watsonmil

Dear Roy, The pipe is definitely Chinese, ... the inscriptions are usually a poem. ... Ron Watson

Dear Eric, Did you also notice the asking price of ... $ 7500.00 ! ... Ron

Dear Eric, I think you misunderstood Piers, ... The mold may be marked with the caliber in monmes ... NOT the bullets themselves ! ... Ron

Dear Ford, As you know I am a great admirer of your work, and follow your creations and expertise on both the forum, " Following the Iron Brush ", and the " NMB ". I like the new site, but wish you had added more items to the archive section. Hopefully, ... God willing before I die, ... I too will own a piece by you. Congratulations and best wishes. ... Ron Watson

Dear Matt, May I echo Ian's assessment, ... from what I see you have done a really nice job of restoration. May I ask what you used in the process of cleaning up these pieces ? ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, I think you are being too kind saying this is just a DECORATION or TOY. The addition of a patina to various parts including the brass and rust spots on the barrel would lead one to suspect this was an attempt at passing this off as genuine to some unsuspecting European or North American buyer ( someone not able to read the Kanji ). I hate replica anything and I particularily hate fraudsters. At least according to Jan, .. the Japanese friend states that the seller in this case listed the gun as IMITATION. Curious item and circumstances ?? I wonder what the opening bid was set at ?? ... Ron Watson

Dear Jan, In my opinion this is a modern Japanese forgery, ... not even a replica but a FORGERY. To call it a Replica is far too kind in my opinion. 1. The bulb shape at the muzzle looks to be machine ( lathe ) turned, .. in fact I believe I can see the cutting lines. 2. Front sight has file marks and is too squared off to my eye. 3. The match holder on the serpentine looks like it was soldered to the serpentine arm. 4. I see NO chisel marks in the signature leading me to believe it was engraved. 5. The main spring also has file marks, squared edges, and too thick to be an original. 6. The Amaooi ( barrel protector ) is a dead give away for either a replacement or in this case a fraud. I have never seen such a poorly shaped, thin, ill fitted amaooi as this example. It is laughable. 7. The barrel top with brass band fits way too low for where it meets the wooden stock. This was never done. 8. The patina on the brass butt protector appears to be fake and artificially applied. ... Ron Watson

Dear All, Did any of you NOT notice the mention of Auction Houses following the same guide lines ( under Government pressure no doubt ). If Christies, Sotheby's and Bonhams to name a few start to follow these same guide lines ( laws ), ... where does that leave most of we serious collectors when we or our heirs care to dispose of our collections ? Have any of you NOT thought about this ? Here in Manitoba, Canada since the passing of the Historic Sites and Objects Act of 1980, ... it is illegal for anyone to pick up ANY artifact from the ground. This was passed due to overzealous archaeologists pressing the government ( to protect their own over-paid positions ), .... thus destroying the artifact hunter from recovering artifacts which otherwise would NEVER be recovered. SMART eh ?? I was asked along with the Provincial Archaeologist to give a presentation to the Manitoba Metal Detecting Club on the above new legislation. The Provincial Archaeologist had these people so frightened that unless their finds were recorded " found before February 29, 1980 " that they were subject to fines and confiscation. I was then asked to take the podium, ... and as I pointed out to the people present, ... I could not instruct anyone to break the law, ... but I have heard of people recording each find as being pre February 29, 1980 with a date of February 26, 27, or 28th 1980. I then challenged the Provincial Archaeologist to charge me in court or get the F out as I have artifacts in my possession found post February 29, 1980. I further advised him in public that as of February 29, 1980 I would no longer report any important finds nor new sites to the Province and that in view of his stupidity it was my hope that none of the members present would report a god damn artifact or site also. He left in a huff, and I got a standing ovation. To make my point, ... due to the NONE reporting of artifacts nor new sites, his department has laid off most of their staff and have had their budget cut drastically. This is what people NEED to do with this type of Government inspired " protect the people from themselves " legislation. STAND UP to them ! A good example is Cities and their STUPID regulations governing elephant ivory. Just how the hell does the prohibition of 100 year old elephant ivory save an elephant today ?? Unless people stand up for what they believe in ( FREEDOM I hope ), .... all we can look forward to in this hobby ( study ) is more and more regulation such as seen in the UK. I should apologize for the tirad, ... but are you fellow members so stupid as not to see the writing on the wall, ... or are you all willing to let the government rule your lives without so much as voiceing your rights of ownership and your ability to act and think and acquire artifacts or ART OBJECTS responsibly and in good faith ? ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, Far be it from any of us to discourage you from changing the topic of this thread. By all means bring on the photos and further the discussion on a different subject. ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, ALL Kanagu for Tabako-ire that I have seen are fitted with TWO pins for attachment to the tabako-ire which protrude beyond the back of the kanagu. One does not find this on Menuki. I almost suspect you are setting a bait here and will shoot me down with an exception ! Further most/but not all are either far too large to be menuki, or conversely too small to be used as menuki. I have ONE example which would be suitable as a menuki, ... but the two pins protruding from the back identify it as a kanagu. Having said that there is always the possibilty of an EXCEPTION which would be the menuki found on the type of tsuka that has no silk wrapping but just " same ". Perhaps these are fitted with two pins, ... I wouldn't know for certain as I've never attempted to remove them from the one example I own. ... Ron Watson

