Bazza

Of those few yari I have seen with suriage nakago all have been cut to mount in sword koshirae, mostly tanto. This was to make a cheap weapon for stabbing, as has been noted. Recently I looked through a collection of 20 swords in a museum. The first sword I picked up for examination was an itomaki tachi koshirae. I could see it was unusual because the saya was straight. A puzzle. However, the moment I picked it up I knew it was "something else" as it was as heavy as lead! On drawing the blade I was surprised to see a HUGE ryoshinogi yari with a suriage nakago. The tachi koshirae was nothing of note, so I'm surmising that the yari was remounted to sell as a Meiji tourist piece. The mekugiana is intact and the suriage is just below the last character of the mei - ?ZEN KUNI JU FUJIWARA SUKEFUSA. BTW, the first character of the mei is so faint I couldn't read it at the time. Does anybody (or Nobody?? hahahahaha - the joke has been made before. Sorry) know the smith at all?? It is interesting to see that the nakago jiri has been nicely rounded instead of being cut straight across as swords usually are. Regards, BaZZa. EDIT: Photography hint. When I'm "out and about" I've found it very useful to place tangs left to right and photograph with a flash. I take numerous shots at slightly different angles to make sure I don't get flare from the flash that washes out the image. Note I also rotate and crop the image. Postings on NMB could do with a lot more cropping...

As one who has a number of gendaito this has been a most interesting thread. I hesitate to ask, but does anyone think the tsuka on Keith's sword has been recently rebound??? It doesn't look "quite right" to me... Regards, BaZZa.

I believe you will find this KANETAKA in the MINO-TO TAIKAN. A mate of mine has one and it is also nijimei and a very nice katana. Sue Koto. I can give a reference if required (books hard to get to at present as I'm shifting rooms in our house). Bestests, BazZa.

My above-mentioned friend in yanone has had much contact with Dr Charles Grayson, an eminent archery authority, recently deceased. I've only just remembered his name and did a google with [ grayson yanone ] and got a couple of useful hits, one of which is the following book: http://books.google.co.za/books?id=QwmW ... &q&f=false The other was "George's Pictures" website: http://arco-iris.com/George/archery.htm with a direct link to the Charles E. Grayson collection: http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/grayson/grayson.shtml Remember that an alternative name for yanone is yajiri and just plugging the latter into google gives a number of hits. Regards, BaZZa.

OOOOPPS - WRONG THREAD - NOW HOw DID I DO THAT?????? See viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7325 for original context. With apologies, BaZZa. My above-mentioned friend in yanone has had much contact with Dr Charles Grayson, an eminent archery authority, recently deceased. I've only just remembered his name and did a google with [ grayson yanone ] and got a couple of useful hits, one of which is the following book: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Qwm ... &q&f=false The other was "George's Pictures" website: http://arco-iris.com/George/archery.htm with a direct link to the Charles E. Grayson collection: http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/grayson/grayson.shtml Remember that an alternative name for yanone is yajiri and just plugging the latter into google gives a number of hits. Regards, BaZZa.

Gentle Folk, I have a Dear Friend who has collected yanone for a few decades. Corresponded with like-minded people around the world, including Japan, etc etc etc. Regrettably, he works 7 days a week to keep his business running and he is not computer literate. I know he would immensely enjoy such a dedicated thread, and has much to give, so I'll just have to be his proxy. A quick note to let the group know at least one such a man is "out there". Regards, BaZZa.

Gentle Folk, A cross-post from another list that may be of interest to Japanese Armour folk: ----------------------------------- From: Correus To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, February 07, 2010 1:53 AM Subject: [samuraihistory] Art in Armor Hello everyone! For those of you interested there is a stunning article in the March issue of Military History magazine called 'Art in Armor'. Absolutely beautiful article dealing with samurai armor. In fact, it is more of a pictorial than an article. Anyway, just thought I'd let you all know. Cheers! Larry ----------------------------------- Regards, BaZZa.

Dear All, ANTAI... Han Bing Siong (R.I.P.) many years ago wrote an extensive article on antai in I think one of the English "Token Bijutsu" as part of his series on "Studying at the Sword Museum". I've been away from home for 3 weeks and cannot access my library but I'm sure a little digging would find it easily. I look forward to someone finding it... It may also have been reprinted in either the JSSUS "Newsletter" (Ron H??), or the To-ken Society of GB "Programme" (Clive S???) Bestests, BaZZa.

