Barrie B

Morita, Again, very many thanks.. Your knowledge and assistance, as always, is very much appreciated. Also to Brian and all the other members here.. What a great resource we have here in the NMB. Goes without saying… Thanks.! Barrie.

Morita, Thank you very much..! Do you know why a proverb like that would be written on an arrow case? Perhaps it was a gift or something? Barrie.

Hi all, I don't know much about arrow cases, or even what their Japanese nomenclature is, so I am hoping that some who knows about these things will be able to educate me.. Is this a Yazutsu, or is that a modern term? I am hoping it is late Edo, but suspect it might be a more recent copy... I don't know anything about these things, but thought it might look good in the back of sword room one day...!! I bought it (out of Japan) about 5 years ago... It has been under the bed forgotten, until last week... The case is 97cm tall and very light... I am really curious about the ‘Fusahimo’ looking thing at the back.. What is its purpose? It looks very new to me, so perhaps a later addition? I could find no information about that Mon either. There is no reference to that particular Mon in my book ‘MON - The Japanese Family Crest’ by Hawley and Chappelear. It is similar, but not the same as the 'White Chrysanthemum' Mon painted on the funnel of the Battleship Yamato in 1945. Is this a Meiji or Showa period Mon? Can anyone identify it for me? Thank you in advance. Barrie B.

Hi all, I have this arrow case that has something written on the front and I am curious to know what it says. Can anyone out there please translate this for me? I don't know much about arrow cases, so will post some more pictures in a more appropriate discussion database later - in an attempt to learn something.. Thank you in advance. Barrie B.

It's my ex-girlfriends...! Barrie.

Thanks Jean.. you are right, however I was/am not that familiar with Jōi’s work first hand.. I have learnt a lot in the past 24 hours. I certainly thought the work and detail on the omote was good; however, I agree that the Shishiaibori work on the ura is not that refined; especially now that I pay closer attention to it.. It’s still a nice little Tsuba though and (even being Gimei) has helped learn about Jōi. Still more to learn though..! Once again, my thanks to the NMB and the members that have assisted me. Barrie.

Thanks for your prompt reply... Well, well… it certainly does look similar to the work of Jōi, but as we know, there are many Gimei ones out there, as discussed in this thread - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7078&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=0 After further research, the Mei (not the crude seal) does bear some resemblances to some Jōi Mei in the Kinko Meikan, but now I am convinced it is Gimei... Thanks for your assistance. Barrie.

Hi all, Can I please get some help with this Mei on one of my Tsuba.. I am assuming it is a Mei - with seal. I was thinking it was Toshimichi (in some sort of 'grass writing' ) but am not even sure that I am close. Can anyone confirm for me that this is in fact a mei and can anyone read or tell me what the Kanji are please? Thanks in advance for any assistance provided. Barrie.

Thank you to both of you..! I don't own a copy of Kinkō Meikan (yet), but I was also hoping to draw on the huge wealth of knowledge generously provided by the members in this forum – for which I am or course, grateful. I am also relieved that I was reading the kanji correctly, which was my initial concern, so thank you both for confirming that.. I now at least have a better base to start from to continue my research.. Again, thank you very much. Barrie.

This question is mainly directed at Ford, as I have seen his beautiful Seppa, but are the fine notches around the edge (seen on good quality Seppa, not Gunto seppa) actually filed, or are they chiselled? I find it amazing that something made by hand can be so uniform.. Is there a trick to it? Don’t worry Ford, not trying to put you out of a job..! Just curious and amazed at your skill, ..and theirs of course.. How long would it have taken someone to make them a hundred or more years ago and who would have been tasked to do it in Edo (or earlier) times..? Is this a separate specialty carried out by the Tsuka specialists to complete the Koshirae, or would any young kinko apprentice be commissioned to make them to (also) improve his hand skills? Anyone know..? Any thoughts? Barrie.

Hi everyone, I have owned this Kodzuka for a few years now and it has always puzzled me.. Can someone please tell me if the kanji in this Mei is read as Masanori (H 04379) and / or Seijo (H 08063)..? Or am I completly wrong..? If it is one of these (including Shojo H 08733), then is anyone familiar with the work of any of these artists to confirm which one it might be? Or maybe gimei..?? I have tried to highlight the Mei to compensate for my poor photography. Thanks in advance. Barrie.

Much appreciated, thank you. Haynes lists him as H03254.0 but does not say much. Thank you very much though. Barrie.

Hi all, I recently bought a set of Haynes’ Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and assoc artists and have thus tried to find out who this artist was, but I am having difficulty trying to decipher the individual Kanji.. I thought if I got the first one, Haynes would help me with the rest (if this guy was in there) but, I can’t crack it.. even counting the ‘strokes’ has not worked. Can someone please assist me with this Mei.. Very many thanks. Just for interest, this Tsuba measures approx. 86mm H x 82mm W. Barrie.

Hi lance, Nice Tsuba. Tetsu as well I see.. I haven't seen any soft metal tsuba from him yet, but I guess now that I have looked into him, I may see one eventually.. Thanks for posting. Barrie.

Hi, Here are some photos of my two Tatsunao Tsuba as requested. Both are tetsu, but the larger (77.5 mm H x 74.7 mm W x 5.7 mm T) is mokume with a Shakudo Fukurin. The wak size is 71 mm H x 68.5 mm W x 5.3 mm T. Both Tsuba taper slightly to the Mimi, so the (thickness) measurements are taken at the Seppa dia. Thank you for the info and help. It was much appreciated. Barrie.

Very much appreciated. I also had Tatsu (as well as Cho & Chou); however, I was sure it was Naga. Very many thanks for your assistance. I actually have two Tsuba by Tatsunao. I unfortunately missed out on the Tsuba by his father. Nevermind.. This has helped me out a lot. Very many thanks. Barrie.

Hi all, I would like some translation assistance please and some comment on if we think these guys are the same person - who perhaps changed his name at some point, or is a relative (father, son, etc.) of the other. The kanji look very similar and the nakago ana have similar characteristics. I don't have any reference material on this guy(s), so any assistance would be appreciated. I cannot make out the last Kanji on my tsuba.. is it Nao? I think it reads Kofu Ju (Edo) Naganao..?? Is that correct? In accordance with the guidelines, I am not intending to use this info for a sale down the line. I actually have two Tsuba signed by this smith, that I am trying to do some research on. Thanks in advance. Barrie.

George, I'll be there mate. It will be good to catch up again and also to support John and Christy for travelling so far... Will you be there both days? Send me an email, so we can meet up. Barrie.