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It’s a patriotic phrase… Who are you and are there more info about the piece?

For comparison:

Sometimes it can become quite tricky with mon. Especially if we dealing with similar forms. Like Steve said, it coud be "丸に違い釘抜" or "陰丸に違い釘抜" (Maru ni chigai kuginuki or Kage maru ni chigai kuginuki). On the other hand, it is also possible that we have "丸に違い角" (Maru ni chigai kado, i.e. two interlinking squares in a ring). In cas of kage kuginuki, we have 小田 Oda to consider. In case of kado, 石坂 Ishisaka or 石塚 Ishitsuka comes to mind... Please note, it is almost impossible to pin down a mon to a certain family without additional informations besides the crest (Kamon/ Jomon) itself!

Guess it reads “不二井” (Fujii)…if Japanese?! I have a similar one, but never tried the signature…

No.4 bears a date “弘安八年ニ月日” (1285)??…that makes me curious…(haven’t tried the inscription yet).

It’s a late armor! Maybe the helmet is older? Note, the mei is chiseled on a separate plate, riveted inside…🤔

Thanks a lot guys 🙏 I had already considered gimei….unfortunately.

Sesshu….of course Moriyama San!

“摂州生玉荘忠重” (Settsū Ikutama no Shō Tadashige)?

It’s a cutting test from 1662. Executed by Yamano Ka’emon Nagahisa. Middle: Futatsu-dō setsudan Yamano Ka’emon Nagahisa + kao Right and left column is the date: Kanbun two (zodiac signs) third month on a lucky day

Yes, it’s older, Bruce. There were 5 generations starting 1596 till 1764. From the second generation onwards they signed that way, but I thought with a chrysanthemum??

"Stumbled" over a waki in a friends living room and couldn't resist to remove the tsuka. What surprisingly showed up was "和泉守来金道" (Izumi no Kami Rai Kinmichi) I have my doubts, so may I ask what do you think about this mei….gimei or could it be shoshin

Thanks for sharing! Not much insight, though. On the other hand, glad to see that a museum makes so much effort to preserve and display such a piece

That silver “flower” is a family crest (紋, mon). It’s called “丸に木瓜” (Maru ni mokkō, melon in a ring).

Another vendor: https://www.namikawa....com/product-list/24 “Then regarding my other questions, it seems you're saying there is no guidance on how seam stitching is done, cashew lacquer is ok but so are other paints, and there isn't a known common way to clean the sleeve fabric. Is that right?” Right, not as far that I know! Maybe others have an idea. To be honest, I’m not really familiar with reproduction armor. So it might be worth to contact “Iron Mountain” (Michael Asterita) or the guys from “Maruhide” for advice…. And Anthony’s site for more information: https://sengokudaimyo.com/

Your welcome! Note, I didn’t “recommend” them, I merely showed you a possibility to source odoshi and other DIY parts. Because you are apparently situated in Japan, you should have more options over there. Cotton is of course much more durable than silk. However, I don’t know what was used on your armor. You mentioned the color of the lacing and I got your point in this regard, but there is also a trend in restoring real Japanese armor keeping the restored parts visible. Furthermore, silk and cotton as also urushi changing color with age due to several influencing factors. Anyway, we are talking about a replica, so it’s up to you!

You are right with “Masa”! It’s signed “正重” (Masashige).

Can’t notice any serious problems in your pictures. Shin-guards (suneate) are in quite ok condition, except the “missing” lacquer. Cashew is ok, but consider, if you like to give the iron parts a lacquer coating, you have to disassemble the plates from the fabric (ieji)! Cleaning the fabric of the sleeves (kote) is a problem because you have to protect the iron parts, especially the chain mail (kusari) in order to prevent rust. Are you sure it’s dirt? Or rather faded colors? For spare parts, like lacing (odoshi-ge) you can look here for example: https://shop.samurai...age/2?v=3a52f3c22ed6

Danke Volker 🙂 Your kozuka is signed “光則作” (Mitsunori saku). Maybe a late Gotō guy?!

“備中水田住國重” (Bitchū Mizuta jū Kunishige).

Well done

Hello and welcome, Rob! Well, I hate to be the party pooper, but this ensemble looks strongly like a late copy. Showa at best, I guess…. Hence it makes little sense to search for a family or pedigree. I’m really sorry! As a side note, you mounted the sode the wrong way around.

He is trustable, as far as I know. Some fellow collectors bought from him without any hassle….

The markings on the shaft are a registration number: “免 壬申 一七四八 号” (Jinshin 1748 no. / Jinshin is the zodiac sign of 1872) It indicates the first post Edo registration of guns above a certain caliber, that took place in Meiji 5 = 1872. Usually a prefecture name was also mentioned, but I can’t see in your example….

I think it reads “abare-gitae” (暴鍛)!