Peter Bleed

I notice on the world flea market this morning a "power flask" of a type I assume would have gone extinct years ago. These are pieces made out of a pair of lacquer sake cups clued together at the rim and the basal rings removed. The glued edged are often covered by a sting and there is some manner of s spout. If done carefully, they may not look terrible, but they are often amazing crude - and in all cases pure trash - ahhh the joy of antique arms collecting. Peter

Ray is amazing! I realized "what" it had to be saying, but I couldn't make it work til Ray brought it into focus. WOW! Very good work by the whole crew. NMB Worked yet again! Peter

Brian, I was never close enough to "collecting" in Japan to be anything like an expert. I never had any money. But I do realize that there are laws and regulations that are supposed to guide handling of - ahhh - weapons. I also assume that there are ways of avoiding regulations and "flying below the radar." I would really and truly like to know how the stuff Komonjo-sama presents gets to the US, but certainly, once it is "here" it is "legal." Have people asked him? Please help me "study" this matter further. Maybe I'll write another novel.... Peter

I had resisted the urge to add further to this discussion. Modified Japanese bayonets are anything but rare, but I had never seen what looked to me like a Japanese style modification so I thought it might be a worthy addition to our assembled understanding of WWII era cutlery. The world was awash in Arisaka bayonets as the War wound down and this sorry weapons suggested to me that bored American lads were NOT the only ones exploring ways of using them. Could this have been made as a homeland defensive weapon – up there with pointed bamboo sticks? We’ll never know, I suppose. But then this discussion took a turn toward character assessment of the seller. I do not know Komonjo-sama. And I certainly don’t know anything about the other purveyors that sell stuff on eBay. But with sincerity – and even respect -, I think that modern sword collectors ought to look closely – and even positively – at Komonjo-sama’s wares. It looks to me like he has dependable access to (among other things) real and true Japanese junk. Japanese society is well organized, in swords and everything else. When blades surface in Japan, they are assessed, judged, and moved to the right market. It looks to me like Komonjo-sama gets ahold of stuff that has surfaced and been assessed AND cannot find a market in Japan. The Japanese antiques system has figured out that in Japan this is scrap iron. Discard it…, ahh, BUT wait! Greedy, naïve, or optimistic Americans seem willing and able to buy it. Hence, Komonjo – his prices are low and his descriptions seem all right. He makes no bones about it. Anyone who would buy Komonjo-sama’s low end stuff assuming that it is ‘good’ is either a gambler, or foolish. BUT somebody IS buying his blades. Once those blades get to the New World, they will show up in auctions and gun shows and the next generation of emergent collectors will not know their history, but will have heard the stories of “barn finds.” Bargain hunters will buy them, “clean them up” (OMG!) and very likely come to the NMB to “ask advice.” Peter

A recently closed eBay sale of this blade may be of potential interest to this community. This is certainly a Japanese bayonet that seems to have been modified in Japan to have been mounted as a Japanese style short sword. Peter https://www.ebay.com/itm/133781603401?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=W%2F9qV8VAunH7FHZbhAO0cW2%2FsDc%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc

Are we sure it is not "Mune Sanju-ni To"? Peter

real odd name.

I'll bet it said KUNIHIRO. They made raw plates and this piece looks like it was seriously reworked. Peter

This has been a wonderful thread. Great item and good comments! Thanks Peter

Saying anything about a blade based on the information you have presented is speculation, - but based on the nakago, I'd have to wonder if this isn't Bizen production... Peter

My adventures with this pair of fittings continues. I have recently learned that photographing mounted tsubas is challenging? Do you see a daisho here? Peter

Thank you Piers and JP! I am not sorry to have discovered and acquired this set. I also feel like I have learned some things by looking at them. They are a little odd but worthy of appreciation. Were they in Japan, I just bet that worthy blades would be found for them so that they would once again become a "daisho." I have virtually NO Japanese material out since I just can't see it as - well - "decorative." The "table top" that Piers observed is in fact the top of a nice old "German" chest that carried the wealth and wherewithal of a frontier family that moved to Nebraska in the 1870s. Peter

I’d like to see what this august community has to say about daisho koshirae – having just acquired something that might be described in those terms. Please see the attached image. Notice that I didn’t say anything about “swords” since neither of these items hold a blade. They’re ‘fittings.’ One has a wood tsunagi and the other has a recent “blade” that is serving as a tsunagi. They each have a nice old iron tsuba but they are dissimilar. Aside from that, however, the fittings are essentially similar handachi koshirae. Black urushi saya and blackened iron kodogu that are overall of “good” quality. I find no signatures or other markings, but everything looks “old”. Indeed, I have the feeling that they might be at least Meiji era. They were presented with an “old” (Edo period?) katana kake. Overall, these things look like ‘old’ swords that were re-purposed in early post-War times as decorative items. They are quite presentable and certainly not “new” decorators. Okay, here’s my question. I wonder how common similarly mounted daisho really were? Who had to wear a similarly mounted long and short swords? Clearly a lot of guys did NOT need or carry matching sets. I could easily see the rig I just acquired as something like a formal outfit that some low-level functionary had to have in the closet for occasional use. In closing, let me also say that I am in the market for a “nice” (but not necessarily special) daisho pair of iron tsuba. Peter

It is WONDERFUL! that is what it is! Break action modernizations are rare - but out there. I am currently working up description of a couple of Filipino break action cannons. Peter

Early War gunto?? Kanekado, . . . . he lived someplace, but I can't see that part of the signature.

And what were you doing in 1970, Stephen? Peter

In 300 years this will be a very interesting piece, and at this point they may even let it into Japan!

Looks good to me! Yasutsuna dated 2600 - - really patriotism - mebbe not great art. P

We need a Show report. How was it? Peter

Certainly not Japanese. Chinese????

Interesting sword that reflects a moment in Japanese and sword history. How is it mounted? Peter

My interest in hinawa-ju is recent, but I AM interested - and as a result have discovered this discussion AND also the great stuff over on Facebook. There is a lot of energy and insight there. BUT I find FACEBOOK a real pain. It is hard to use and favors brief comments. I'd like to see the conversations merged. Is there a reason the world needs two? What can we/I do to help. BRIAN, please advise! Peter

Robert, I am pleased to see this signature - and I thank Brian for bringing it to my attention. I don't see why you'd call this a gimei. Indeed, I would bet - were it to be submitted to a trustworthy shinsa team (assuming you could find one of them AND that the swords 'looks' okay), THEY would/should say "Mid-Edo, School of the Kunikane." There were at least 13 generations and the line fell on hard times from numbers 4 thru 11. But there were guys there the whole time with the name and the familial right and responsibility to make swords with this signature. NO ONE would think this a sword made my generation, 1, 2, or 3, But I would bet that it IS a Kunikane. Please tell us about the sword, MASAME??? Now, if you find this sword "suspicious", - and wanted to suggest what you would RATHER have, I'd be very happy to do some swapping with you. What do you like? Peter

Piers and Jan, Thank you very much for your help and your insights. I only wish we could more comfortable sit around this and other similar arms. I would pick your brains since I have lots to learn!. Peter

Piers, Well, gee. I patiently tap my toe. I saw in this arm a rather flat design, with a pierced trigger and a pan that looked a bit forward so I wondered about a Sendai connection. It is also impressive to me how little overlap there is between swordsmith and gun smith names. Those Japanese! Peter