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Hi Steve, I read "Soshu ju Hiromasa".

Yep!

Hi Rob, as promised some examles I came across. Here we have an flowerpot / incence burner.... And this is assembled as an house shrine.... Keep us updated

Might be "Saijō ju Minamoto Yoshimune saku"?!

Well forged iron. Good quality kote! Enjoy Grev!

Yep, but notice the order (Guido's listing, left to right)!

Oh, I thought "spring" But right "shun" is the other reading. Sounds much better :-) The last line seems to be a name?!

Guido, first line: "sen shou no shin haru"? (literally)

Hi Rob, I have once seen an "item" in the storeroom of the "Samurai Art Museum" Berlin. That brings me to an idea! I'm going to post a picture here, as far as I can find the photographs.

Yep, pics would be nice to have

Grev, that is the crux with this period. It was quite peaceful and lasted a long time. Almost all types of armor were made during these decades. From "modern" tosei-gusoku up to "old fashioned" armor, like o-yoroi, haramaki, do-maru (wistful remembering the glorious old times, kinda historicism, if you like....) That also applies to the qualities. You will find simple and cheap ashigaru grade armor next to priceless Daimyo sets. The whole bandwidth of blacksmithing, lacquer art, etc....etc.... Nowadays, the vast majority of items on the market are dating back to this period!

Jo's reviews!

1943?!

Grev, this type is called "Oda Gote". The mon on the tekko (hand guard) is very close to "Shibata" family crest, as Malcolm already stated. About the age, one can not say much, except "Edo Period".....

The result of this artificial rusting process is called “tetsu sabiji”. A passive surface structure, that protects the iron permanently! That’s all I can add. For more information we need an restorer to jump in! Oh, just noticed that Dave already...

Very sad! But what the heck.... Maybe another little step towards banning samurai swords....

Try to keep humidity at about 45%. Fireplaces are not the problem in principle, as long you keep the items out of the direct radiant heat! Central heating is rather to consider, because it tend to dry out the room air.

Or "日々野" ?!

It might be Shōwa 16, 11 month = November 1941....

I can read "Yoshida Yoshitsugu".

Reminds me of "Masahiro", from what I can see on my screen?!

Yep!

Great. I was obviously to late :-)

Seems that the wooden habaki was pushed in too far. Hmm..... Take a matching round bolt, shove it through the mekugi ana. Then hang it loosely in an vice or similar and hammer with an piece of hardwood carefully around the koiguchi. No better idea at the moment....

The second mekugi ana was punched (drilled) through the first character of the nengo. Could be well "Oei" IMHO.