Dear Curtis, I am pleased to see the interest this thread has generated, ... it is great fun to see other's treasures. Although I like the Ryu, ... I also really like Hotei's treasure bag. I take it the treasure bag clasp ( kanagu ) is quite small ? ... Ron Watson

Dear Eric, The selling price of the Tabakobon selling for 2000.00 Euro does not surprise me. It was obviously owned by a very wealthy merchant at some point, ... and the quality of work is most impressive. Something I have noted in Auctions over the past couple or three years is the fairly LOW prices of decent swords, ... and yet the escalating prices of other forms of Japanese Art. Has anyone else noted the same trends ?? ... Ron Watson

Dear Jan, You have a good eye ! Yes, ... he is QUITE A BIT OFF with his serpentine strike ! Perhaps this is why he is leaning so far ahead saying to himself, ... " Damn I couldn't have missed, ... Did I hear a bang or didn't I ?? " . As for the unusual butt, ... I have a Tanegashima with an almost identical butt shape. The gun is a normal length. It must be a very quiet night in Stockholm ! I think your woodblock print is wonderful. ... Ron Watson

Dear Jan, Now that you have blown up the photos, ... it becomes more obvious that what the artist is attempting to illustrate is the thinning of the stock on some guns for 1. lightening the gun somewhat, 2. aiding the shooter with a more comfortable grip on the stock. See photo attached. Please excuse the poor photo quality, ... but I think you will see what I mean. ... Ron Watson

Dear Roy, I rather like that, ... especially the ojime. I take it the Kiseru was missing from the set ?? The Tabako-ire is a bit too busy for my taste, and I too would date it to the Meiji period. Personal tastes aside, ... I would not turn it down ( depending on price ) were it for sale. ... Ron Watson

Dear Jan and Piers, I think what Jan ( thickening of the stock ) is pointing out is near the muzzle not anywhere near his left hand. I too have never seen a stock with this bulge/thickening near the muzzle. I would chalk it up to artistic license. The rest of the gun looks fairly accurate for a woodblock print. ... Ron Watson EDIT: See my later posting and photograph.

Dear Sebastien, Lemon Oil is a high quality Furniture rubbing oil made from the rinds ( skins ) of lemons ( I believe ). Anyway a good quality furniture oil ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Sebastien, From what I see the brass is the correct colour for a 200 year old gun, .... LEAVE IT ALONE. If you wish to clean the dirt off , that is fine. Just use a mild soapy water and soft cloth, ... but do not clean the brass with something to make it shiny. Once you have cleaned and dried the brass parts give them a wipe down with 3 in 1 oil ( sewing machine oil ). I first like to give the wooden parts a good amount ( liberal amount ) of Lemon Oil ( the stock ), inside and out then leave all alone once re-assembled. Afterwards a wipe down ( the whole gun ) with 3 in 1 oil say once a month using a small amount and soft cloth will suffice to keep the gun looking it's best. It would not hurt to give the stock BED a bit of lemon oil once a year as this area will not get the benefit of the 3 in 1 oil during your once a month wipe down. You can also use lemon oil on the stock instead of the 3 in 1 oil for your monthly rub down, ... that is a matter of personal taste. Don't forget to wipe the outside of the iron barrel with 3 in 1 oil as well. ... Ron Watson

Dear Pete, I would have to agree with Piers regarding the ivory NOT being Narwhale. Nor is it Elephant from what I see in the grain, ... I should think Hippopotumus ivory which is a lot denser than Elephant, ... and has the same grain as your netsuke exibits. ... Ron Watson PS. I should have mentioned the carving is very well done in my opinion.

