Anthony de Vos

Hello Jean! My arrows currently are divided in 4 cathegories; 1. With war heads and good feathers, 25%, 2. With war heads but needing new feathers, 25%, 3. Good feathers needing new war heads, 40%, and last just some damned bamboo sticks needing both feathers and new war heads, 10%. I use original war heads only, just as i use original feathers, ( I managed to buy a whole lot of golden eagle feathers out of China). I will try to take some arrow head photos tomorrow for you, I have many different styles with and without signature. Eventually all will be displayed in ebiras, utsubos and so forth together with some yumi, and some in two wonderful transportation wooden boxes made for transporting arrows to the battlefield. Regards, Anthony

Hello! Thank you malcolm, I will do that. Regards, Anthony (Sorry I didn't sign the original post)

Sirs, I'm just starting up my Japanese arrow renovation project. I have plenty of arrows needing fletching as well as new arrowheads. When I made a survey I noticed that among the hundred or so arrows there are at least 20 different birds contributing to the existing feathers. I would be interesting to now what birds since I'm trying to get the original feathers ( there are legal ways even though they are protected) If there are there any ornithologists or bird lovers out there that can intentify enclosed feathers it would be great. I found this list of Japanese birds of pray, anyone able to connect that to the photos? Osprey Pandion haliaetus Misago Honey Buzzard (or Eurasian Honey Buzzard) Pernis apivorus Hachikuma Black Kite Milvus migrans Tobi White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla Ojiro-washi Steller's Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus 0h-washi Northern Goshawk(or Goshawk) Accipiter gentilis Oh-taka Grey Frog Hawk Accipiter soloensis Akahara-daka Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis Tsumi Sparrowhawk (or Northern Sparrowhawk) Accipiter nisus Hai-taka Rough-legged Buzzard( Rough-legged Hawk) Buteo lagopus Keashi-nosuri Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius Oh-nosuri Common Buzzard (or Buzzard) Buteo buteo Nosuri Grey-faced Buzzard-Eagle Butastur indicus Sashiba Hodgson's Hawk-eagle(Mountain Hawk Eagle) Spizaetus nipalensis Kuma-taka Greater Spotted Eagle(or Spotted Eagle) Aquila clanga Karafuto-washi Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca Katashiro-washi Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Inu-washi Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus Kuro-hagewashi Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela Kanmuri-washi Northern Harrier(or Hen Harrier, Marsh Hawk) Circus cyaneus Haiiro-chuhi Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos Madara-chuhi Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus Chuhi Family Falconidae English Names Scientific Names Japanese Names Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Shiro-hayabusa Pregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Hayabusa Northern Hobby(or Hobby) Falco subbuteo Chigo-hayabusa Merlin Falco columbaris Ko-chougenbou Eastern Red-footed Falcon Falco amurensis Akaashi-chougenbou Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Hime-chougenbou Eurasian Kestrel(or Kestrel) Falco tinninculus Chougenbou Family Strigidae English Names Scientific Names Japanese Names Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca Shiro-fukurou Eurasian Eagle Owl(or Eagle Owl) Bubo bubo Washi-mimizuku Blakiston's Fish Owl Ketupa blakistoni Shima-fukurou Long-eared Owl Asio otus Torafu-zuku Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Komimi-zuku Common Scops Owl(or Scops Owl) Otus scops Konoha-zuku Elegant Scops Owl Otus elegans Ryukyu-konohazuku Collared Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena Oh-konohazuku Borel Owl(or Tengmalm's Owl) Aegolius funereus Kinme-fukurou Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata Aoba-zuku Ural Owl Strix uralensis Fukurou Arrow nr 1 is supposed to be white hawk "shira taka" not on the list, maybe a sub spicies?

Hello! Brian, that was a nice offer, and a wonderful one as such. Even though this is a nihonto forum, it would be great if it could house a small corner for us, also loving the katchu, (just bought my sixth karuta tatami dou, i'm addicted to them just as my daughters are to handbags). And with the assebled knowledge from such authorities as Ian and Trevor, that would be a dream.... Regards, Anthony de Vos MD

Hello! On the 6:th of june I got this reply; I will post you book in two weeks time. Book two has been canceled. Though complete it is just not worth the hassle I've had to go through to get it published. Poor sales on my other titles helped me make finalize this decision. I'll use the difference for your postage and send the rest back via Paypal. Thank you, Trevor So I'm pretty sure he will fulfill these obligations. It's a pity though since his books are so helpful and pedagogic to beginners. I hope things will change and his project one day will continue. the first Watanabe book was so great. it's also a tragedy that his forum is closed down, the info chared there was valuable, but maybe there is a connection between the low traffic on that forum and the poor sale of the books, the katchu scene is to small outside Japan? Regards, Anthony de Vos

Hello! Thank you Brian for that clarification. Regards, Anthony

Hello David! I'm very fond of Yanone, jumi and Ya. I have some complete Ya in superb condition, but I have also some that are in real bad shape regarding the feathers and some also have these kyudo flat heads. I have recently bought both a lot of arrows in need of renovation, some more yanone and I managed to get hold of some real eagle feathers as well. My question is; Do you think it's politicaly correct to renovate them ( new eagle feathers and change to real yanone war heads) or should I just let them stay the way they are? Should I remove the rust on some of the old yanone or leave them? If the rust is to be removed should that include the tang as well or should that be left nihonto style? If David or the moderator think I kidnapped this thread please remove it. (I have no suggestion regarding a polisher) Regards, Anthony

