kusunokimasahige

Chances are the nakago is reshaped quite a bit on this one. KM

The difference being that Ancient Roman walls and Egyptian Temples containing graffito do not regularly get checked by a team of learned men who can attest the writer's hand to a known person which then because of the certificate makes the value of these walls and temples a lot higher at auction.... KM

Bill, let me be clear. You are an accident waiting to happen if you are serious about firing this gun. KM

I like it. A lot !

Never had any problems with Yumigo. Found it a pleasant seller and even though at times he has low grade items for sale they are ok in my book What you see is what you get basically. A trained eye is a must on ebay, especially when buying Japanese antiques. Secondly, the ability to express yourself in Japanese is also very very convenient when dealing with Japanese sellers. KM

Though this high speed stuff is indeed interesting, I am quite convinced the Japanese during the Samurai era did not have high-speed cameras. Maybe practical insight, but I am not certain that was the sole reason for a soft metal habaki. KM

Dear Bill, just like with swords and in general Japanese art, there are indeed ideas and philosophies which have to do with depictions of about anything. There is no simple set answer. Japanese art is a study subject, and a massive one. So many of the questions could be answered but you would still not have a grasp of the subject. You really need to start studying the subject, history, art, philosophy, to understand it better. There are several books on these guns available, and the members on here would probably be glad to help you out with finding literature to study. KM

George, you are right about those qualifications. However during the Edo period certain aspects and set conditions were important for swords to reach for instance wazamono rank. Part could be done with a cutting test. And yes, on some swords we do see inscriptions which state two (or more) bodies were cut. In this case, as I already wrote, it is likely that cut number two was meant. KM

Futatsu no do (otosu ?). It means two bodies cut, probably with one stroke. As far as I know. Do can also mean the belly area. Could also mean the ni no do cut : Which cutting technique he used exactly (style etc.) I am not sure about. More info on this page about Tameshi. http://www.shibuiswords.com/tameshi.htm Or in French : http://www.katananosekai.net/tameshigiri.html KM

Sorry, brass indeed. I am wondering since I seem to see what seem to be patterns there. (as far as I can see from the small images in the post) Any engraving on a gun is always of interest. Is this the first gun you ever bought ? KM

Just to add to this. The word Kami in this case does not mean that the Smith was the lord of Mutsu province nor that the blade itself was forged on behalf of the lord of Mutsu province. You should see it as an honorary title.

Bill I am sure many of us would like to see more and better images. I for one am interested in the engravings on the Messing/Brass on the back of the stock. I must warn you though not to try to fire this thing. If you have access to a licensed gunsmith I would let that person check the gun out first. I cannot say whether it is Japanese or Indian. It might as well be a marriage as others have stated on here. KM

[edit] Since the decision has been taken we can only wait and see what will reveal itself. KM

Dear Ron, what part of the word hypothetical in my post did you not read ? I was just writing down my thoughts about the gun Bill posted, of course your knowledge about guns and tanegashima is infinetely larger than mine. I have to agree with what you say about the more luxurious/ better quality gun carried (if that happened at all) in a Norimono. [the smouldering fuse would be annoying to the occupant me thinks] I just know the basics of Arquebuses and the history of the tanegashima in use by the Samurai, but of course not the finesse. I could not say whether a tanegashima would have been made by Buddhist priests or in some other Daimyo or Shogunal arsenal. It is not that I would want to see something special in the gun Bill owns, I was merely brainstorming due to its size. KM

Thank you Mariusz !! KM

Ex-military who were allowed to keep their gunto and changed the koshirae from the Military one to civilian mounts? Could that be a possibility ? I am not convinced the swords had to be returned when you quit an army commission (not talking about surrender swords here or the swords which were turned in in Japan when the American "Sword hunt" happened) KM

True ! It might also be interesting to see what kind of period imagery (on scrolls etcetera) exist where Aikuchi are worn. Example : The man on the left. KM

Bill, please look up the following words : Arquebus Matchlock pistol Then everything will become clear. KM

Pillow yari are small yari (spears) for use as last resort weapon. (kept under the pillow in the bedroom or in a Norimono) A norimono is a sedan chair which was used in Japan to carry people around. The image I posted is a norimono for a high ranking person. So, looking at the small size of the gun and comparing that with short and small spears for use inside such a sedan chair as well as the shorter knives like Tanto which were worn close to the body for extra protection when swords were not around or easy to wield, it could well be for use inside a Norimono, which when attacked can at least fire one shot to an attacker after which the attacked could try and fight with other weapons. Mind you this is just a hypothesis. KM

As far as I know Aikuchi were sometimes used concealed inside the kimono. Also court dress would have made use of the Aikuchi rather than a wakizashi or normal tanto. Here is a high class example which, looking at the horn hook on it would have been worn in the obi. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... imitsu.jpg

Not nessecarily an anomaly. Might even be compared to pillow yari or a matchlock for inside a Norimono. Hypothetical though.

What is your specific question ? Please be more elaborate. KM

The black line in the second image corresponds with the same "forging "flaw" as I have on my katana : And yes I know, it needs a polish. KM

And, to add to this, modern day copies of especially NCO swords are getting better and better. The chance of being scammed out of your money for junk is high, especially when you do not know your stuff. KM PS Stu: I cant tell anything with certainty when looking at these small images. It might be a real NCO one it might be a replica.

Who was the seller ? If it was the Japan-premium-seller-trading-assistant it might have been sold via Yahoo auctions first. KM