9. For sale Nambokucho wakizashi papered to Ko-Uda Kunifusa circa 1381. A very nice example of Kunifusa's work, a top smith in the Uda School and a student of Norishige. A flawless blade, no kitae-ware at all. 17.5" (44.5cm) nagasa. Comes in a shirasaya with a very fine gold foil habaki. Koshirae consists of a black lacquer saya, the fuchigashira is shakudo with Lily flowers, Kozuka is in the same theme, menuki are floral, tsuba is ko-kinko also in a floral theme. Overall, a great blade with a very nice koshirae. SOLD. Shipping to US addresses only. If you are interested reply here and shoot me a PM for details.
    1 point
  10. Hi everyone, Was wondering if anyone had any additional information on this tsuba design here? Is this a hidden dragon motif? Jason
    1 point
  11. I've had several of those in the past, but I think this is the only piece I currently have with udenuki ana Best rkg (Richard George)
    1 point
  12. Anthony, are you looking for a sale description to list it somewhere? Most consider it polite to mention that if you are.
    1 point
  13. Yes Bruce, you are right...I also have that drawing of "govt. mandated" RS mounts (pub. 1944) and the length given is 66.6 (maybe a maximum?) and it is what prompted me to ask about blade lengths as mine is only 62.5 cm. I also posted that pic above of my RJT Kanehide because it was in identical mounts (originally announced by Tojo in 1941) with 2 buttons. Also...what you say about Tojo saying the RS should be made of tamahagane makes sense as, if you look at any RJT blade in govt. mandated steel scabbard mounts, all RJT I have seen in these mounts have two buttons....but showato do not. My OP was a question about the blade lengths in govt. mandated steel scabbard RS mounts. Except for my RJT Kanehide blade above, we have not had any feedback details on these. I thought lots of NMB members had them?
    1 point
  14. Nakago has more shinshinto (if not more recent) look - deep, widely spaced yasurime, light patina which is very patchy at the top. However, if the drawing you made is correct, clustered choji with points looking towards each other is basically Muromachi Bizen trait. It was not really popular in shinshinto, you usually see there larger choji, and if clustered, then actually more spreading out rather than pointing towards each other. I would check boshi, if its pourely straight then early Edo until about Joji it is. If its certainly not suguha, then conversely you can practically speaking cross over the early Edo as a possibility. Judging by shape it theoretically can anything between the late Muromachi and shinshinto, though some periods are more likely than others. Kirill R.
    1 point
  15. I got this from DaveR on one of the "Type 3" threads. If my math is right, isn't it saying that the nagasa is to be 2 saku 2 sun = 66.6 cm? That seems kind of long, doesn't it, and not lining up with real life blades (once we get some actual measurements!)? I must say, though, that often the mil specs didn't always pan out in real life for gunto. Nick Komiya posted a note from Tojo, himself, who stated the RS model should be made of tamahagane! I also find it interesting that the bottom sketch of the fittings seems to have a release button on the koiguchi.
    1 point
  16. Thomas, Thank you for the information on Marutake Sangyo CO,LTD. I think that you are correct thinking that they made the armor. When I bought the armor I was buying a decorative piece not an antique since a date of 1912 for a Japanese piece is hardly antique. The auction catalog stated the piece was Taishō. When I examined the armor closely I did question some aspects of the decorations on the metal work. The decorations were die struck rather than hand engraved and chased and the box is made of plywood. The rest of the armor is beautifully made of very high quality. I am very aware of quality workmanship since I am a sculptor who uses many Japanese metalworking techniques and materials. The least expensive armor on the Marutake website is priced at more than twice what I paid for my armor so I am not unhappy. Thank you again for your information. Dick
    1 point
  17. One example of an old blade in Rinji mounts from http://ohmura-study.net/753.html I suspect that the shorter nakago on the older blades was an issue.
    1 point
  18. Gunome midare with some choji The rust should be stabilised. Have seen people here recommending using horn to scrape it away but repeated treatment with choji oil should suffice. This here is one of these rare cases where the application of uchiko will actually improve things as uchiko is a mild enough abrasive to retain the hamon etc but remove rust.
