Barrie B

Nice Habaki... Now that you are 'tooled up' you go into business :lol: Barrie.

Hi Ludolf, I do not think it is Yasumasa, unless he used diffent kanji to sign throughout his career; not unheard of.. Is the Kao the same? From the unusual Kanji combo, Yasunobu (H 11218.0) seems to be the best match in Haynes.. My reference books are limited. Barrie.

I have now attached some better photos. Thanks. Barrie.

Hi John, Yes, sorry.. its a brand new computer (Mac) and I am still taming it.. has a mind of its own at the moment.. Not sure why all the photos reduced in size... ?? Thanks for that though... Yasunobu H 11218.0 does seem to be the most likely.. If I can sort the photos out, I will repost again - tomorrow night probably.. Thank you. Barrie.

Hi, I recently purchased a kogai that I believe to be Yoshioka School, but I do not know how the mei is read and none of these match any of the mei in Haynes. Does anyone know please? I think these kanji can be read as: 保 Hou, Mori, Tamotsu, Yasu; and 誠 Aki, Makoto, Masa, Moto and Shige. IS it Yasushige, Yasumasa or Morimoto?? Does anyone know please? Any assistance would be appreciated. Thank you. Barrie.

See you there, Gentlemen... Looking forward to it...! Barrie.

Jeremy, In answer to your question; I wrote that it was an antique blade etc.. but I also wrote what the buyer wanted (very important), because at the end of the day, it is they who have to deal with their Customs Services and taxes laws.. If you fine a better system, please let us know. I am not a dealer and very infrequently sell/ send swords overseas, so each time is an effort.. Barrie

Hi mate, I recently (only a few months ago) sent a Wak to the UK through Australia Post with no problems. The Wak had to be labelled properly (for UK Customs) and the recipient was a licenced Martial Arts instructor. I know he received the sword in good time and (to the best of my knowledge), there were no problems from UK Customs. The only concern I had was the lack of ‘Tracking’ with Aust Post services but it was sent 'Registered Post', otherwise all was good. Barrie. Perth, W.A.

Very nice...! Definitely a dying art.... Barrie.

Hi All, I have two Saotome Tsuba that were purchased (at different times) from different dealers in Japan, yet the Hitsu ana on both Tsuba have the same (elegant) elongated elliptical shape – quite a bit different to most Hitsu ana on other tsuba. Nihon To Koza (Vol VI, Pg 120) states that Saotome Hitsu ana resemble Shoami (style), but we have all seen various other shaped Hitsu ana or just Kozuka ana on (this type of) Saotome Tsuba, so I am interested to know if there are papered Saotome that do have different Hitsu ana, or is this irrelevant as a Kantei point for Saotome? I know there must be many Tsuba influenced by this design that perhaps aren’t Saotome, but get an attribution because of the design? Does anyone else have any (64 petal) Kiku Saotome Tsuba that have similar Hitsu ana, or perhaps even vary greatly from this, so that we can learn more about these type of Saotome Tsuba.. I did a quick search through previous threads to see if this has been discussed previously, but could not find anything.. I am happy to be pointed in that direction if it has, and I have missed it. Both Tsuba are un-papered BTW. Thanks in advance, Barrie B.

Mark, We can all clearly see the additional damage on the leather cover, post removal... So definitely not a full refund..! Good luck with it. Barrie.

Thank you...! I looked on the internet for a little while, but could not find a name for this type, so incorrectly made the assumption that Yazatsu was what it was called... This is what I was after. Additionally, I assumed the quivers were’ up' and the Yanone went into the grill... but thank you for confirming it. Barrie.

Thanks Chris and Ian, Mine does have a metal ring 3/4 inch or so in Dia (on a swivel with a 'typical fancy metal Japanese style washer' under it) in the middle of the Yazatsu - just out of the first and second picture unfortunately.. I should have taken an 'overall' photo, but in my haste, I didn't sorry.. There is no strap though... Perhaps the cord around the waist just 'fixed' to this. The strap holding the cover though is exactly as you describe it; a leather strap ending in a metal ring. This is fixed to the side of the Yazatsu, and then goes over the lid and the ring hooks over a stud on the other side. These two rings and studs are exactly the same as the one for fixing the waist - with a sort of cross hatching or Knurling on top of the stud... All matching. Very many thanks to both of you.. Barrie.

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.