Lindus

My 1983 photos were printed on paper with a sort of stipple surface,no idea where the negs have gone,have contacted the museum ask to revisit and digital photograph.. As far as my notes go the gold is inlaid into the blade,even in the poor pics you can get the idea of just what a special piece it is. Sadly none of the Japanese collection is on display, never was or will be as the RCM concentrate on Mine,Minerals & Local archeology. When I asked the curator in 84 about this his comment was "If you have seen one netsuke, you have seen them all"!!! so in a way this little effort is to once again bring the collections out of store rooms and into the sun. Roy

Apologies for the picture quality Eric,have a look. Roy

Hi Bob According to Turk it is by "Goto Sekijo", no idea myself but would that fit?. Roy

Yes it is one of around six of Ivory, large , beutifull and ideal for Coffe rather than teacups. Roy In addition for fun,added picture shows four Kodzuka,all signed and with the purchase price in 1913, 5/- +around 25P in todays money and roughly 20cents US, even in the wildest dreams it still would have been around £25 today....

Hi Eric Am checking my old records ...The Aikuichi was and I quote" Collected in 1913 by Hawkins,Fine Ivory mounts carved in high relief with flowers of Autumn, signed Kizan Rakumin or alternativly Murayama Rakumin. The blade decorated in an inlaid design of conventional foliage. The Kodzuka blade of silver and inscribed Made by Yasukane the son of Shishin who was the third grand child Of Ibara living in Tokiyama at the foot of Mt Kinsho in the province of NoShu. Kodzuka of Ivory carved in a design of Spiders." The descriptions and translation were by Dr Turk, it would take a considerable amount of work to confirm all translation as most of the thrre hundred sword related items..The collection also contains a large number of arrow,yari,okimono and netsuke Roy

That is correct, the photgraphs were taken in 1985, I have now moved into the digital era and have contacted the museum with the possibilty of completeing the study. As I remember it Dr.FAT and I discovered many items including a cabinet full of Inro,another of Okimono, none of which at that time had been recorded. Also some swords,Armour and Lacquer ware. Roy

OK Jamie, if enough are interested I will start this weekend and let you know when the pages are ready, Have the full catalogue and of course will take some time. Thanks Roy

Do not want to bore more than I usuall do the membership, just say ya or nay to the website publication as will take some time to do.. Roy

Thirty years ago Dr.FAT led me to a collection that few knew of and would guess is still pretty unknown. While he set about opening box's and cabinet I photographed what I could. Here are a few examples, poor quality pictures I agree, but will give a flavour of the find. If any of the membership would like to see all of the part of the collection that I photographed at that time and those in the UK who would perhaps like to see first hand,let me know and will fill a page or three on my web site. Roy

While we are on the "Show and tell" how about this. Pre Internet days a chap called me offering to trade a helmit for an old Maidate, said he thought it was Japanese but could be Spanish and as he had fished out of a river in Wales a year or so befor and then left it in the garden shed, he would stick it in the post on appro{Boy were we trusting in those days} so off went the Maidate and in came this thing,,to my surprise the bowl was complete saved by a thick coat of silver oxide paint,no Shikoro but in those days it was going to be fun whatever. Two weeks of paint stripper,Fibre glass art brushes and the use of a small electric dentist drill a little treasure appeared, the fiber glass bush or more like a propelling pencil is a marvelous way of removing rust and not damaing patina, if you have not tried one , go buy, you will enjoy the ease and finish it gives. The lack of Shikoro made the who thing out of balance so I knocked one up and had a go at lacing, not as difficult as I thought. Although the purist would perhaps frown at this I still get a kick when I see it. Next to have my Maidate back but the chap would not part with it so when you see the pics my apologies, that home made as well. Thanks chaps, have wanted to say that for ages but my wife just does not grasp the concept of boys toys from rivers in Wales. Roy

Just a pity that I came across it so late in its life. Roy

Deep stuff Grey....but will air on the side of caution Roy

Bet that was cut price Mark... Roy

I can only quote the current owner and a letter he recieved from the Armour society in Japan, " How did you get this,it is so rare and we know of no other outside of Japan, it is good tha it is in the """""""" collection"....I saw it, was offered it, declined it and passed it on Roy

So the answere to my question is that pretty much all swordsmiths of all periods did this,thank you gentlmen. Roy

Hallo Ian,Long long time, still in the wild north?. Unkai, well that is a bonus,thanks. The point was that with those two if the price was really right you could end up with two presentabl Hanbo, with a little work of course, always a shame to miss out on something as I ahev done in the past for lack of just a second look.....major example as follows............ Regards Roy

Found them, although the phot of the original is not so good the others illustrate what at first may be rubbish can sometimes surprise. The lower part of you illustration seems to be genuine and possible Miochin. You can see in the "After" Photographs where the later addition was riveted on,John suggested that although interesting I should remove this. Then I set about removing the surface rusy, surpringly the original Japanese lacquer on the inner surface is around 80% intact. Roy

Thanks , I did not know that Hi could be re cut...who? would be nice as I intend to keep this. Roy When the blade is sent to a professional polisher, they will have a horimono-shi or swordsmith who can do this if requested.... Who would you recomend or is that a question that most fear to answere,PM me if it is. Also is the blade worth that attention. Roy

Thanks , I did not know that Hi could be re cut...who? would be nice as I intend to keep this. Roy

Some things are easier to figure out then others...http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-EDO-Samura ... 3024wt_932 Well sort of Eric Some time ago I bought a mask from a chap who dug it up while laying new drains outside a Theater, the bottom half was obviously old and genuine but nose and cheeks had been added later and were as rusted as your example. So I drove down to see old friend and major Armour collector/restorer John Anderson. He stated that the Hanbo section was early and good while the adde part was not bad and late Edo. Will try to find the pictures. Not sure about the teeth though Roy

Guess thats beaten everyone Roy

Well thats taken the humour out of this,No one in Cornwall destroys anything that has value even wealthy parents{Relatives please read this} Roy

I have this blade that was my first fully mounted civil sword, came from the Dr.F.A.Turk collection and prior to that from Germany around 1920. Mumei, blade 33cm {O/all 44cm} , Sori around 3mm, width at the Machi 2.7cm,at the Yakote {Difficult as this blade is of a form that did not have one} 2.5cm,Thickness at the mune machi 5mm. Nevr been polished since it came from Germany and as the multiple Hi would in most case's dissapear have restrained my self on the rare occasion I had funds. Would be interested in members opinion as to age, always thought it to be Koto but.... mounts are follow a dragon theme{Habaki,Saya & Kodzuka} while the Saya and tsuka mounts are of waves in silver. The ugly Tsuba if of a Chinese scene and seem odd on this O'Tanto. In an idle moment your thoughts would be appreciated folks. Roy {wet,windy and miserable Cornwall UK}...The weather not me

Another python fan? Roy

Oh yes, but it was sort of squared off,chokuto style and of course the nakago being much later I embedde it in my neighbours tyre. Roy