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The closest reading, I guess, John!

It’s “光重” (Mitsushige + kao), Marius. The kao seems very similar to the 3. Kikuoka generation, late Edo…(picture is a bit blurry, so no warranty in terms of the kao).

Or 地? Guess you are right with the sales tag assumption, Piers.

Well, a quick search brought up not much about this family... Interestingly they shared another mon with the Ôi (大井). The Ôi clan in turn suppostly erected Uchiyama castle (内山城). So you probably have to search in this environment?! On the other hand, there is also a Bukeyashiki (Samurai residence) in Ôno (Echizen provinze) called Uchiyama-bukeyashiki (内山武家屋敷). It was inhabited by Uchiyama Ryôkyû during the Bakumatsu period. Refer: https://www.jcastle....w/Uchiyama_Residence Maybe another point to start?

No, Jinbô is diffrent! Here is what I found for Uchiyama (内山): Not exactly the mon on the fukigaeshi, but quite close....

Kind of momonari-shape, IMHO!

I think it can be called “亀甲の内竪三つ引き” (Kikkō no nai tate mitsubiki) or three standing bars in a tortoise shell… Couldn’t find a perfect match, but two very similar ones are related to “Uchiyama” family!

Indeed, it’s an important (iron) rule, “never clean the tang (nakago) of a Japanese sword”!!! A untouched tang can tell you a lot about a sword in question. These informations are lost, or at least obscured, if the tang is altered/cleaned/polished….. The two kanji you posted are made in kin-zōgan (gold inlay) and are most likely an attribution. I’m still not sure about the first (maybe 兼 = Kane), but the second is “元” (moto). Waiting for the pics….

Two tests by two different testers, I assume. Okada were retainers of the Aizu fief (probably around mid 19th century). ニツ胴 - means cut through two bodies

Well, late at home today, so not much progress. But a first guess for both: "金象嵌" (kin-zôgan) 二ッ胴入土壇村井三丞長止(kao)試焉 (Futatsu-dô dotan-iri Murai Misuke Naga ? "kao" tame ?) "銀象嵌" (gin-zôgan) 下口テスエ落岡田十郎兵衛重長(kao)試焉 (Shita ? otoshi Okada Jûrobei Shigenaga "kao" tame ?) I'm not really happy (or convinced) and will follow up with this.....

Left both sides referring to a cutting test, Bruce (...it was late yesterday 🥱). “二ッ胴入土壇村井三丞長止(kao)試焉” If no one chimes in, I’ll give it a try this evening…now off for work!

Yes it’s Kikyō, “桔梗” (Chinese bellflower). Was carried for example by the families of Akechi, Uemura, Toki and Wakizaka….

Nice find as a pair 👍 The mon are most probably related to a family, but it will be hard to figure the right one out….

Hi Dimitri, both pieces are “looking old”, but that means not much. Kura were made over a long timespan almost unchanged. Hence judging age is very difficult and needs a lot of experience. Mid/ late Edo period specimens tend to come very adorned with elaborate maki-e, mother of pearl…etc. Some are dated and (or) signed at the underside. The signatures are mostly done in black ink or engraved. Do you have a picture? No clue about the horagai, sry. These saddles fetching quite high prices from time to time (depending on quality, condition and age). So it seems not overpriced at a glance.

The descriptions range from simply wrong over irritating to ridiculous….but that’s life. Buyer beware!!!

A seal, Bruce. You can find it on several works of Noriyuki. Guess it bears his name in seal script….

First two are “濱𡌛”, Bruno!

Brief addition… 濃刕 (Nōshū) 初夏 (early summer)

The other side pretends to be a cutting test by Yamano Ka’ emon Nagahisa, first year Kanbun….

Securing the tehen no kanamono, I think, Piers! A single, simple disc shaped za. Lacquered over in this case.

Hi Tyler, seems that one can do worse for the first armor (depending on price). It represents a so called “Okegawa nimai dō gusoku”. In this case a composite set (as mentioned by Piers above). The dō (cuirass) is quite interesting because of the incorporated collar. It sports the family crest (mon) “Futo-wa” or “Ja no mei”, that means “wide ring” or “snake eye”, used by several clans. Apparently the kote (sleeves) are made in the bishamon-style (with integrated sode), at least what I can see from the picture?! Going to the face armor, the menpō (or “me no shita bō). Here we dealing with a “Nara men”, once made in great numbers and modified to match the taste of the customer or the armor for which it was intended. The picture suggests that the lacquer has a silvery shine*?! I can’t say if it is the original coating or later applied?! Unfortunately the mustache is cut off and the overall condition of the lacquer is not that good. Last but not least the helmet. The bowl (hachi) is obviously made of one piece (ichi mai) and the suji are merely modeled by “kokuso”. A common technique to reduce costs. Feel free to ask if I forgot something…. *A technique called “ginpun nuri”

I’m looking for two for myself….

“濱𡌛矩随作” (Hamano Noriyuki saku).

Copy of my answer on the katchû-forum! Hello Kevin, the pictured kote above are most likely late Edo period pieces, probably made of leather (nerikawa). As already mentioned, dating kote more precisely as Muromachi, Momoyama or Edo is in most cases very difficult. You can get closer if you have a mei (inscription of the craftsman who made the sleeves). Dated kote are very rare, so mostly you have to rely on referenced specimens or the mei itself. There are a lot of types made over a long timespan. Here some are listed: Shino-gote Tsutsu-gote Sashinuki-gote Tominaga-sashinuki-gote Fukube-gote (Oda-gote) Kusari-gote (Etchû-gote) Bishamon-gote Tsugi-gote Ubu-gote Namazu-gote (Yoshitsune-gote) ...etc. Do I got you right, you want to build your own kote based on an original model with the main focus on protection of the ellbows?! Then please bear in mind, the denser the armor and the more plates you have, the greater the restrictions on mobility....

Will come back to you later, Kevin!