Bugyotsuji

Swords are a big enough minefield for one lifetime; welcome to another! In my own experience out in the world marketplace there are three types of Netsuke. 1. Obvious fakes, 2. not-so-obvious fakes and 3. the genuine article. Obvious fakes make up around 20%, not-so-obvious fakes, 75%, and the genuine article about 5%. If however you spend time in Netsuke books, a few select auction houses, private collections and concentrated London shops you can change these percentages radically. There is a site, in Japanese, where the site owner makes a stab at showing the genuine article alongside fakes, and attempts to show some differences. 5th 口　tick/check box down, 'The Fakes'. http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~mystudy/kikite/kikitetop.htm

Agreed, but not "early Edo" surely. Late Edo makes more sense, judging from the style of workmanship. There was an earlier smith with a similar name, Makino Minamoto Tomokata, but this advertised name here includes Tetsugoro, and is listed below the earlier one, suggesting one of a line of gunsmiths. Whether fired in battle or not, it does show evidence of heavy use. A long thin gun with a 1.1 cm narrow caliber/bore, it would have been used for target shooting, hunting birds etc. It is said that for the battlefield you would need around 1.4 cm upwards. Patina etc., polished off, and the pan could be in better condition but I have always wanted a good example of an Iyo gun. One day, perhaps, when my ship comes home.

Aloha Ken. It was more of a whim than a considered decision, but thanks anyway. Brian said he would be interested in the result, as was I. The whole experience, including recording and posting here was fairly enjoyable and fun. (Apart from the time this very late Christmas present took till fruition, oh, and making the payments!)

Yes, this one was worth the gamble. Glad to share it. Many thanks for the feedback.

Agreed with the above opinions, although "somewhat out of polish" can mean, conversely, somewhat in polish. Many are not so clean. It must not be signed then. (?) The Nakago looks to be cut down somewhat.

Overall blade shots. Shinogi side overall Hira side & Boshi overall

Couple more activity shots. Hamon, Ji on Shinogi side. Hamon, Ji activity on Hira side.

Newly polished. New Shirasaya. Exploded view overall. Yokote and Shinogi side. Mei, Minamoto Nobuyoshi

Got back to Japan this week and picked up the Kama, at last. The Shirasaya is beautifully done, with a shinogi on one side to reflect the blade inside, and a locking peg behind to minimize exposure to the air. The polisher was surprised at the softness of the steel. I think he has done a good job for me. My sword teacher thinks the blade is mid-Edo. Just organizing some photos. First off, a shot of the pre-polish blade.

As Brian says, really. Smallish caliber, all three guns show evidence of heavy use. The little Iyo gun which you first posted perhaps the nicest of the three, but my tastes are different. (Some minor refurbishments. One of them has been varnished and the patina has been polished off.)

Hello Thomas, In Europe at the moment, but I will surely ask when I get back at the end of the month!

Additional comments line on left: 園部一門　江戸後期　Sonobe school/group, late Edo Satsuma Yoshinobu seems to have signed both 芳宣　and 芳信

That looks to be in lovely condition Ron. Congratulations on the find. Such a sad story regarding international carriage. Has the world gone mad? Oh, and the interesting background information is an informative read too!

Chris, 芳　Yoshinobu?

Ah, so that's where it went. Very clever to find that.

While I agree they are nicely made, 1. The items for auction above are Teppo Netsuke, and not Netsuke Teppo. 2. They are almost identical, except for the Mon, so what does that tell us? 3. The description below clearly says, and the picture shows*... . * Look inside the pan.

Hi Jay, If no-one answers in the meantime, here are some hints. The top certificate shows the registration number column on the right, then a column for the presence or absence of Mei, second from right. Column three is measurements. Fourth from the right is a description of the Kozuka. and on the left nearest the photo is the estimated age. The bottom certificate says 水戸作　

They are called "Namako-gane", or sea-slug/sea-cucumber (metal) fitting. Sometimes they are solid, and sometimes the trigger pulls back into a hollow. A kind of trigger guard on some larger guns as Ron says. Interesting-looking gun, Dan.

Did you get the translation, Brian? His name comes up as Kito first on that page, and Mototada as an alternative reading. From the tantalizing glimpses, a nice looking Koshirae package.

Great thread, great pictures and very informative.

Ajiro means woven bamboo, ie for conical hats, Jingasa, fans etc. and conjures up summer images. This looks like four Uchiwa fans to me, and indeed highly unusual, agreed. http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0 ... 801195.jpg

Darcy got there first! Yours is a (Gunbai) Kara/To Uchiwa in a thick circle. 太輪に唐団扇 Originally this Gunbai was used by Takeda Shingen, and also by the Kodama and the Okudaira.

I showed this set to my NBTHK Sensei yesterday and he suggested they might have been made for "Gotaiten". We were sitting watching the KoBudo Sai, so the conversation ended there, but it could be a thought to follow up on perhaps?

Marius, The very first Kanji? Is 銘 Mei, which is not Mumei, but Fumei, that is not clear, or unreadable, so it does have a Mei. Below it says 後代　or later generation.

A lovely example, Ron. Many thanks for posting, and to the owner for kind permission.