More... ... Ron Watson

Dear All, I should like to take this opportunity to introduce our membership to yet another Japanese art form. Although politically un-popular today ( more to do with special interest groups than actual health hazards ) the use of tobacco products was at one time so wide spread as to be virtually a universal part of life. When I was a young man almost EVERYONE partook of the habit, males far more so than women of course. This does not mean ( although I am a heavy smoker ) that I condone or would in any way consul anyone to begin smoking. I do find it interesting that people are so gullible as to believe all the negative propaganda surrounding smoking, ... probably the biggest fallacy .... that smoking causes lung cancer ( the truth being that smoking will certainly hasten the onset of lung cancer provided you are genetically susceptible to lung cancer, ... but as a definitive CAUSE ... sorry the answer is NO. It is the leading cause however of Emphysema, and certain other respiratory ailments in VERY HEAVY smokers, ... much like the abuse of Alcohol is a concern for Cirrhosis of the liver in VERY HEAVY drinkers. Actually smoking has certain benefits your brain washed physician will rarely tell you about such as Heavy Smokers RARELY catch the Common Cold or Influenza, nor that a cigarrette instead of a valium is a great stress reliever. That is a fact JACK ! The general population also are un-aware of the fact that the various Cancer Societies around the world are BIG BUSINESS with up to 65% of your donations going to ADMINISTRATION and bugger all to research or aid to victims. It may also be of interest that Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world in spite of the fact that 40% of males smoke tobacco. Now on with the show for those with an interest. Tobacco was introduced into Japan sometime after 1543 when a Portuguese ship arrived at Tanegashima Island. The earliest recorded use of tobacco was during the reign of the second Shogun Hidetada. It has been recorded that the people of Kyoto planted tobacco seeds and that the inhalation of smoke from the leaves of said plants by the people of Kyoto became popular. At one point smoking was banned by the Shogunate but so wide spread was it's use that the edicts were largely ignored. The first inhalation of tobacco smoke came about as a form of a tiny cigar with the tobacco wrapped in a non related plant husk and a little later paper replacing the husk. It was probably from seeing true clay tobacco pipes as being used by the Portuguese that the first Kiseru ( Japanese Pipe ) was devised. These pipes are noted for their tiny bowls ... allowing for only a couple of puffs before empty ... but more on this later. As smoking became more and more prevalent artisans specializing in the manufacture of Kiseru emerged. During the Edo period Kiseru made entirely of metal were the most prevalent, with bronze, iron, silver, copper, shakudo, and even gold being employed. They were often decorated with incised lines, patterns, progressing to relief carving and inlaid designs. Once the Tokugawa Shogunate brought peace to Japan, and the demand for sword furniture diminished, many of the sword furniture artisans took up the vocation of producing Kiseru, ... and as an added bonus the production of the tobacco pouch ( tabako-ire ) clasps ( kanagu ). In addition to the manufacture of the mentioned articles, a great upsurge in the production of Netsuke took place. Some of the finest netsuke ever carved are a direct result of the introduction of tobacco to Japan. In the late Edo period, due partially to the edicts against the use of precious metals, a newer pipe was developed. This style of pipe had as before a metal bowl ( gankubi ), ... a metal mouth piece ( suikushi ), ... but separating the two was a hollow bamboo stem called the rao. This style of pipe although it did not completely replace the all metal kiseru definitely became the majority type and carried on right through the Meiji period and indeed post WWII. At this time ... late Edo and Meiji periods, many of the most luxuriously decorated pipes, and tobacco cases and pipe cases ( zutsu ) were produced for the wealthy merchant class. Although technically the Samurai were not allowed to use tobacco, ... many did. In Smoke: A Global History of Smoking by Sander L. Gilman and Xun Zhou ( 2004, p.78 ) Barnabas Tatsuya tells us that the Japanese were already using the Kiseru when the Dutch arrived in 1609 and by 1634 the Japanese were exporting tobacco to other countries. They also tell us that the tiny bowl of the Kiseru began as a cost saving measure being that tobacco in the early years was prohibitively expensive. Even more accurate ( I think ) is the statement that the Japanese display a supreme refinement in their smoking. They are content with the tiny pipe and may load the pipe only once or twice and then contently put it aside, ... and are quite appalled at the Western practice of smoking large quantities at one sitting. I hope in this short essay on the Kiseru and tobacco use in Japan that along with the photographs of a few pipes and accessories from my modest collection I will have kindled the reader to explore this beautiful art form. As always any errors are mine alone. ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, and Ian, Ian is the winner, ... to have been less tactful would have been to say that the only noteworthy invention of the Japanese was the Karaoke Machine. The Japanese are good ( the best ) at miniaturizing existing inventions, and somewhat improving upon them, ... but the Japanese are not known as being inventive. ... Ron Watson

I'm not going to touch that quote with a 10 foot pole ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Eric, What a wonderful story, ... re: your Grandfather. May he continue his life in good health. Now that I am a Grandfather, ... I look forward to passing if not all of my collection ( fairly large ) on to my Grandson at least the better pieces. He is only 10, but is showing promise of becoming a connoisseur. Welcome to the forum ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Roy, An interesting three barreled Tanegashima, .... but obviously Meiji period or an out and out fraud. Note the beautifully machined screws on the pan covers ( Edo period Matchlocks did not utilize screws, and if at the very end of the Edo period a few smiths were using screws, ... certainly NOT of this counter sunk high quality. Most of the three barreled Japanese guns are considered to be spurious. Ian correct me if I'm wrong. Next the very small crocodile cannon is most likely Indonesian and also of questionable age, as these castings were made for the tourist trade right up until quite recent, ... and for that matter may still be. ... Ron Watson