Tengu1957

Koto Osuriage Tachi 68.6 cm NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Sayagaki by Mr. Tanobe Tachi attributed to the Enju school. Enju is representative of Yamashiro Den it's roots are from the Rai school. This sword was discussed as being a work of Rai Kunitoshi at one point , but due to disagreement it was given the safer attribution of Enju. There were a few spots of Rai grain which caused the discussion. It can be said it's still open to discussion. It has an elegant Tachi shape of late Kamakura ( 1280 ) . This is a summary of the sayagaki.

Koto Osuriage Tachi 68.6 cm NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Sayagaki by Mr. Tanobe Tachi attributed to the Enju school. Enju is representative of Yamashiro Den it's roots are from the Rai school. This sword was discussed as being a work of Rai Kunitoshi at one point , but due to disagreement it was given the safer attribution of Enju. There were a few spots of Rai grain which caused the discussion. It can be said it's still open to discussion. It has an elegant Tachi shape of late Kamakura ( 1280 ) . This is a summary of the sayagaki.

the O kissaki is more apparent

Nagamaki Naoshi ( cut down pole arm ) Nambokucho Jidai ( 1336-1392 ) O Kissaki typical of this period 57.8 cm NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon attribution to Kaga Sanekage who worked around 1362-68 Sanekage was a student of Shodai Etchu Norishige ( student of Masamune ) Sanekage works are rated Ryo-Wazamono ( very good cutting ability )

Koto Tachi O suriage 66.7 cm NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Nambokucho jidai circa 1350 O Kissaki Sayagaki by Mr. Tanobe The Rai school was founded by Kuniyoshi. The character for Rai means " one who comes" ,the implication is the founder of this school came from outside Japan . Maybe from Korea is one of the theories. The Nanbokucho a period of constant war fare.

Here is Taima #1 paper and #2 sayagaki , I'll get a better image of sayagaki #1 when I am at home next Friday

Another Kamakura Taima Tachi I have

Mr. Tonobe and a NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

O Suriage Tachi late Kamakura Circa 1290-1300. 68 cm NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon attribution to Yamato Taima Specifically to Cho Aritoshi Cho is short for Chobeinojo Aritoshi This school takes its name from the Taimadera temple in Nara. They made swords for the warrior monks who protected the holdings and land belonging to the temple. They rarely signed these swords and the works of this school are rare . Sayagaki by Mr Tonobe The Hada of this sword is really beautiful.

This is a plaque attached originally to a matchlock pistol I posted on the site. Can anyone help with a general idea of what it says . Thanks for taking a look , any help would be greatly appreciated.

What looks like a trigger is for the cord , it feeds back into the handle and out the side. To shoot the gun you have to cock the Hibasami and while holding the handle in your right hand....take your left which is supporting it and pull the Rabbit. It then flips the pan open and touches the cord to the priming powder. It's all old and quite unusual. I've never see this kind of semi automated firing mechanism.

I won't get it in hand until next week. Like most things it's necessary to see it in your hand before judging it. I'm a collector , not an expert so that is part of the process at times to take a chance and see how it proves out. I had a friend who once had a osuriage sword that had been submitted 3 times to the NHK and was deemed an osuriage shinto sword , a osuriage sue koto sword , and lastly a gendai. A mutual friend of ours who had a relationship with the NBTHK submitted it for him and it was awarded Tokubetsu Hozon to a Kamakura Jidai school and invited to challenge for Juyo which it eventually received. If you eliminate nefarious intent it seems it's not always apparent even to experts what something is so I look forward to the process of finding out.

I just bought a late Edo matchlock pistol. It's unusual and pretty ornate. It has this plaque on the side of the stock. Can anyone help with the translation or a general idea of what it's about. Thank you in advance.

Katana - Kashu ju fujiwara Nagatsuna 63.9 cm Kanbun jidai Kinzogan mei : Kago tsubei or a woven basket meaning water can't be held or cuts like flowing water. It could be a name or expression. It is sometimes used for swords used for Tameshigiri that cut well. Sayagaki by Sato Kanzan

Katana - Kashu ju fujiwara Nagatsuna 63.9 cm Kanbun jidai Kinzogan mei : Kago tsubei or a woven basket meaning water can't be held or cuts like flowing water. It could be a name or expression. It is sometimes used for swords used for Tameshigiri that cut well. Sayagaki by Sato Kanzan

Kashu Iyetsugu Katana sue Koto Ubu signed and dated 66 cm with koshirae Two tests Side 1 - Miyai Rokubei - two body cut through the dodan. Dated 1650's Side 2 - Fujita Yoemon - Riokaruma , the most difficult cut through the hips . Dated 1650's

I did say this has meaning to me. When the previous head of the NBTHK takes the time to take a good look at the sword ( often over a few days ) and then form an opinion and write everything he believes to be relevant to the sword on the saya it is important to me. In a shinsa they will often look at 100's of swords and are pressed for time so it's no guarantee of increased accuracy. I value Mr. Tanobe's opinion more than a Shinsa but that's just me. Even in sayagaki they often state there is a disagreement and the attribution given is a result of that and it's open to further study.

I have another sword coming from Japan that has the Last Morishige paper. I will post at that time. Mr. Tanobe was injured recently and it was either wait for the Sayagaki and paper or send the sword. I asked for the sword to be sent. I am being told it states to Morishige and mid to late Nanboku-cho. Again , i will list the paper. The Sayagaki means much more to me than the paper.

They were acquired a year apart

Two Tachi both NBTHK papered to Morishige mid to late Nanboku-cho One is longer and thicker.

I'm not debating just stating what it's papered to. You are free to disagree with the paper. It's papered to a specific smith and not a school so convention would dictate it would match his recognized working period. I am not knowledgeable enough to argue one way or the other.

It is papered mid to late Nanboku-cho NBTHK