md02geist

Is there a good way to identify yari as to whether they might have been samurai or ashigaru use? I would assume build quality would be one as I would guess an ashigaru wouldn't generally have a high quality item unless he had looted it. Are blade shapes or Hamon indicative at all? Same with naginata; is there a good way to determine whether they might have been samurai or something like a sohei? I would assume you would look for heavy religious iconography on the latter. Likewise is there a good way to tell if a yari was designed more for horseback use or foot use, or is there much of a distinction? But I would also guess that in a lot of cases there just isn't any telling. I see a lot to read about swords but not as much about the other weapons.

Thanks Hoanh!

So most of it is legit just in bad shape?

Is that ebay seller any good? I see they have a lot of cheaper Nihonto...is the stuff they sell fake or is it just in less than ideal condition? Seems a lot of their stuff would probably be deemed unfit for restoration but I'm so new I'm just guessing at this point.

Wonderful input and I laughed at the 1/3 what you paid for it comment.

That's neat, would be a great item to have.

Ian that is ridiculously good info, I thank you very much for that. I would love to see some displays like that. And simple items like Yoroi Bitsu are fascinating to me. Do Yoroi Bitsu often come up for sale or in collections, or did they tend to simply be too beat up and fall apart for many of them to be preserved?

I think that is an excellent idea, maybe I will grab a small twig from the same tree. But only a small one or one that is already broken so as not to hurt the tree much if at all. I love my Yoshino, I waited years to get one.

Thank you very much!

No sir, not in a huff. Just saying I don't know him. But yes it was his suggestion.

You'll pardon me but I do not understand what you mean by "CB." Thank you! If those are initials you are correct but I do not know this man from anyone else; I have no idea who he is (I do not mean that disrespectfully I just mean that I simply do not know him or of him).

"The Army instituted a program around 1943 to produce traditionally made blades through contract smiths and at the same time, hired traditionally trained smiths to make swords and instruct at their arsenals in Kokura, Osaka, and Tokyo. These blades are usually inscribed XX Rikugun Zoheisho and have been, in my experience, traditionally made. Of course there is always that exception, but in general, it is safe to assume blades made at these arsenal forges are traditionally made." What I was told today.

Thank you Greg. I really wish I had a few more blossoms but I only saved three and one of them was damaged when removing it from the paper it was drying on (hence the partial petals). I think 2-3 more would have been nice. Maybe next season I will pull more and add.

Thank you all

http://www.jp-sword.com/files/blade/moritaka/moritaka.htm This was shared with me as a suggestion of smith. What do you all think?

Thank you all for the wonderful information!

Thought I would share with you guys pictures of the Tsuba I won in the raffle. Here is the Tsuba: And here is the display case I made for it tonight. This is a shadow box with a glass front. I used high quality foam on the inside and carved out the shape and depth of the Tsuba box, then lined the entire thing with real silk. The flowers you see are actual dried cherry blossoms from my very own Yoshino tree that we planted in the front yard last fall. These are the blooms I saved from the first flowering we witnessed on this tree, which occurred a month or two ago. I undertook this project with real respect for the item and its past in my heart and treated it gently and kindly, making sure not to touch it with my bare skin. Thanks for looking!

Thank you! I look forward to viewing it.

How is asking for documentaries about Samurai and the like off topic in a forum that includes in the description: "For the discussion of all topics related to Nihonto, collecting, the Samurai, Japanese Art or Japanese history that are not covered below."

Don't see a forum more appropriate to the subject.

how did samurai store their armor both at home and on the move? I assume ceremonial stands at home and in wooden trunks when moving (and not actively in combat)?

Nobody has any? How sad.

I am searching for some more documentaries to watch on samurai and the like. What are some of your favorites?

I saw this on recommendation of a friend a little while ago, I enjoyed it.

Thank you for your input; I did not believe the habaki to be legit. Also if you cannot put them in a display case I see no possible way to show them, and every museum in the world is wrong. I plan on making a display case out of high quality wood, uv resistant glass, and a silk insert.