    1 point
  19. I wince every time I see those active red rust patches.
    1 point
  20. Hello Morita san, Many thanks for the translation
    1 point
  21. http://yoroi.co.jp/english/english/history.html http://yoroi.co.jp/english/english/product-2.html
    1 point
  22. I'll second that, Peter! My fencing blades have been a topic of pointed conversation for quite a few years. My wife trains with me in all the other weapons arts, so she doesn't complain about Japanese blades, but I can't say the same about the many foils, sabers, epees, & rapiers I've accumulated over 69 years of fencing! Nice rapier collection, by the way. And that's a very-nice tansu setup, Chris!
    1 point
  23. The main motif looks like a bag (full with goods), the small sukashi could be either a Cintamani (wish fulfilling jewel), or a kukurizaru. You can find a bag (fukuro) on several crests and the Cimantani (hōju) in countless scrolls. I have found one painting where Hotei (bag on his shoulders) is looking at a hōju jewel: https://blogos-haha.blogspot.com/2019/08/wish-fulfilling-vases-of-void-continued.html And here is a painting with a Cimantani (hōju): https://www.schneiblefinearts.com/shop/Japanese-asian-fine-art/Japan-old-hoju-wish-granting-jewel-scroll-hand-painted-calligraphy-signed-2/ (disclosure: I am in no way associated with the seller of this painting) Kukurizaru (photo from this blog: https://www.2aussietravellers.com/walking-kyoto-ryozen-kannon/) Fukuro kamon (picture stolen from Pinterest):
    1 point
  24. Interesting Bruce, I also do not have a showato Rinji sword so can't comment. My Rinji sets are all gendaito...maybe it would help if I set out the lengths: Remember, that first one by Masakazu is private order Rinji mounts and blade, so I suppose you could order any length you liked? So here the 5 are with dates/lengths - 2 private made blades...3 RJT blades: 4/17 private order rinji mounts, blade, by Masakazu, Fukushima ken = 69.5 cm blade (he became a RJT about this time). 1/19 private order rinji mounts, blade by Seisui, Tokyo (made Shinano ken) = 62.1 cm blade (unknown smith - one-off?) 5/18 private order rinji mounts, blade by Munetoshi Niigata ken RJT star 64.0 cm 5/19 govt mandated steel mounts , blade by Kanehide, Seki/Gifu ken RJT star = 62.5 cm. I should say that from 1941 Kanehide worked for the Seki Sword Co and was an RJT there. Obviously this company received govt. produced "stock standard" rinji mounting parts I have seen several Kanehide star blades in govt. steel mounts (but with 2 buttons). 8/19 private order rinji mounts, blade by Kunihide, Kyoto RJT star = 66.8 cm Not sure this tells us much...be interesting if members told us date, rinji mounts type and maker/length of their swords...maybe nothing, but they seem to be shorter in rinji mounts. Regards, Edit to add...wow Chris...excellent. All within the 62-67 cm range. This seems to fit my list here except for the Masakazu at 69.5...I wonder how many long ones will turn up? I think my 69.5 blade is just because it was private order...I don't think we will see a RJT blade that long? Great stuff.
    1 point
  25. Hi George here my measurements. Masayoshi: Nagasa 66,4 cm Yoshitada: Nagasa 62,5 cm Munemitsu: Nagasa 65,8 cm Akihisa: Nagasa 64,7 cm Nagamitsu: Nagasa 65,72 cm The longest Rinji mounted sword i have is from (Kosaka) Masayoshi 正義 (April 1944) with 66,4 cm blade lenght. All of these are RJT star stamped gendaito.
    1 point
  26. You may be correct about the interpretation - you need some good imagination though. I found this one on https://www.nihonto.com/3-2-20/ there are some common elements when you look side by side. Perhaps other people can find something closer. The 'head' of the dragon represented by the circle in the circle reminds me of the rain dragon heads. It could at a stretch be water drops splashing in a pond causing ripples?
    1 point
  27. Why was it so cheap, I wonder? The metal alone should be worth more than that. (Seppa I guess most people keep in a box or drawer somewhere. Not to worry about the side panels. There are some similar ones in a tsuba that I came across recently, but that would be off-topic.) PS The sukashi leaf in the Tadatsugu tsuba above could be either 菊 Kiku (chrysanthemum) or 梶 Kaji (Paper mulberry), which appear to my eyes to be identical in my Mon book. The 'edit' function has since disappeared, so I'm adding this information here.
