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Welcome Benjamin. You will find companions here, wandering the Nihonto path!

Christian, Ian explained almost all important points in terms of displaying an Japanese armor. However, what I like to add is a thing about the haidate (apron). On most haidate of some age, the "belt part" turns fragile. So only one sturdy point remains commonly. It's the cord loop in the middle between the two parts. You can use it, to support the fastening and taking weight from the "belt". As a possibility, you can drill a hole in the bottom plate of the stand and insert a wooden pin. Thus, you have a mounting point to put the loop over. Last but not least, I want to echo Jan and Malcolm. Avoid sharp edges and corners! Enjoy!

Hi Christian, I can't actually recommend this stand for permanent display. There are several reasons. Your armor includes an sendai-do, which is quite heavy I assume. According to my experience, this type of stands tend to be a bit unstable, like Guido said. So fixing the parts properly, would be a task itself. Sry, wife is calling ...... I'll come back to you this evening.

Hi Quilty (?), usually it's not very tricky to put an armor on it's stand. Although, one has to consider some important points, to prevent any damage. Can you post pics of the accompanying stand?!

I see your point Ken, assuming the nakago is ubu. Saw it so far only on shortened, or remounted blades. It makes no sense, considering the smith itself punched the peg hole. However, several scenarios maybe conceivable......

Hi Ken, what do you think about "Kane"?! Oh, beaten by John.....

Hi Guido,is "Tanaka" the only way to read these two in this case?

Hi Bojan, it's not a mei in the sense of a craftsmans signature. I guess more or less a hint, how to put things together or something similar. Hesitate to post my bungled attempts, cos I was totally out of track at my last two tries

The fittings alone were worth the deal! Nice package. Cleaned nakago ,ok. But the overall shape is good. BTW, I would never part a matching koshirae from it's blade.....

Jean, a bit far fetched (I know), but can we read the mei as "Omi Ju Nagamasa tsukuru ?" Can't determine the last kanji with conviction:-( Anyway, a mei on kogatana doesn't mean much......

It's a pity. But the whole package stays quite nice!

Julian, those straight lines under the habaki are most likely togishi marks. But curious about your pics....

Lucky guy, Mike! Seems to come just right up for Christmas and might be a candidate for restoration. Can you photograph the "hagire area"?

Looks almost like "Hoki"?!

Welcome, John, Harry and David!

I guess, that is what Bob was referring to. Another serious concern might be indeed the rust pit in the (missing) yokote area.

Gordon, I don`t think Hermann reveales the idendity of a buyer. But you can try asking.... I would also like to know who purchased lot 48 Good luck!

Agreed....... Hi Michael, first (at least) two kanji are missing in your pictures. The remaining part might be "...ju..?..Yoshi(kane?)" No warranty! Ohh, missed the last pic.......

Whole Mei reads "Myochin Bungo no Kami Fujiwara Munetaka saku". Can't finde a matching guy from the Myochin line in the records. But the golden underlaid Mei points towards late Edo, IMHO. This assumption will rule out all other Munetaka except of Yabushi Munetaka. A pupil of Himeji Myochin Muneakira. Izumi, late Edo period. Hope that helps a bit. More pictures please

"Myochin Bungo no Kami........" is only half of the Mei. The other side you posted bears the rest. "......Munetaka saku".

It seems to start with "Kozuke" or "Kazusa", as a wild guess?!

The only "Fukuoka Ichimonchji" I know (and had my hands on), was bought for about 95.000,-€ several years ago!

The longish appearing nakago is maybe caused by the angle of the photo. Mei is definitely chiseled, but hamachi is missing... Any pics of the blade?

No Stefan, the gap in the stamp above is caused by the thickness of the glued in picture. Regards

We should also consider, that sometimes clans used the first character of their family name as maedate! Well, in this case.......... I tend to say modern?!