Matsunoki

Thanks Lewis, thanks Uwe. Uwe, just to quieten my annoying brain….are you saying in your opinion this is made in the Edo period as a revival of an earlier style or made post Edo as a revival of an Edo style? re the rust in the interior, should I gently start the linseed oil and white spirit preservation process? I guess it will just keep rusting if not?

Lewis, can you elaborate please? What catches your eye? I think those split rivets are what secures the decorative “arrow like” features on the external. There are many of them and all seem to correlate to the location of those features.

@Lewis B Thanks Lewis, appreciate your observations. There is so little research info available on this subject (unlike swords) I feel I may have slipped down an even darker rabbit hole! Still, I love a challenge! I’ll have a closer look at the tehen, but it’s tricky when you don’t know what to look for!🙂 All the best. Colin.

I’m guessing I’ve inadvertently said something to offend you all as it’s gone very quiet. My apologies, no offence was ever intended. The Bachi came from a dealer in Japan who appears to split up old armours and sell the component parts, not that that makes any real difference. Anyway thanks for your time and assistance.

My final say on the subject of “behaviour”……. If the line is truly drawn at personal attacks (doubly so when factually inaccurate and totally malicious) then I look forward to receiving no further such crap from Rayhan. Given the culture that surrounds Nihonto (and of course the general culture of Japan) hopefully we can bring some respect back.

Back to the sword. Had a go at improving the image of the dragon horimono. Whilst its placement may be a bit unusual to my eyes it looks well executed. Before I’m jumped on I’m not saying it’s a really fine example but from this single image it looks very crisp with good detailing and flowing movement. The way the scales are carved can be a giveaway but these look correctly defined, not just cross-hatched like many lower quality examples. Also worth bearing in mind that the Horimono were quite possibly added later as already mentioned….late Edo or even Meiji when times were largely peaceful and when image and bling were becoming more important, possibly more important than correct placement. Horimono artists (probably) didn’t come cheap so this would have cost some money. Also some collectors would happily buy this simply for that horimono….a decent example of a related craft, albeit on a blade that is past its best. There is nothing wrong with that. Anyone else see what looks like a wide choji hamon in some of the images?

Most of us on the Forum happily accept that people derive great enjoyment from collecting a wide variety of Japanese swords for an equally wide variety of reasons and at hugely different price points. We adopt a “live and let live” attitude without judgement, accepting that people buy things that maybe we would not but we calmly accept that they collect in a different way with different objectives. One person in several of these recent topics/exchanges seems not to accept that philosophy and prefers to tell us all what we should do and what we should spend our money on as well as resorting to combative insults and assumptions when a contrary view is put forward. Is it any wonder that this attitude and behaviour is seen as inflammatory and causes a reaction amongst those of us that see it as damaging this Forum? Sadly such behaviour is also likely to immediately deter anyone who is considering entering this hobby. …..and just my opinion but this is not a “bad sword”. It would still behead you with ease which is its primary function. It is a sword that was once made for a purpose at whatever the budget was. It is now obviously somewhat tired and damaged but it is still interesting and it is still capable of teaching us something. ……and a word about bo-hi…..their geometry can be heavily distorted by inappropriate or poor quality polishing thus creating the impression that they were badly cut. That may be the case here, who knows? We haven’t got the sword in our hands. and finally Rayhan….facts… 1. I am not a sword dealer and never have been, 2. I am not an expert and have never professed to be one.

Can we please see the whole netsuke? The immediate impression is that it is dubious irrespective of the apparent mei.