Ray, Reaching into the dark recesses of my mind, I think I recall reading of Aoe blades having "spotted" steel and also I think I have read that chirimen hada is a feature of Aoe blades. I can see lots if nie (?) scattered over the surface of your blade and I wonder if this is "spotted" steel or just ji nie?? (EDIT) and chikei... For George's benefit, I once had a Bitchu kodachi that I must write about when I get back home in a couple of weeks... I have a full-length oshigata of it I'll have to dig out of deep storage... Regards to all, BaZZa.

Well, on the eve of departing interstate for a week with the prospect of a delayed participation in this thread, could I throw a "left-field" hook into this extreeeeemely fascinating topic. In terms of "What is the Japanese aesthetic vis-a-vis tsuba design?", what are we to make of the Japanese adopting Western trousers in the late Bakumatsu period leading to the so-called Zubon (trouser) koshirae, also known as the Toppei koshirae??? Are the forces of change as applicable to tsuba design as to koshirae worn with trousers?? With a different aesthetic in tsuba design?? The arrival of the "Black Ships" of Admiral Perry in 1853 (coincidentally or not, the beginning of the Bakumatsu period) brought to a sharp point changes already in the wind. The ukiyoe portray Perry and his crew with fierce faces, long beards, bulging eyes etc and must have changed Japanese artistic perceptions for anyone who saw them. These were very turbulent times with challenges everywhere, no less for artists, surely. I'm not well read in this area, apart from writing an undergraduate essay titled "The Universality of Japanese Art" over thirty years ago, so I look forward to learning more. I would suggest that the discussion must focus on the aesthetics of tsuba design before and after the Haito Rei (the banning of wearing swords in public promulgated in 1876). Up until that moment tsubako were making sword fittings for samurai wearing swords. In my little researches for these comments I found this website, which may offer interesting reading for some: http://www.shadowofleaves.com/Koshirae%20History.htm Regards, BazZa.

Hello, I too have my doubts that this is a piece of actual driftwood that has spent a significant amount of time adrift. G'day All, I've come back to this thread to see considerably more discussion than when last here. I've looked over all the images carefully and at as high an enlargement as the resolution allows. I'm convinced that the saya is indeed a "made" piece - the evident split in the saya clearly points to this. Further, I think the wood is cedar as one can see the medullary rays standing out amongst the decorative features. As to the wormholes, I believe we are seeing the artists rendering of the wormholes of a ship borer, most likely Teredo navalis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teredo_navalis). I've attached an image from wikipedia of Teredo wormholes. The resemblance to our subject scabbard is undeniable. I have seen enough work of the lacquer artisans to know that there is not a subject that is not within their scope and ability to render naturally. A purple silk cord immediately comes to mind. Earlier in this thread I mentioned a scabbard I once saw that looked for all the world as if it had twigs, leaves, grasses, etc etc stuck onto it. Although many years ago, I'm sure it was done in lacquer. I'm as sure that the scabbard under discussion is rendered in lacquer. The comment "The tie in with the metal fittings and the sea is really neat" hints at the pastoral connection with the sea. In the West, we might define "Pastoral" as a Literary Term Definition, for example a poem that depicts rural life in a peaceful, idealized way, or a painting that depicts shepherds or country life. For Japanese the sea provides pastoral images. What this scabbard conveyed to its owner is, however, beyond my meagre knowledge. Best regards, BaZZa.

Ah, TheKirsch, you're a hard task-master mate. I consider myself nudged... Paul, thanks for helping out Simon, my good-friend-who-just-lives-down-the-road. I think we had checked out 20 or more reference books for TheKirsch without success, but I didn't check the Meikan . That's for after dinner tonight when it's dark and I can't do any more mowing... Bestests, BaZZa.

Stunningly stated Gabriel, with elegant simplicity.... I have often thought that the taste of (some of) the ruling class ran to gauche, but it was their taste... Possibly an exemplar of this taste was Toyotomi Hideyoshi!!?? BaZZa. EDIT: I meant to add that I have seen a wakizashi here in Oz that had a similar themed koshirae, particularly as per the saya, which I remember clearly, but not the rest of the koshirae.

