Viper6924

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

Got a quick reply from my guy in Japan. He found the pictures on a auctionsite. But it was clearly marked "Imitation gun". my trust in the old Japanese people is restored. My friend found it was very funny. He actually thought it was a very well made replica. He also said most genuine teppos sold in Japan is almost always full of rust, because of damp conditions and poor management of previous owners. Well, problem sorted! /Jan

I had a creeping feeling about this one. I will send an e-mail to my friend and ask him where he saw it. I hope not for sale... Thanks guys! Jan

Let´s talk matchlock. It was awhile ago :D A friend in Japan who knows I´m into matchlocks sent me some pictures of a matchlock I guess is in Japan. Has a mei on the outside of the gun. I think the spring had been replaced, looks a bit "sharp" on the edges. A bit unusual muzzle. I don´t know the length but it looks fairly short. Age? Style? Translation of the mei? Thanks guys! Jan

Thanks for that massive database of prints. Def similar to the one I have. But I have spent several hours trying to find this specific series, but not been able to find anything. The box at the top with the jagged black and white pattern are nowhere to be found Thanks again, Piers! Jan

Thanks for the info on Toyokuni, Malcom. You are probably right about the Chusingura, Piers. The jagged black and white symbol is standard with this story. And the guy (Lord Asano) is holding the sword wrapped in ricepaper. No wonder he is looking a bit "focused" /Jan

Let´s run with the print-thread a bit longer. Here´s my first ever Japanese print which I bought 10-12 years ago. Kunisada. Possible 1820-30. I always wondered what it´s depicting? I bought it mostly because I liked the sinister look on the face of the guy in the front. Sometimes it´s the little things... /Jan

You def on to something, Malcom. I guess both the bracken or the fern is quick growing and tough plants, thats hard to kill. Just like a gritty samurai. Would be great if someone could connect them to a specific clan. /Jan

Thanks, Ian! I´ve been looking in my books and came up zero. Perhaps time for a Google-search on fern shoots... :D Thanks again! Jan

Hi! I stumbled on to this jingasa and got stuck on the red sign. Very quick question: What does it mean? The jingasa is of metal with rivited sections, so I guess it was used by teppo-ashigaru. Thanks! Jan

It was a very slow and painfully hot night, Ron! Best place to endure was my basement where I happen to keep my computer Malcom, a big thanks for the added info. Stocking up on some good books for the winter is always a good thing to do even if those cold days feels a bit far away right now... Jan

Your right, Ron. The artist gave the subject in the print a custom made stock. I also reflect on the length of the gun. Almost of Hazama-size. The butt of the gun is cut in a rather unusual way. And if You really want to go in to further details, the hammer seems to hit a bit off. Almost at the hinge of the pancover. Amazing what You can find from one print on a humid saturday night :D Jan

Thanks for the great info, Malcom. And the link. Very useful. It´s always more fun when You know a little bit of the background. Here´s a closer shot of the gun. Remarkable details when You really look at it. At least for a true friend of teppos... Jan

Here´s a Yoshitoshi-print from his Kinsei Kyogiden-series I just picked up. I have a couple of his later prints. But this one will find a nice spot in the teppo-section of my collection. Intresting bulge on the stock near the muzzle. Haven´t seen that shape on any real teppo that I can remember. Perhaps some artistic freedom. Just wish I could read the story /Jan

Well used :lol: The height is about 12 cm. /Jan

Here´s two gunpowder cases I stumbled upon on the net. One suppose to be Japanese (the one standing up) and the other one chinese. For a non-pro like myself it´s not easy to spot the which one is what. Any obvious clues to look for? I rather like the "Japanese" one. /Jan

Oh Lord, this can be really really bad. I´m always for a samuraimovie, but whats up with the red uniforms the ronins are wearing? Prehaps the Ii:s red devils makes a suprise visit. And who knows. Perhaps Bilbo is donning an armour and goes hobbitcrazy on Kira Jan

God only knows which roll Mr Keanu will play? There ain´t so many non Japanese in that story... Jan