@uwe @Luc T @Bugyotsuji The hachi has now arrived via FEDEX (as usual an excellent service). Ignore all colours in the images. I have used an led torch. Whilst I am an absolute beginner when it comes to Kabuto I have handled a lot of Japanese metalwork including pieces in iron and the first thing that struck me when I unpacked it was that it is “substantial” by that I mean heavy and solid and apparently very well made.(of course this is just my uneducated opinion!) The “stuff” that was apparently oozing out between the edges of the plates is in fact layer upon layer of rust that has built up under the overlaps and in places is forcing the plates apart. The whole of the interior is covered in varying degrees of rust (ignore the colours in the attached images. The interior is a dark orange rusk colour all over) This contrasts with the exterior condition that looks very well cared for and preserved. The tehen Kanetomo appears to be made from several different layers but very firmly fixed together. Nothing spins around. I can see “gaps” between the layers I think. One layer has the remains of a black patination. The downward facing “arrows” on the exterior look well formed in copper and sit upon a plate that seems to be bronze that has acquired a pleasing mottled patina. That bronze plate sits on top of the iron plate beneath it. There are remnants of silk lacing where a shikoro was once attached. To me it looks like the exterior has been very well looked after whilst the interior was slowly deteriorating presumably hidden by the lining. The degree of layered rust inside does not suggest to me recent manufacture. Please see attached images. PLEASE! I really look forward to what you all have to say. I’m sure I’m wrong but I think it’s best to “have a go”…..I learn quickly from mistakes🙂 Many thanks. Colin

Couple of kinko kozuka. The duck on the boat is Goto.

Couple more kinko pieces

Then it is wrong. See Handaka Sennin (aka Handaka Sonja)…. Handaka Sennin (also known as Handaka Sonja) is a rare depiction of a Buddhist Rakan in Japanese folklore, often mistaken for Taoist Sennin, who conjures a dragon from his alms bowl or a censuer. This figure is associated with wisdom and a pursuit of spiritual enlightenment and sometimes depicted on Japanese tsuba, okimono, and netsuke with a dragon.

I’ll have a couple at the Birmingham Arms fair later this month, the last 2 tanto from my collection. Both will be greatly reduced at just over £1000 (not $) One shinsakuto in high quality Japanese polish and s/s by a multi prize winning smith, signed, dated etc The other a large healthy signed Shinto Mino smith in full koshirae and decent polish. Welcome to come have a look. Always best to handle before buying.

This was very cheap and I found it interesting so I have bought it. Useful learning experience?? A lot of work has gone into it but the one thing I have learned is that dating some of these can be very tricky. When it arrives I will provide all necessary info. Many thanks looking

Perhaps I should show at least some courage and voice an opinion. So, I think it’s a late Edo recreation of an earlier style. I think it was once fully mounted and had one of those very wide flaring outwards shikoro. It’s not great but it’s not repro. Erm….maybe. …..but I’m probably wrong.

Still trying to learn, still getting confused! All opinions welcome…..Edo or later? Showa maybe? Looks to have some age and it is multiplate iron but…???? Thanks for any help and guidance! All the best.Colin.

Same here….emails back on. Thanks Brian. Sorry to give you hassle! Hope all goes well.

Hopefully not. Maybe a stand alone topic to give it a good kicking?

Well, since this thread was aimed at total beginners I’d say first step is to spot the prevalent outright Chinese fakes….they are the ones most newbies fall for….and that would be a good starting point?

@AndyJP Im no ITexpert but Outlook is the “app”you use Who is your actual Internet provider or email provider?

@Brian Somethings gone wrong somewhere. Thats two of us. My email is otherwise working normally Nothing going to spam from NMB Ive put the admin email address and the brian@ address into my safe senders in the ISP mail and my mail app. Deleted and readded email from my notification settings twice. I do recall you saying some time ago that something might happen that could affect the UK accessing NMB …..some sort of compliance? @AndyJP …..are you with BT email?

This one is from a batch of very well made luxurious silver mounted tanto and Tachi that hit the market a few years ago. They fooled a lot of people.

Not sure what “whitelist” means (IT Stone Age) but I’ve added admin@nihontomesaageboard.com to my isp email contacts, deleted and re added “emails” in my NMB profile for followed content, checked spam and generally confused myself. I’ll wait and see what happens for a few days. Sorry to trouble you Brian. Hope things go well for you.

I’ve got “followed content” set up to send me an email when new post is added. Has always worked perfectly until…. They have suddenly stopped Notifications still appear Ive checked my profile and they (emails)are still “ticked”. I haven’t manually changed anything. Whats up? Anyone else? @Brian….glad to hear you are back home. All the best.

Or about 3 days walk nowadays 🙂