MikeS

Hello. I went to the exhibition at the AGNSW yesterday, and would highly recommend anyone in Sydney to do the same. The exhibition is nicely laid out, making it very easy to see the detail in some very fine swords, fittings and armour. My observation of non Nihonto people at the exhibition, is they very interested all the items (eaves-dropping is always good for a laugh) and the exhibition was well attended. Congrats to all involved. Cheers. Mike Smith Sydney Australia.

Just what I was looking for. Thankyou. Mike Smith Sydney Australia

G'day again. Dave. Hachi is metal. Don't know about the missing rivets but probably had a hard life when it arrived down under. Uwe. Yes, should have mentioned the material and lacquer. Will do. Didn't ask about the mon as I knew it was a bit pointless. Thanks all for the help. Mike Smith Sydney Australia.

Thanks Uwe and Ian. I was leaning toward Kaga (Haruta) but not enough knowledge to say with any certainty. Everytime I read something, it suggested a different school to the last bit of information. Much more learning in front of me. Interesting bit of information about the shape of the Shikoro. The kabuto belongs to the Museum I work at, so it will remain in its present condition. So should I say on the label... SAN JU NI KEN ZA-BOSHI SUJI-BACHI KABUTO. Possibly Myochin school, Kaga Province, Edo period. Thanks for the help. Mike Smith Sydney Australia

G'day Uwe. Thanks for the reply. I was after a school and date, if possible. I thought the rivets with washers may help as well as the two rows of rivets on the front and no rivets on the opposite plate, combined with the goshozan shape. From my limited library I have not been able to achieve much but I am enjoying the challenge. Cheers. Mike Smith Sydney Australia

G'day. Need some help with a kabuto that belongs to the Museum that I work at. I am enjoying researching Katchu (instead of Nihonto) but am afraid I am not able to get to far with the kabuto. It is 32 plate in poor condition. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Mike Smith Sydney Australia.

G'day All. To add to Chris Bowens Shigetsugu mon photos is an Ikkansai Masatsune. This is the only photo I have but it is done very much in the Shigetsugu Bizen style. I know he worked post-war but not not much more than that. Any one have any information? Cheers. Mike.

G'day. There is a Juyo Bunkazai Shizu Kaneuji that is signed katana mei and is a little over 2 shaku (62.4 cm). It is also Kiriha. See Nihon To Koza V.3, page F18-19. As translated by H. Watson, the authors mention that they are unsure if it is "an unusual example of a tachi by Kaneuji or to view it as a relic of the beginning of the uchigatana period..." If we knew what the original koshirae looked like we maybe able to decide. Either way, it is a very interesting sword and I would love to see it one day. Cheers. Mike Smith Sydney, Australia.

Just been informed that the Horikawa Kuniyasu is not on display at the AGNSW. Sorry. None the less, what ever is on display is still worth a visit. Cheers. Mike Smith Sydney Australia.

Hi Barry, Alan and the rest of you. There are more photos of the sword being dicussed here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10094 The sword in the AGNSW is I believe Horikawa Kuniyasu. The sword in The Australian Museum is Hidari Kaneyasu. Both worth checking out if your in Sydney. Cheers. Mike Smith Sydney Australia

G'day all. I am after oshigata and information on Hidari Mutsu and his students. I wish to expand on an article written a decade-ish ago. Have the ususal basic references such as Fujishiros, Kanzan Shinto oshigata dictionary, Nihonto Koza (Afus), Token Yoran, even Shinto Benji Oshigata etc. Am very interested in oshigata with "Washu Ju" or any odd mei. Any Japanese text, translated or not, would also be appreciated. Private Message me or email via PM. Thanks. Mike Smith Sydney Australia.

G'day all. For those of you in Sydney, Australia, we currently have a Hidari Mustu (Mutsu Kami Kaneyasu) on display at The Australian Museum. A previous poster posted a link. If anyone has examples of his other mei, I would appreciate them. Thanks Mike Smith Sydney, Australia

Thanks Moriyama and Tom. I like the look of the second Yoshitaka. The two characters I thought may have been a place name but "cane and lacquer" craftsman makes sense. I have attached an image of the Ebira and Yanone that came with it. Thanks again. Mike Smith.

G'day all. I need some help with the translation of a Yumi I own. It is dated Tenpo Ju ? Nen. (1839). There are two unknown characters and then the mei which looks like Yoshinobu although I am unsure of the Nobu part. There is a twin of this bow at the following websight http://www.artsofthesamurai.com/Acker/html/yumi.html Any help would be appreciated. Cheers Mik Smith.

Thanks for the help. I understand it was a long shot but being a variation on a popular kamon I thought it may have less families using it and be "easier" to trace. Have attached some images of the tsuka with a what I assume to be a sun and moon theme. There seems to be quite a few tanto with early Meiji dates. Was this the roll of the dice for swordsmiths or was there a demand for tanto during this period? Thanks Mike Smith Sydney Australia

Thanks Guido. I have looked in Hawleys and I know it is not always reliable but he does have some useful information. Anyway, I don't think it is in there. I thought that because it is an uncommon kamon it might be easier to trace. The tanto is dated Meiji 4 and I would assume that it is the only koshirae that it has had and thus the kamon is probably from the same time period as the tanto. Are there records of kamon? Were they of low importance that they "were not copyrighted, and basically could be chosen and changed freely." Again thanks for the help Mike Smith

Thanks for the help. I have seen that mon before and it seems to be fairly well know compared with the mon in question with the squares (or diamonds or paper) the same size. I was hoping that maybe it was not as common and therefore would be easier to narrow down a family. What does the Bishi mean in "Maru ni kasane sankai bishi" ( my translation is a "pile or stack of three ? in a circle"). Thanks. Mike Smith Sydney Australia.

G'day All. Does any one know of this mon (or is it kamon?)? It is on a koshirae of a Shinshinto tanto by Kurume Suketoshi of the Yokoyama Sukenaga mon. I am not sure what to call it to do a search but it could be 3 layers of paper. I have seen 3 squares of differing sizes but not the same size as I have. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Mike Smith. Sydney Australia.

My thoughts were it may have been for a wedding which may fit with a female name. What is the story of tanto and weddings? Have attached a photo of the bonji. Thanks again. Mike Smith

More photos. The label is worn and these are the remaining kanji as best as I could photograph. Thanks for the help thus far. Mike Smith

G'day All (first post for a long time lurker). I have a tanto which I think is post Shinshinto, signed Kanekuni. I cannot locate this Kanekuni. Has anyone seen this mei? (Hopefully images should be attched) Possible a Seki smith due to the yasurimei. It also has a kanji engraved which I cannot translate. It maybe the carver of a bonji on the blade. Not a particularly attractive blade but I would like to know more. It is in a Shirasaya with a label adhered onto the shirasaya. Label kanji are worn and hard to make out. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers. Mike Smith Sydney Australia.