Hello! Is this not just wonderful...Is it even possible to find for sale? http://www.arco-iris.com/George/yanone.htm Regards, Anthony de Vos

Hello! Thank you for the quick reply! I thought so after looking in the sword smith index. There is a quite famous auction house in Sweden stating Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, having it out for auction, but states the wrong era Muromaci/momoyama for the smith I'm thinking of. Maybe there is a clue in the torokusho I enclosed? Regards, Anthony

Hello! Does this mei really read Awataguchi Yoshimitsu? Translation help needed. Gimei or have I found something nice? Regards, Anthony

Hello again! Thank you for your inputs everyone. It was very helpful in my decision to let it go. Regards, Anthony

Hello! There is not much of a story behind really. it is up for sale today. I have spoken with the auction house and they don't know the origin of the matchlock. it's rather long 1,65 meters. They think it's made in the 19:th or 20:eth century. Regards, Anthony

Hello! What do you think of the origin of this matchlock? Is it a Japanese teppo or from somewhere else. regards, Anthony de Vos Pictures; http://www.bukowskismarket.com/items/299534/images/1

Hello! I wonder why Jauce.com writes like that. I just bought a Kamakura blade, from Japan, and the seller, just as on privious occasions, do not have any problems to send the sword by EMS. Maybe the seller of my sword breake regulations? Or maybe Jauce.com don't want to bother with the red tape? Anthony de Vos Sweden

Hello! I'm buying armors and armor related stuff on a very regular basis on Yahoo, through jauce.com and never had any problems. I's the problems only related to nihonto? I seems to be able to put bids on nihonto as well. Regards, Anthony de Vos

Happy New Year! Best wishes for everyone greetings from Sweden Anthony de Vos

Hello Martin! I do apologise for the poor material. Since I haven't recieved the blade yet, I'm unable to provide better pictures as for now. Thanks for your suggestions regarding how to proceed in deciphering the kanjis on nagako and papers. Bye now, Anthony

Martin, regarding the test cutter I can follow the first 4 kanji that implies the tester you suggested, but i can't see that the rest seems to fit? Jean, I am slowly progressing on the row regarding the date,I find the era and year 1655, also the kanjis for month and day and also the figures 7 and 6. I find it difficult though that some kanjis have several different meanings. Anyhow I'm happy so far for all the help. Regards, Anthony

Hello Jacques! Considering your choice of smilies I hope my "stupidity" Didn't offend you to much. I'm probably ignorant regarding most subjects related to nihonto, the accurate general monetary evaluation one of them, but since I'm very satisfied with the purchase and only the thought of recieving it makes me very happy, it wasn't that stupid after all. Since the sword in your eyes are immensely overpriced I must also have made the seller very happy which then makes two of us being i good mood. Difficult to put a price on happines :D Bye the way Jacques, do you have any ideas on the translation regarding the cutting test, that would be much appriciated. Kind Regards, Anthony

Hello Jacques! Does your reply implying that I'm stupid paying 5600 Australian dollars? Regards, Anthony

Hello! Thank you John, Mark and Martin for the contributions. Since it's Izumi no Kami kaneshige could it been somewhat older than 1650 and maybe got damage, cut down and tested 1655? What about the test, 2 bodys but once or twice? And how? Great help thanks! Anthony

Hello Tobias! Thank you for your effort, eller ska jag säga tack, Tobias låter svenskt. Anthony

Hello! I just bought this sword; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/190597675907 ... 600wt_1185 I haven't recieved it as of yet. I'm trying to find out as much info as possible from the papers and inscriptions on the nagako. The sword is attributed to kaneshige. I don't seem to find the 2 kanjis representing kane+shige among those in the rows describing the smith on the papers. It would be helpful if someone could point out where they are. Also which one of all the kaneshiges would it be? When was the sword manufactured, by a Kaneshige long before or close to the testing time? Who performed, and where was the cutting test done in 1655? Greatful for any help Regards, Anthony de Vos

Hello! For you interested in ebay bidding techniques this particular sword was sniped with Gixen, two server dubble snipe, 3 and 6 sekunds to go, what can I say, it worked. Anyone else than Ted and mark that have anything more on the kanji on the papers? Mark, the previous owner states that the sword is sureage. Which kaneshige does the papers suggest as the smith, the 1:st? How do the papers translate the cutting test? The previous owner states 2 body but also twice Regards, Anthony

Hello! I ended up buying the blade. I have great problems trying to translate the NBTHK papers, so any assistance would be appriciated, (that my be a request destined for the translation departement). I also seems to be unable to find the kanji for kanishige on the pictures from the nagako, so if anyone with better eyes can point me in the right direction.. Since I haven't recieved the sword yet I'm basically trying to get as much info as I can from the papers besides the recent history recieved from the previous owner. Regards, Anthony de Vos