Bugyotsuji

There is a Ryugo type called 立つ字 Ryugo which is also close.

So far I think I can see 備中庭場(瀬?)城主三村　守　親重六代孫 I know that the Mimura clan were a big Daimyo family controlling Bitchu, and Niwase Castle was one of their important properties at one time. 庭瀬城 (Another version says 撫川城？）had another name 芝揚城. (こうげじょう Kogejo) Edited to make more sense...

Enjoyed all of them for one reason or another. Thanks for posting.

Ken, many thanks for the fascinating links. Quite an eye-opener. I like the way the writer says that although it is probably Kyo Kinko gold and silver Hira zogan, Kaga also used the same technique, suggesting to him/her that there was interplay/interlap between the two groups. I also agree that the creature on the back could be one of those weird long small-headed grasshoppers that you find in Japan.　(ショウリョウバッタ Shoryo Batta) As Peter has quite properly restored the thread to the original discussion, I will now back out.

As the paperwork says, Mantis under the Moon: 月下蟷螂 On the subject of missing mantis heads, I remembered a badly rusted wakizashi tsuba of mine that has a missing head. Well, it might be buried in the rust, but I do not dare take off any more. I am guessing this is Kaga-style zogan. (Not wishing to disturb the thread, the auction, or whatever, but just for reference.)

Hi there M.Lee, It is called a Kaiken in Japanese nowadays. The old Romanized pronunciation of older Japanese from Victorian times was "kwaiken". There are other examples of this. The Yotsuya Kaidan ghost story used to be called Yotsuya 'Kwaidan'.

Ed, if you give up try

:lol: The old man saw his whole world go down the plughole before his eyes, historically, culturally and technologically. 300 years of matchlock know-how and refinement blown to the winds. Surrounded by decorative Kinko metalworkers in the same position, out of an immediately necessary and useful job. So the man puts everything he knows into one masterpiece, to record an age that he remembers clearly, but that is never to be seen again. It will be the finest matchlock ever built, with the optional upgrade to Raika pill percussion, crafted in minute detail with no regard to cost. The zogan 100 times better than the best and flashiest Settsu/Osaka merchant's gun. This gun once belonged to a friend here and he let me handle it. Later it appeared on Nandemo Kantei Dan, the Japanese equivalent of the Antiques Roadshow. Bling it certainly is, OTT in every respect, a beautifully and somewhat sadly-crafted anachronism. Definitely a one-off. Why? Why not?

Well done John. The cake shop is selling themed candles to go on cakes to be ordered for Children's (=Boys') Day on 5 May. Another candle was the figure of MomoTaro, a local legend around here. My friend has a grandson, so I bought one to hand to the mother for her son. PS The hint was in the photo caption, KB55, = Kabuto for 5/5...

Mark, you are right. There were all kinds of styles of foreign and domestically uprated guns circulating in Japan in those last years of the Tokugawa Era, but most native gunsmiths were still producing traditional Tanegashima-style matchlocks at that time, in fact some as late as the 1870s. Apart from the ramrod, yours is a lovely example of a Samurai gun Shizutsu 士筒, very similar to one from the armoury at Himeji Castle that my friend owns and shoots.

Love your motto, Mauro.

I did not want to say this, but...

That's a splendid looking thing. Congratulations!

Hello Mark, a surprisingly detailed Mei you have there. For people who do not want to be spoiled, do not look here: Incidentally there is another gun by him with a date of 安政二年 Ansei 2

Hint. Do you need a hint? OK, it was on sale in a cake shop.

That is what it should be, but sadly, nothing so erudite Malcolm. The materials are modern, but...

Wow that was quick, John. Yes, right so far! Do you want to go for more detail? 5cm high...

Here's one for the cleverer among you. Break a leg!!! Hint. No hints yet. Level of difficulty, 6/10.

Are you thinking as with your menuki, nails, so tsuba may equal 12 nails, possibly indicating Twelve Stations of the Cross, therefore association with Good Friday? Genji-guruma often had twelve spokes. https://www.google.com/search?q=%E9%8D% ... F&tbm=isch

Wow, yes, very nice chochin. Now you are making me envious! Thanks for posting.

The Kagemitsu tachi on the back cover is the 'Koryu' (Nozoki)?

Kam, quote "I have seen a couple of gimei sukesada.....one could go nuts trying to speculate as to why would they bother. " Although there was a long line of Sukesada, there were one or two top drawer Sukesada that people would love to own. There is some confusion among these smiths and how they signed, making this an ideal area for a bit of slippery gimei salesmanship.

Hoanh, to translate all of that would take anyone a very long time. You should post what you have translated first so people can see you own efforts. Then you should say which particular area of the paper interests you. Starting from the right, it states the Oshigata Kensa date, and the details of the Kantei sword, registered in Gifu. It then gives the detailed measurements of the sword. The next section has seven headings in bold type, going from the right 1. Tsukurikomi 2. Jitetsu 3. Hamon 4. Boshi 5. Nakago 6. Mei 7. Other (Blank) The last section on the left describes the life of real name Inoue Ryoko (?) Yoshihiro (sp.?) till his death in 1652 at age 63. It describes the difference between Oya Kunisada and Shinkai Kunisada, and the different names he used. What particularly interests you on that paper?

What the man said... :|

Well, I get 20% for facts, and 80% for romance! :lol: Fantastic, Mr Morita. Many thanks for clearing that up!