Viper6924

Hi! I have had problems getting into my Private messages the whole day today Only me or someone else to? /Jan

Thanks for the effort, Piers! Just the words: "You may be right", warms my cold scandinavian heart /Jan

Good job, Malcom! It´s def close. But thats just it with jingasas, never a clear match I still think this might be a sign for a specific teppo-unit within a larger group of ashigarus. I have seen 4-5 "mon" during my studies that I can´t place within the familiecrest group. I place all my hope in Piers hands... :D Thanks! Jan

Beware of the Åkersberg-clan!!! They take Your head clean off :lol: Perhaps this is a groupsign instead of a familie crest. Come across a few of those when I been looking at ashigaru-helmets. Jan

Hi! I always love to play detective when it comes to unusual mon. The one I have the hardest time to solve is often ashigaru jingasas. It´s an absolute jungle sometimes. Here we have what I hink is a teppo-ashigaru iron jingasa with a mon that I cant find anywhere. Any clue would be fantastic. Thanks! Jan

Thanks a lot, Ian!!! Jan

Hi! Quick question to the Japanese reading members of this board. What does this little sign under the hinawa say? Thanks in advance! Jan

I´m pretty sure that You are right about Your suggestion that this could be European/American, Ron. Or copied in Japan. I was most surprised to find info about this "Iron-shot teppo". From description a very solid and respectful "trenchcleaner". Jan

I´ve read somewhere about short teppos (60-80cm) used for close quarter combat, loaded with ironshots. Very much like our shotguns. The caliber was between 3-7 monme. The ironshots themselfs around 5-7 mm. They found teppos with their original load still present. Containing a handful of these ironshots. Perhaps this European/American loader could have been used for that kind of service? Just trying to find a reason why this device should have ended up in Japanese hands. I find the size of the mouth a bit to big for normal shotguns pellets. It´s about a centimeter in diameter. Or perhaps I´m way off....again :D Jan

Thanks for Your input, Ron! I will def not protest Your conclusion. It´s bought from a dealer in Japan. But I´m sure it could have gotten there from an american/european sailor during the 19th century. Def made for some serious buckshots. Perhaps a piece of eastern barbarian hardware Jan

Following up the tama-thread; I have here a rather odd looking tama-ire from my collection. About 25 cm long. It´s the apparatus dispensing the tama that I think is a bit unusual. Have seen a few tama-ire with "crows beak" openings. But none with three levers. The front one is missing. It´s quite a genius design. And still works. Measuring the mouth I think this one is made for 2-3 monme tama. /Jan

Thanks, Ian! Can´t win em all. Goes from section "EDO-period nicknacks" to " youthful optimism" Jan

Hi guys! This thread was inspired by Anthonys thread about his new armour. Under the section "nicknacks" this single kyubi no ita, which I had for many years, pops up. Three things always interested me. 1. Age of course. I guess EDO-period always works. But any opinion to a more precise date? 2. The crosslike decoration. Is this a common design? I def get some catholic vibes. Which if true ads something something. 3. The "inscription" which after reading Ian´s reply on Anthonys thread, would be a licence date for the leather. Correct? I guess this piece would have looked really nice from the beginning. Almost all of the gold decoration is gone. It´s actually a pretty heavy piece. /Jan

Very nice indeed, Anthony! Looking forward seeing it in person on of these days Jan

Thanks, Ian and Piers! My knowledge of flat jingasa in rather limited. But I´m learning I read that the use of gold on the inside of jingasas was regulated by Tokugawa-law so it was only allowed for daimyo and hatamoto. Also that the top peg (don´t know the clinical term) was copied from older kabutos as a way for high ranking samurais to stand out when wearing these flattops. And You had to ride very slowly on your horse while wearing it... /Jan

Hi guys! Here´s the first flat jingasa that entered my collection. If I´m not completely off, it´s made from tin. I remember reading somewhere that they came into use in the latter part of the EDO-period. Used by higher ranking samurais on there many trips to and from EDO as part of the sankin kotai-agreement. It has a nice burgundy base on the outside. And red mixed with goldflakes on the inside. That´s about what I know. Haven´t seen one "in hand" before. Perhaps some of this forums heavyweights have some further intel on this fruitplate /Jan

Had to Google that one But You are right again, Malcom! /Jan

True that, Malcom :lol: I like it because it´s made during an intresting time in Japanese pro-samurai era. And to be a little honest... I enjoy the looks of it /Jan

Yes, Morita-san. Thanks to all the help and some research done by myself, the picture is getting clear. Thanks again for all the effort! Jan

Thanks for the great link, Malcom. Half the fun of collecting things is the research to try to find out more about the object. I include two pictures of the complete koro. Notice the Tokugawa-mon on the rim. A bit funny considering that Satsuma and Tokugawa wasn´t always the best of friends :D /Jan

Thanks again for helping me, Morita-san. Yes I also found some info to about Hodota being an company/maker based In Yokohama. Seems to have produced pretty high quality products. But that "12" is still a bit of a mystery. I also wonder what the word "zo"means in this context. Thanks! Jan

Thank You very much for Your translation Morita-San. Makes life so much easier :D After a quick search I found some other work. Hodota seems to be the name of the company/maker. Just wonder what the "12" means. Perhaps size? Thanks again! Jan

Hi! Just need a quick translation of the text on this Satsuma-incensevase in my collection. All replys are much appreciated. /Jan

Well,lets play CSI After a few taps on the bottom this fell out. A few grains of corse gunpowder plus a bit of a surprise. Can it be a piece of used Hinawa? It´s def has a burnt textile feel to it. Smells like 10 minutes after the 4:th of july fireworks. /Jan

Edo Period Corner Part II. New and improved. Well here we go: Just got some nice things from Japan. Thought I share this Kayaku-ire. About 14 cm high with a nice raden decoration. Haven´t seen so many powder flasks with raden before this one. Just needs a light cleanup. The powdercap is almost 6 cm long. I´m no expert in using this in real life, so to speak. But I guess a full cap would have been be used for a larger caliber gun. The best part is that it still smells very strong from gunpowder. Smells like victory /Jan