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I read “義重” (Yoshishige).

I would guess “唐津住正國” (Karatsu jū Masakuni).

Oops...I was obviously confused by 書 instead of 証. Thanks Steve!

My first guess, Grey: ”貴重小道具認定書付” (kichô kodôgu nintei kakitsuke). That means something like "precious kodôgu with certification papers"...I hope

"之" makes sense. Thanks, Jan!

Let's start with the date: "正徳甲午仲秋" (Shôtoku Kinoe Uma Chûshû = 15th day of 8th lunar month 1714 )...the rest might be "成物之時". Not sure about the right reading (finished at special time maybe???). Left column without warranty: "真丸煉作之" ....Edit: forgot the translation, "Shin maruku neri kore o saku". ...waiting to be corrected 之 corrected by the suggestion of Jan!

Welcome Moni! It reads “肥後守國康” (Higo no Kami Kuniyasu), I think.

Very nice, congratulations, Colin 👍 I have looked him up in the “stirrup book” but couldn’t find an entry. Determining the age is a bit tricky, because such abumi were made over a longer time span, without changing the shape significantly…

It’s “金沢住倫由作” (Kanazawa jū Tomoyoshi saku). Though the name can also be read as Michiyoshi….

It’s written “無名-肥前” (mumei, attributed to Hizen).

Proper gut feeling, Piers 👍 Santiago, if you looking for a real Edo period menpō, omit this!

The red question mark after the period might read “年間” (nenkan), I guess.

My goodness…

Another little correction: “Chōshū Hagi no jū Tomohisa kore o saku”.

It’s dated 1853 嘉永六癸丑年十月?九日. The other inscription is probably a cutting test by a certain Yamada tester. First glance 山田源蔵吉武之試….but I’m in a hurry and have to leave…(not sure about the 武)….

Keep us updated 🤓

Yes, both are replicas probably made sometime in the 20th century. Even though they looking like Samurai helmets (kabuto 兜), they have not much to do with the “real thing”. The question is, why do you want to buy one of these helmets? Only for optical reasons, to display something “cool” which not everyone has? So why not….I assume both are not very expensive. On the other hand, there are real kabuto out there that don’t cost a fortune and you get a piece of Japanese history for your cabinet with patina and charm…

Hello Den, it’s a “revival set”. Unfortunately the pictures are a bit too blurry, so it’s hard so see the details. I suspect late Edo/ Meiji at best, but may also be Taishō or later… Sorry we need better pictures to be more precise!

For example: https://nihonto.com/7-11-14/

I see. In this case, however, it’s signed with “加” instead of “賀”. So nothing is missing!

What do you mean with “missing kanji at the top”, Darrel?

Yes Luc, Kanto might fit!

Hi Jonas, as mentioned above, unfortunately I’m not aware of such type or style. It might be a generic term, like for example Kaga-bō, Etchū-bō or Nara-bō, but I’ve never heard of that (as far as I can remember)…

As John said above, it’s a decent menpō which seemingly dates back to the (later) Edo period. I admit that I can’t comment about the “Sendai characteristics”, since I actually don’t know “Sendai-masks” as such. The lacing, uhm….frankly spoken, the lacing is not well made, and not just in terms of color!

Thanks, Andy! Unfortunately I’m not on insta, but the Iwai were widely known for their fine leather work, indeed….