Shuko

must be 6 months old at least ...........

Do these 'poor rich' people they have any single daughters who might like to live in Australia ...............................💖

John Will there be other Nihonto dealers or sellers there or just you ? thx Clive

I am sure Brian is going to win this one ...........................

Jussi, thanks for the information. More details are found at: http://sho-shin.com/sanyo16.htm Kai Mihara (貝三原) was founded in 1455 by Masakiyo and it continued to at least 1573. Other informal bits on the internet say that Kai Mihara was a very broad group and perhaps covered the largest number of Mihara smiths. It seems that Masatsugu MAS1101 was in the Kai Mihara group. Markus Sesko also mentions there was a Kinashi -Mihara (木梨三原) but there is very little information that I can find on them.

I am losing the Mihara School plot, does anyone have a copy of Japanese Swordsmith Groups, by W.M. Hawley http://www.wmhawley.com/products/books/images/groups_1.jpg http://www.wmhawley.com/images/cleardot.gif Major schools with their locations, famous smiths and time periods. Large fold-out map from wall chart #24 included. 12 pages. so you could see what Hawley says about the Mihara School and advise me. So far it seems that the Mihara School started in the early Muromachi Period with Ko Mihara before 1394, then Chu Mihara from 1350 - 1450, then Sue Mihara from 1350 - 1573. There seems to be conflict with the start of the Sue Mihara as some reference it from 1500 to 1573. Kai Mihara seems to refer to the whole school. Any advice appreciated.

Ok, I will redo the phone pics as most were too dark. I have a nice camera but need to buy a new connector to transfer photos from it to my pc. I was told the mei reads: 三原住正次 (Mihara ju Masatsugu)

Only a few pictures worked. Need to try again later.

Still researching, see this link: http://www.nihontocr.../Mihara_Nihonto.html Will do some photos of my ko-wakizashi plus the mei. If this blade is MAS1101 then it seems to be just after the Kai Mihara period.

Does anyone have any details on Masatsugu - Bingo Province 1503 ? Information or a link to him would be appreciated. He is listed in Hawley's under MAS1101 as Bishu Mihara ju Masatsugu saku & as Bingo Kuni Mihara ju Kai Masatsugu. Not listed in the Swordsmith Index. I don't have any books that list him and a few online searches in English have failed to enlighten me about this smith. Thanks

Stephen Ask Bazza in Melbourne. Clive

I will be too old to buy and enjoy this tanto by the time your estate sells it ......................................................

Really like that tanto. What sort of $s we thinking here ?

Can someone advise me of the best times to attend city or town sword markets or fairs in Japan ? Thinking of going to Osaka, Kyoto and nearby places in April. Would like to get to a regularly or annual market to try and buy a few tanto and a naginata. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Anyone planning on attending the Sydney Knife Show in August at Rosehill ? Assume there would be a few Japanese items from the dealers.

I have one katana that has a 65.2 nagasa, 0.84 motokasane, 4.00 motohaba and bare blade weight of 1.3 kg. Finding koshirae that fits this heavy katana is an ongoing challenge. Was made by Takafusa from Oita Province in WW2. Hawley reference: TAK156 The above mentioned shrine sword is staggeringly big.

Wow, what a master craftsman. Glad to have viewed this video.

Can someone please try and translate the small sticker that is attached to this kabuto. I know little about armour but this seems to be a recent Showa period kabuto in poor condition. Advice or opinions most welcome.

Ed I am quite willing to be the caretaker of this lovely blade if you need help looking after it. Beautiful.

Really like this war hat - A jingasa [war hat] | Edo period, 18th - 19th century A quick lotto win will help get this and several of the tantos

does this help ?

For anyone in OZ. The yari arrived today undamaged. So it seems it is quite ok to buy them and have them sent here. The only drawback is pole size. The seller had to cut 15 cm off the oak pole so it could fit into the 1.05 long postal cylinder, the blade had been removed and was carefully wrapped up alongside the pole. Not sure how long a parcel you could have using sea mail. cheers

Any help to translate this mei would be appreciated. It is on a small fukuro yari that has a goma hashi (protective god of Buddism - Fudou Myooh ?) and bonji. Thoughts on this yari welcomed. I am unsure of the age of this yari and if it is actually from the Kanbun era - perhaps Chikuzen province.

Brian This is a really great site with lots of very helpful people, where else can you get such genuine advice - nowhere. I have just sent you US $10 via PayPal. Thanks for all the work you do for this site. Clive

Out of curiosity what huge price did you pay for this rare blade ?