Bugyotsuji

Possibly kept the barrel, and sent the butt section to Japan for refitting with lock and plate? This way it would be legal. (Or if there is no vent/flash hole anyway, then no legal problem.) Sweet restoration indeed.

Can you provide the original source, Carlo? Perhaps the Chinese explanation will tell us more.

Reiter = mounted cavalry. You have already found almost the only known clear illustration of this subject. Taira Sawada published a book explicating this text. Although there may not have been massed battles dressed this way after the Shimabara uprising, there were many schools of gunnery active throughout the Tokugawa/Edo Period, and many books and scrolls illustrating methods of use for various weapons. Imagination must be at work in such illustrations too. There is a slight difference between short Tanzutsu (pistols) and slightly longer Bajozutsu (cavalry guns). Matchlock pistols were extremely rare, almost non-existent in the west, and even in Japan they were never common. Because of their traditional rarity, there are many clever fakes to be found today. In my experience one good Tanzutsu might appear for every ... 50-100 long guns?

The mekugi for Tanto changed to reverse screws in some cases, but the few examples I have seen seem to date from the Bakumatsu.

Haynes used the expression 'iron tea kettles'. Perhaps he was creating a short form for "kettles for boiling water for making tea"? A kettle is for boiling water, and a (tea) pot is for making tea, in my experience.

Try contacting Sawada Taira directly to ask for internal diagrams...?

Alexander, there were almost no wheellocks in Japan, but you can see six rare examples nine posts above, on this same page.

Without wanting to go into detail, it was I who had him linked in to our castle matchlock troop website in Japan. It was our Japanese members however, who objected and eventually had the link removed. They told me some of the reasons, but I sensed it was a Japanese thing, and tried to ignore it. One of the members of this NMB forum objected strongly when I pointed out that we need to take Mr Sugawa's work with a pinch of salt. Perhaps a 'grain' of salt may have been more American and acceptable...? Anyway, he is at least 80% factually correct. If you wish to read/learn more, Peter, please contact me for some good solid reading material.

Agreed, the guy has done a lot of work, and in the absence of anything else he deserves due credit. He is a bit like Marmite, though... as can be seen in the divisive nature of various threads here and elsewhere which have attempted to deal with his site.

Worth reading once, but keep your wits about you. Not all gospel, and needs heavy editing, IMHO.

Brilliant, makes all the difference. Thanks!

Cool. Wouldn't mind a tooth or two myself!

Bojan, after you take a picture, make a small adjustment using the editing function, such as increasing the light one frame. This will 'fix' the photo, and stop it rotating when you try to upload.

That's the problem Greg, I owe him more than at present, though perhaps I can contribute in other ways. Malkz, to answer your esoteric question, I went round and confronted him. Sadly, it was nothing like you/we were expecting. In his application for the examination he described his publications, speeches and activities for the society. He then took the exam on 1st December last week. They gave him a sealed envelope with a 1,000-word essay topic inside, and a time limit of one hour. Something about what conditions allowed Bizen to flourish in the way it did. He commented that from long-term use of a PC, he has lost his ability to write the kanji that he is so used to seeing in the literature. Often he had to rephrase a sentence to avoid having to write the kanji he vitally needed, but which refused to materialize from his pen(cil). They then laid out five blades as at kantei, and asked him to comment upon them and attribute them to place and smith correctly. (No Bizen blades.) This he did and scored 100%, apparently. The result, ie pass, was given to him that day, but the detailed results have yet to be ratified by the 理事会Rijikai (board), of which he is one of the two 監事／幹事(?)Kanji. So he himself will end up with the responsibility of signing and sealing the board's conclusion, presumably at their next gathering.

Have to grudgingly agree. Pass some of that luck this way please, if there's any left over! Congratulations. Nice illustrative photography, by the way.

Thanks guys, I'll pass these on. At first I could not understand what all the fuss was, but a quick trip to the big W sorted that out. Malcolm, he will surely be able to answer your questions when I see him tomorrow. Whether he will be willing though, could be another matter.

My sword teacher has been recognized by the NBTHK with the title of "Okuden", their highest rank given only to very few backroom cabalists so far, apparently. We are all joking about how we must call Mr Koike "Sensei" from now on. What is it about him that has prompted this distinction, I wonder? He has several very special qualities. A blend of all of it, perhaps? Anyway, it is a privilege for me even as a wayward pupil, hoping that some of his 金粉 kinpun gold dust will settle on me too. From Wiki 刀剣保存技術に関する伝位制度(日本美術刀剣保存協会の例) 伝位 認定方法 奥伝位 論文試験と実技試験及び口頭試問 奥伝位待遇 論文試験と実技試験及び口頭試問 中伝位 論文試験と実技試験 初伝位 記述試験

Sweet. How's your grass script? The Netsuke reminds me more of a miniature Tebako 手箱 than a 文箱 Fumibako.

Perhaps aristocratic child's formal dress decoration for audiences with, for example, the Emperor. (?) Since they were normally no longer worn or used by then, could it not be an upmarket art object for the thirsty (western) appreciative eye? A lovely set. Can you show the back of the Netsuke?

My guess is that it is either Shoshin Mei, Mumei or Gimei. But it would be hard to fake that Harmon!

If anyone does not like the look of Bruce's visage above, then please send them to me!

Right, so presents sorted then? I'd like the iron tsuba, please.

Too casual for a 花押. 公 might be another part kanji, but probably inappropriate in this situation.

Long shot, but how about Den? 伝

Nothing to add to the comments above, and I also see what looks like fire damage, but I have a blade signed Minamoto Nobuyoshi, which added interest for me. It is clear from the styles however, that the two Mei were cut by very different hands.