Bugyotsuji

You will need to have a good reference book to do this. You will also need extra patience as these English renderings could be one of several Japanese Kanji, such as Masa, Suke, etc. Incidentally I did come across a slightly longer Mei with 畠山 in it, ie 摂州住畠山大和介正次 (Masatsugu) listed as Osaka, Tempo era.

Despite my double misgivings over the soundtrack and Beat Takeshi, that was well worth watching. Good find, Pete.

Informative and yet heart-warming message, Peter. (Love the RIP at the end!)

Met the good lady who wrote the original descriptions and put this book together, today at our regional NBTHK meeting. (Chief Gakugei-In at the Token Museum.) She was carrying a bag full of Ichimonji and Kobizen swords for our further education. Collectors in this area had brought along some interesting tsuba in an attempt to draw gasps from her. I definitely heard her say 'Oh, Ohhhhh.........' so I think she was impressed.

These pins were also tapped from the other side to hit the underside of the plate and jig the angle of the fitted lock plate into the optimal plane/position for smooth working of the serpentine. (Fine tuning)

Brian, thanks, and here is a shot from the original window opened up last week.

Very interesting. Can you give us some outline of what he said?

See the two balloons marked 城 Shiro (castle) on either side of the river. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 2,0.036349 Apologies for eating wayside greenery, (michikusa wo kuu) 道草を食う. （Wandering from the topic.) When the Kama comes back from Shita-togi, I will update as and when.

West Bank (cont.) Various Japanese sources refer to 寺山 Terayama as being the site of old Fukuoka Castle. You can also find J references pointing to a 本城山　HonjoSan/MotoShiroYama (Old Castle Mountain). So which was it? We parked the car on the west bank and walked around what has to be Terayama, a stepped rocky outcrop covered in woods, and among the bamboos a flat top, but there is nothing to label the thing. Rows of old tombstones on its slopes suggested a link with a temple, however, giving validity to the name Terayama. The oldest standing stone on the top is in the style of Genroku, according to my friend, (around the 1680s?). This hill would never have been washed away in any kind of flood. A row of notices at the foot of this hill concerning the Ayu fishing season and giving warnings about illegal fishing flashed up some interesting information. The prohibited fishing area given on one sign starts at "the northeast corner of Terayama, Honjosan". See from the middle of line two: 寺山本城山. In other words, the two names refer to the same hill. Take away the modern river bank around here and nothing else in any direction would have stood up to periodic flooding and served as the solid base for a castle keep. Is there no-one interested enough in history to push for proper and informative signposting, or is there some reason that the local populace discourages visitors, I wonder? Over the way visitors are kept to a minimum by the 'strictly enforced' (sic) need to ask the Golf Club for permission to approach their smaller remains, and by the real threat of gold balls flying overhead.

Talk about the site of Fukuoka and its market, and where the Fukuoka Ichimonji used to be made, drew me back again today for a follow-up walk. (I had asked for some old iron repair work to be done with laser argon welding and went to pick up the result.) It seems that Bizen Osafune Fukuoka Castle was positioned on an island in the middle of the Yoshii River and stood there from Kamakura times at least until the great floods of Tai-Ei in the 1520s. The floods seem to have washed right across the broad site of the castle, leaving rocky stumps here and there on either side of the new course of the river. This explains why the part in the golf course that my sword Sensei and I went to see on the east bank, (see post above) turns out to be only one part of the old castle, despite the sign saying this is the original site, and why, having taken pictures and got ready to post here, I discovered that there are competing sites in the vicinity. Today we found what must be a better candidate for the Hon-Maru on the west bank, even if the Golf Course owners over the river might disagree. Completely unmarked, with no signposts, and now a temple graveyard in the woods, it was only by walking up and down and round about it, that it became crystal clear what we were looking at. Double-checking the place names there, and cross-checking with blogs on the web, there was no longer any doubt about it in our minds. So, if anyone points to any one site, you can tell them that it is only one feature of a much, much larger area, and not the end of the story.

