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Logan, can you please share some more pictures of the individual parts, in order to get some hints for caretaking?!

As for the kanji: 信義作

Hi Robert, not too difficult to decipher. This smith comes from the Tosa line (according to the records) of a well known school and can be dated to the late Edo period…. What about a picture of the whole menpō? Hint: Read from top to bottom. Right side, school. Left side, Name. Below…easy 😉

Can’t say for the wakidate, but the other pieces are seemingly authentic, combined to a set. With some TLC quite presentable 👍

I think this kabuto is rather interesting! It bears a big name chiseled in the hachi, and gimei or not, the fact that his later owner feels worth to spend some money in refurbishing it, tells something. Furthermore, we are lucky enough to "know" the craftsmen who was commissioned with the job, so we can tell approximately when it happend. That's quite cool, I guess

Thanks David and Dan! @Steve Yes, I saw these examples and they caused my doubts. Also “Kanzan” has only the mei with the Daijō title, where at least the “Uji” and “Shige” characters are quite different chiseled. Unfortunately, the few pics of the blade I got are too blurry to judge the workmanship.

Dear members, I was ask by a friend for help about his recently aquired wakizashi. Well, as a "katchu-bunny" my sword collecting years are already a while back. The mei reads "大和守藤原氏重" (Yamato no Kami Fujiwara Ujishige), but all I came up with, in my limited sword library, was the first generation Harima Ujishige, around Meireki (UJI 162). Unfortunately, I can't find this exact mei anywhere (neither in the books nor on the net), to compare the signature in question with confirmed examples. Can somebody bring me on the right track? With some hope for help, thanks in advance!

These baskets were also in use here in Germany. Know them from my time as a firefighter until the early 90s….

Forgot “常州水戸住坂東太郎?… cut off (Jōshū mito jū bandōtarō…..)

First looks like “正信” (Masanobu) Second might as Mark suggested “井上和泉守國貞” Third is a date and upside down “延宝七年ニ目日” (February 1679)

David, the mon is called “Maru ni tate futatsubiki” and was used by several families. For example: Akita, Arai, Iijima, Iwaki, Nakamura, Nobe, Otsuka, Shinozawa…. So it is, more or less, impossible to pin down the actual clan only by a single mon!

Can't open all the pics, but looks real from what I can see... 関 (Seki stamp) 兼継 (Kanetsugu) 昭和十八年 (Shôwa 18 = 1943)

“Tōto Suga Toshinori”!

Looks 十九 to me (1944), but not sure…

Seems to be a complete gusoku (no. 5 of a series, 11?) bearing a mon. The table of contend mentions an lacquered tatami-dō with matching kote and suneate. Strangely no kabuto, as far as I can see at the moment…. It would be nice if you can sharing some pics, Simon!

Sorry to hear of your loss, Peter… RIP!

Yes, it's a date: "慶應三年七月日" (Juli Keiô 3 = 1867)

As for the date, I can imagine it is 天保十 (1839)…

His iron works are of good quality. Otherwise not much known about this guy. Late Edo period and his name can also be read as Kanetsugu. The menpō is very close to some examples of the Unkai school. High craftsmanship!

Probably “勝尾” (Katsuo) family. There were at least 4 craftsman (zōgan/stirrup makers) with that name between the late 17th century and the early 19th….

„祈武運長久“ Pray for good fortune and safety in war, I think!

Indeed Thomas! I was able to inspect the sword yesterday in hand. As I saw the hamon, I immediately called it “Mino/Seki” until I removed the tsuka…😮 Clearly gimei 😁

The armors are fancy and in very good condition….but way out of my league

Maybe “….香合” (Kōgō = incense container)?

Could it start with “満州国…” (Manshūkoku)?