Dear Ron, After DAIJO. as you note, the characters are hard to read. I get a feeling of NAGA about the first one, but the second may well await the expertise of your son to take a high resolution closeup. Regards, BaZZa. EDIT: Morita san, thank you so much for identifying the kanji - sosho script is beyond the ability of most on this Board to read, I'm sure. Salutations, Barry Thomas.

Koichi san, Thank you for that - I was just about to get Nelson out and start "serious" work... Ron, need a better closeup photo of the "something, something" characters after DAIJO. Regards, BaZZa.

Ron, Off the top of my head the mei begins OSHU KUNITOMO... The rest would take getting the books out and I'm sure someone else will have read it by then... The small script to the left of the mei looks it could be a number '22 dai' ??? (One of my teppo is numbered '21' on the bbl, breechplug, lock and stock). The gold inlaid kanji is beautifully rendered. Regards, BaZZa.

Mariusz, I would go further and say that the kanji was written by a gaijin, someone not at all familiar with writing characters... Regards, BaZZa.

Yes, so do I. Thanks Chriso for putting these up. I have never seen Namban fuchigashira or menuki in all my years of collecting, so maybe they are thin on the ground??? Very interesting indeed. Best regards, BaZZa.

Good pickup Kirshy!! The ebay blurb is writ: ----------------------------------------- Original Japanese Samurai Sword - tempered blade no fatal flaws Very sharp cutting edge. Very old in superb polish - o-suriage with one kanji (see pic) - The most amazing blade/temperline I came across up to now - just love it - change in employment and my son's recent operation forced me to sell some of the blades I actually planned keeping! One has to love the koshirae / fittings. Will try to find out more about the smith and add it to my posting! I'll be away for a couple of days but will try to reply to your questions - can't promise but will try! Location: Item is located at Australien East Coast Shipping: International Shipping = US $ 70 + $ 50 for insurance = $120 (reason for $120 is insurance + postage is higher for items above 1m length and this item is about 115 incl. package) Item can be seen and can be picked up from Coffs Harbour Australia.... Reserve Price is $3500 ----------------------------------------- Jock, I presume the "Will try to find out more about the smith and add it to my posting!" will be the knowledge gained from this Board!! Well, you've had some help and as postage out of and into Australia has been a topic here do please tell how you are shipping a 115cm blade/sword. The last time I posted a sword through the local post office the limit was 105cm. So I'm guessing you are not using Australia Post??? While I'm here a collector friend in South Australia asked me this question: ------------------------------------------ A local collector recently made the comment that he thought the embargo by Australia Post on sending swords to Japan had been relaxed. ------------------------------------------ Another thorn in our "collective" sides. Can any Aussie collector comment on this???? Regards, Barry Thomas.

Dave, Before you go check out this website: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Palace/1135/sights.html Where to see Nihonto (Japanese Sword) "I sure wish I saw your website before I went." Best regards, BaZZa.

All, I'd love to see pics of Namban fuchigashira and menuki... Regards, BaZZa.

Todd The silk on the handle looks pristine - do please handle this with a pair of white cotton gloves to avoid soiling the silk, This is an Echizen sword - someone else may have time to read all the mei as I have to get on with other tasks... Oh those straws on one's back Oh - I would be very keen to see the image of the KUBIBAKO (head box) and KUBIKIRI (head knife) whenever you get to them. Best regards, BaZZa.

G'day Yo'all, I know this is a bit long in the tooth as Brian did give a link, but it is perhaps timely to say again that any Youtube video can be downloaded. Check this out: http://youtubedownload.altervista.org/ I've been using for quite some time now. The video in question was 18.8 megabytes and took 6 minutes to download on my system. Best regards, Barry Thomas (BaZZa)

Dear All, I have just successfully bid on Todd's (goinlower) Japanese Mint Priming Flask. It didn't turn out to be a lot of money as these things go, and I'm quite looking forward to seeing it "in the hand". I've seen very few flasks for teppo, and even then they had been brought from Japan by a local dealer. Todd's looked interesting as it appeared to be complete with stopper, ojime and cordage. I'll report back, not that I know much about matchlock accoutrements. Regards, BaZZa.

Does it depend whether one is buying or selling???!!! BaZZa.