Just had a quick read on the London gunsmith usage of side nails. Started thinking about the differences nowadays between a pin and a nail, and one obvious one is that a pin can be pushed in whereas a nail requires a hammer, in the common consciousness. The Mekugi (literally 'Eye pin/nail') is something in between, can be pushed down from the top, and can be made of metal, wood, bamboo, horn, etc., but it is generally not sharp, and it does not make its own way through the wood to fix itself there like a traditional nail. Conceptually, the word pin may be more agreeable. One authoritative text did use the description 'side nails/pins', however. 'Taper(ed) pins' came up in some material I was reading. 'Retaining pins' or 'tapered retaining pins' have a good ring, but the Mekugi is used as a locking pin too, under barrels, in sword hilts, etc., not just in side locks. I would never presume to referee between Ron and Ian, though, especially in the choice of an English gunnery word. Me, I prefer to escape to another island and stick with the good old Japanese end of things! :lol:

Incidentally, Shigeo Sugawa is convinced that Hinawa Sage no Wa/Rin 火縄下げの輪 is the correct term and the correct explanation for its usage. He goes into some detail describing it, on p.48 of Book II in Japanese, but he gives no sources, and some of what he says there is not convincing to me personally. For example, use of the word Kuchigusuri for 口薬 Koyaku. (Not going to use the 'pinch of salt' expression this time!)

Just to add some merriment I have found this illustration which calls it a 叉銃環　Sajukan, or swivel ring, but not much of the rest of the drawing is either very detailed or very accurate. The idea is that it was used to stack guns in threes, like building a teepee or wigwam. http://www.daitouryu.com/syokuyou/conte ... i_j12.html http://www.daitouryu.com/syokuyou/conte ... t12_1b.jpg I spoke to one of our teppo-tai members today, a metal artisan by trade, and he sucked his teeth long and hard. He didn't think much of the matchcord-holder idea, though. The brass ring not strong enough to hold a shoulder sling either. There is one more very knowledgeable person I will be seeing tomorrow. My feeling is that not even one in five has such a ring, though.

Well, Chris, I guess I am learning the hard way. Today I went to see the Togi-Shi, about an hour's drive from here, and showed him the Kama. He was quietly fascinated with it, not having seen one before, and wanted to know where I bought it, how much etc. (His son is also a Togi-Shi and charges top rates.) He said he would do his best on the cost of polishing, but it would need different stones from the ones he is using for swords. He is also booked full through the New Year, so I told him I was in no hurry. He said I should not say that, because no-one else does! :lol: He agreed that the presence of a Yokote makes it possible that this Kama was a fighting weapon. No decoration or pommel on the end of the handle suggested to him that it may have been on a longer pole at one time, and subsequently cut down. My sword Sensei has been using the expression 野鍛冶 Nokaji, or farmtool blacksmith, but I noticed Markus Sesko says that one line of the Bizen Yokoyama Sukesada smiths became 鎌鍛冶　Kamakaji in mid-Edo. I like the sound of Kamakaji better, if the Mei here turns out to be not that of a 刀鍛冶　Katanakaji. Oh, and on the way we had some time so I suggested walking along the river to find the site of old Fukuoka Castle, before it was washed away in the disastrous Osafune floods when the river changed direction, before the Kuroda Han moved down to Chikuzen in 1600 to set up their new Fukuoka.

Hi Eric, thanks for the find! Unfortunately, what it says is 火縄下げの輪　'ring for hanging the Hinawa cord', which has to be an assumption by whoever drew the chart. In ten years of using these guns, no-one has ever suggested this might be the usage, but I am still open to anything that makes sense. Again, I will float this possibility too today, and collect opinions. Just to repeat, if we label it as a ring, then 環 or 輪 (Kan/Wa) will be safe for the time being, without stating a specific purpose. Often you find such statements of the blindingly obvious in Japan! :lol: Otherwise we could put, 'decorative ring', or 'seemingly useless ring' found on some Hinawa Ju matchlocks.

Update on mine. Was advised to take it around to the bloke who makes Shirasaya for swords, before taking it to the Togishi, so I did. Sheath first, polish second! Luckily I was able to bring up this thread on the new iPhone6+ :lol: and show him how various sheaths look. Thank you gentlemen! He seemed nervous about the rust however, and the eventual thickness/thinness after togi, and advised me to get a Shita-togi done first. Hmmm... So tomorrow I will make a first trip to the Togishi and ask for a preliminary polish in order to help the Saya maker out.

No Eric, my answer was as complete as I could make it. You can call it 環　Wa/Kan, (just like on J Katchu and Kabuto) or more colloquially ワッカ　"Wakka" (little ring) and no-one will complain. On this chart you can see the word Kan/wa 環　used to indicate the rings, on the back of the helmet and on the back of the Do. http://kosyo--chui-milia.up.n.seesaa.ne ... =a13702248 If you can find a Japanese chart with a more detailed word, (such as 担銃環　sling post ring), I will translate it for you. On the other hand I will be seeing someone tomorrow and will run this by him.