    1 point
  28. Mark From Google: there are other sites; https://doyouknowjapan.com/symbols/ I looked through Hawley's book of Mon - nothing exact Rich
    1 point
  29. I think that it is made like that for balance when it is worn. Imagine trying to put it through your obi and wear it like a wakizashi if the saya was only as long as the blade...
    1 point
  30. I saw that too, Dave, but I have seen legit kabu with squared edges. Strange paint job, but the quality or the metal-work is clearly legit on this one, as compared to the sloppy work on the item in question. Neil, Good point on the color of the cloth wrap!
    1 point
  31. Made 1933 and gave as a gift to the Imperial family when the later Akihito Tenno was born. A short sword with the "rest material" of the Amulett sword was offered to the Iwashimizu-Hachi Mangu shrine in 1960. https://sumikai.com/nachrichten-aus-Japan/kultur/zeremonielles-kurzschwert-der-kaiserfamilie-wird-ausgestellt-246978/ Best
    1 point
  32. Here are the kanji from the paper if it makes anyone's life a little easier in terms of working out the meaning. I can't make any sense of it: 庚卯二月八日童子来鍛冶[ ]多一天君賜名找大刀可得一七日以後来卜日玄某 不審成七十余度鍛此釼作童子又来此釼貳百年迄国土治此羽 向敵不打共不[ ]三年找八地蔵之童子也卜玄給為末世記之置者也
    1 point
  33. This is an excellent sword, which I owned for several years. Whoever buys it is going to be very pleased. Best regards, Ray
    1 point
  34. Daniel Bürgin from Switzerland wrote the book: Muteki - ohne Gegner ( German ) Geschichten von japanischen Schwertschmieden und Schwertern published june 2020 "Es ist die Absicht, von einer repräsentativen Auswahl japanischer Schwertschmiede mehr zu überliefern als nur den Namen und ein paar Lebensdaten." I have his book: " Auf der Suche nach Yamato", and it's great. Anyone recomment or not? Best
    1 point
  35. Dear Piers. I think this is the one. https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-shiga-seki-kanenobu-with-kiritsuke-mei/ The translation certainly leaves a lot to be desired. Like coherence. Looking forward to what you can make of it. All the best.
    1 point
  36. Just to add these two. The first is signed Yama Kichibei but the condition is not good. The holes look practical and aesthetically pleasing. The second is signed Tadatsugu, (possibly Umetada school of Kyoto). The holes seem to be a design feature to offset the chrysanthemum leaf sukashi.
    1 point
  37. I have seen far cruder fittings on genuine swords. FAR cruder. Are we all so quick to forget the Seki sticker swords? Let me see if I can find the thread to jog some memories. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21190-seki-inspection-tag-on-combat-saya/ (you will have to work with the mix of paper and foil stickers/swords shown and follow a few linked threads. There was a better thread but who knows where that was pre 2016...) The late war type 98 kabutogane Dave posted should be enough of a reminder that crude fittings are not a decisive factor. Having said that, I won't comment on the actual sword in question as it would just be a guess. I really don't know if it is genuine. There will be some to say yes, others to say no, as the division on the already post shows. Good luck deciding if your sword is genuine, but consensus is leaning to no.
    1 point
  38. Hello Dick, The armour was manufactured by a company called Marutake Sangyo CO,LTD, they started manufacturing armour in the 1960's, primarily for film/tv. Given that it was purchased 15 years ago and that some of the features are still in production today I would say that it likely dates to the 90's.
    1 point
  39. This is my example of udenuki no ana in collection. And a simplier design from same smith (myochin ki yoshishige) I have a question, I saw several early tsuba with only one hole on bottom, not two, one seemed to be a kokinko, not sure, but looked old, the other was an iron, but with ganmaku later add, and from what I remember, ganmaku was popular during momoyama period, so it means the tsuba would be older, and it also had one single hole on bottom, maybe it's for same purpose, and then fashion changed, two holes were more efficient than only one?!
