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Piers, you refer to 内 and the mountain symbol above on the saya.... I like this koshirae (can’t say anything about the blade) 😍

Do you’ve checked “尾州住兼武“ (Bishū jū Kanetake)? The part above jū is strange and I’m really not sure...also for the smith. But might be a fair chance!

Looks like “貞吉” (Sadayoshi).

I like these puzzles... What do you think about “川町” John? No clue if there is another kanji above, though... The left top in the cartouche might be “後” ?? First on the left row could also be “木”, underneath apparently two are following?! Better pics would be nice, Ken!

Steve, can we interpret “之図” as “圖”? “no kuni” makes no sense, I think!?

Hmm, two wrong... Anyway, “水府” (suifu) is pointing to Mito (thanks Steve!!!) and “法眼常信” (Hōgen Tsunenobu)....couldn’t find him.

I guess you have it already Tony. If not, here my first try... Right side: “㳒眼常信之図“ (first two possibly 法眼 = Hōgen) Left side: “水市住安光” ? But have still my doubts!

To go a bit further, “尾州住正 ? “ (Bishū jū Masa ? , Bishū = Owari). I’m still struggling with the last kanji. Can take it’s time... ...”康”??

Is there a ridge connecting ha/munemachi? That would be odd..... The overall shape, however, seems quite ok, except the area were the tang meets the blade, as mentioned. Furthermore, the habaki (blade collar) doesn’t deserve the name and the saya (scabbard) raises also some doubts. I’m sure, that our military sword collectors can shed some light!

The first two kanji “江州” (Gōshū) are the province. In this case “Omi“. I’ve struggled wit the last two characters of “Tobei”...... Thanks Piers! Nice teppo Tom!!!

Should work now

Oops...will check!

Hello again Howard, now you raise a real weak point of collecting Japanese armor (and Nihon-to I assume)....Restoration! Apart from the costs, sometimes more than the purchase price, professional restorers in this field are very few and far between. Nobody in the US I’m aware of (please correct me if I’m wrong.....). A few in Europe and Japan, mostly with a long waiting list. Anyway, I’m with Luc, if it were mine, I would like to have it restored. But then, you facing another problem....the color. As Luc mentioned, red is very difficult to match and needs an really experienced “katchu-shi” to fill the gaps, so to say. Merry Christmas! PS: Feel free to pm me for recommendations.

Hi Howard, some additions, as promised! The above mentioned "春田" (Haruta) are, besides the "岩井" (Iwai), one of the oldest schools of armorers in Japan and the region around Nara/Kyoto is, since centuries, known as an center of armor production ("鎧造の里",yoroi tsukuri no sato). A lot of workshops were based there, as also merchants "具足家" (Gusokuya), who assembled every part of armor according to customer reqirements. For the latter, the Iwai became famous, by the way! Well, back to your mask. It's a "目の下頬" (me-no-shita-bô, a mask, covering the face from under the eyes to the chin and featuring a nose). A bit complex, I admit.... You will find a lot of masks like yours with an always similar basic shape, but in terms of color, mustache, throat guard, ears, teeths....etc., slightly diffrent executed. So it represents one, of at least two, type of men-pô, those were "mass produced" (I don't like the term) by unknown specialised artisians. Afterwards customized and incorporated in an armor, or perhaps sold as is. The fact, that non of the specimens I came across were signed, should support this theorie?! That said, doesn't mean bad quality at all!!! Hope it sparks some interest...

Hi Alex, German trench knives are an interesting field of collecting and quite expensive back in the days I started to collect bayonets. Decades ago...only some copied books remained.

Mon seems to be “加藤氏” (Katō) or “目黒氏” (Meguro) family.

You are welcome. Oh...., some boring technical terms and a bit historical background.....but for now....😴...sry!

Hello Howard, this type is called ressei-men (mask with fierce expression). Most probably mid Edo and primarily from the Nara region. So we can assume, it might be a work from the Haruta school of armorers... More info available 😉

“Nōshū jūnin Kanetsune kitau kore” (濃州住人兼常鍛之)

First glance, it refers to an Okinawa landing commemoration... “沖縄上陸記念“ (Okinawa jouriku kinen)

Terumitsu (英充) 1749-1784 – Edo – student of the Ōmori and Yokoya school – gō Jiryūken (自立軒)

1403...

No luck so far Piers....

Looks indeed quite odd. I will give it a go this evening....