Love it Alex, but not sure about the age of that chain!

Eric, you are right. I would never buy without someone more knowledgeable beside me, but yesterday's was a sweet little thing and did not set off my usual warning instincts. Rough 'n ready. I wonder if the guy will still have it next time I see him...? :lol:

Eric, good illustrations. Jin has the meaning of battle formation, army encampment, etc. it can be used in many different ways, including war as you say. Honjin means Field HQ. The General might wear a top coat over his armour, his Jin + Haori = Jinbaori. Jingasa would be a conical wide-brimmed hard hat worn in battle. Jin wo kamaeru might mean to set up a field camp.

In order to try and find out more about the rusty blade on the 'Jin-gama' I took it round to have a window opened in it. It runs out to be in Nie deki and have a proper hamon, so the fact that it bears a swordsmith Mei now becomes slightly less problematical. Of the various Minamoto Nobuyoshi　源　信吉 there was one who co-operated with Suishinshi Masahide in 文化 Bunka, according to the Meikan. Could this be the same smith, I wonder? The recommendation was to go for a proper polish, but if I give it the OK then it will need a shirasaya as well, the old leather case offering little protection. Although I am curious, to say the least, that would mean investment of some serious money! Besides which, no-one around here has any experience of polishing a scythe with a Yokote, and no-one has ever attempted to make a shirasaya for one either, it seems.

11 October - 7 December. Went to see this today at last. 600 yen to get in, but the local chapter of the NBTHK gave us back 500 yen each. :lol: In one average-sized exhibition room upstairs, fairly well lit. The staff were quite vigilant, even requesting that we fill in the questionnaire NOT in ball pen, but in pencil. They did let people use small lights, though. Very nice little catalog for 1,600 in the shop. Joint exhibition of famous swords from the Komatsu and Mitsui Collections. Mitsui featured two Masamune Tanto so these came together, but each collection had one Sadamune Wakizashi, which were so similar they were placed side by side in the same glass case. 10 Kokuho, 13 Juyo Bunkazai, and one Juyo Bijutsu. I must have spent nearly two hours in that one room. To see so much and comprehend relatively so little, all for 100 Yen! The very first Tanto at the entrance was by Kunimitsu, who perfected Nie deki, apparently, and taught it to his disciple Masamune, who emulated that and went on to add so much more. No English explanations, sadly, and I complained about it in the questionnaire, but it was seriously good Kanji practice to attempt to read all the placards. I think the regular members wondered what I was doing! Just imagine looking at stunning examples of: Sa x2 Kunihiro Bizen Masatsune Norimune Yoshifusa Norifusa Sukezane Ichimonji Naginata Kunimune Kanemitsu x2 Motomitsu Morikage Yamashiro Kunikiyo Den Rai Kunimitsu Mitsukane Kuninobu

Found a Kama with chain and weight (Kusari-gama) for sale at a local antiques fair today. Nothing fancy. Very dirty and very worn. Looked the real McCoy. The little blade was moroha. The dealer does karate and is always interested in such things. He also loves to chat, but the problem is to extricate yourself before he pushes you to the sale. The chain was attached to the top-back of the blade, so I asked him what the difference was. (Some Kusari-kama have the chain attacked at the bottom of the haft.) "Oh, that's easy", he said. "From the top it's usually a short chain, and you swing the weight around holding the Kama in your right hand." "When it's attached to the bottom, you hold the kama in your left hand and swing the chain around with your right." (Or vice versa?) "It takes practice, but with a kama in either hand you are invincible", he said, making motions of attacking me from all sides, both pushing and pulling. "You can beat a katana any time if you're good enough."

Good thought. Thanks for the clip and link. (I have a friend teaching Katori Shinto Ryu in London which Ryu also seems to use a variety of weapons.)

Nice find, Justin, including the three main types of lock mechanism. Eric, on your chart there, Yojintetsu needs no u after the Y. (Yo of yojin is like the yo in "Yo dude!") Jiita is two words, pronounced as two words, ie Ji-ita. Also the Shibahiki butt-guard is one word, meaning lawn-dragger, (not alternative words). Shiba-hiki is also possible. PS One question that has long bothered me. For Byo we usually say 'rivet', but as it is not fixed in place or hammered tight from the other side, and is designed to be pushed in and taken out regularly, would 'stud' not be a better word? (cf Dome headed blind rivet pin, etc.)