    1 point
  40. Maybe not worth much, but sooo kawaii 😁!
    1 point
  41. On the subject of this private order Tsukamoto Masakazu blade above. I have a couple of questions members might be able to help with...Just to add to the Rinji Seishiki knowledge base. Have a look at pics. 1. the blade is 69.5 cm.(27 3/8 in)...have other menbers seen this length blade in Rinji mounts ? 2. notice that the menuki are gilt/brass pattern instead of the usual 'Rinji pattern' black iron menuki...have members seen these as well?...maybe just a private order "customer choice" thing? Be interested to know just how "varied" the Rinji sytem was. Regards, (Edit) well there you go...I should have looked at post #55 on this thread and I would have seen the gilt/brass menuki on a Rinji...duuhh! Well, still interested in how common they are and answers on long blades.
    1 point
  42. And within this model there was a good better best range. Different wrap materials Some had German silver seppa, some had dust cover seppa. There were one and two button latches Same ranged from ray skin, celluloid, canvas Sayas were painted metal to fancy wood. Some had screw mekugi, some bamboo A great variety.
    1 point
  43. Was going through some old threads and found this little interesting topic. Sorry to say I don´t visit the "Tosogu" area as much as I should. One area of collecting I def don´t master. But there is still hope :D Me and fellow boardmember Anthony, visited Kagoshima last year. Through contacts we got invited to the dojo of Jigen Ryo. A very old sword school famous for it´s aggressive style of fighting. We even got to train one hour with the current sensei and two of his students. When I say we, I should say Anthony. I managed to slip whilst in the bathroom, the very same morning, and broke my toe. Not my proudest moment... Anyway... Besides the traning (aggressively beating the daylight out of a tree trunk) we also got a tour of the dojos small museum. Amongst many interesting object connected to the Jigen Ryu, was a handfull of tsubas. Everyone showed the same traits. Very simple design. Two small holes punched into the iron. The overall size of the katana-tsubas was small compared to the "normal" tsubas. Through a interpreter the sensei kindly explained te reason for this look. The simple design reflected the economic situation for many of the Satsuma samurai. Having the largest number of samurais in Japan (over 30000) the individual samurai had a rather small stipend compare to other areas in Japan. The two small holes (the same size) was used as a way of control for the sensei. The first rule of Jigen Ryu is "A sword shall not be drawn from it´s scabbard unless it is to attack" The sensei tied a small string of ricepaper to the saya. If the student came back with the string broken, he had to explain the reason why. With the nature of the Jigen Ryu, I guess the student also had to present the head of his opponent The reason for the small size of the tsuba was very clear. A student of Jigen Ryu only needs one strike. Two strikes is inconceivably. Therefore there is no need for a big tsuba to protect the wearer of the sword. Nuff said!!! Here´s a picture of my Satsuma-tsuba Jigen Ryu-style. Looks very much alike the ones in the museum. Jan
    1 point
  44. Yes Piers...... I have noticed you keep coming up with these 'not so simple' topics. Then again, nothing in Nihonto is straightforward is it? :D
    1 point
  45. The kawari mokkō-gata (変り木瓜形) tsuba is mine; the tsuba with udenuki-ana shaped as orbits of a skull is from "The Japanese sword and its fittings, from the collections of the members of the Japanese Sword Society of New York and the Cooper Union Museum", 1966, p. 22. Bye, Mauro
    1 point
  46. And are these Undenuki Ana ? Not that sure.... What is the design therefore?
    1 point
  47. Just check my collection and discocvered an Hizen one....
    1 point
  48. So far so good. However, I would like to take this a little further. Some of the examples posted have only one hole in a position at the edge quadrant of the tsuba, some a single hole on the mune quadrant of the tsuba. I wonder what is the purpose of this when the tying of an udenuki no O is done in a specific way that requires two holes in a specific position. An udenuki No O has a specific purpose just as the sayadome also have a specific purpose. A single hole indicates possibly a different purpose. I have added a picture of one of my wakizashi tsuba with a single hole. There would seem to be no stylistic purpose to this one hole, which only leaves a practical reason for its presence. Any Ideas gentlemen??
    1 point
  49. 1 point
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