watsonmil

Dear Piers, I would like to take this opportunity to echo Eric's sentiments regarding the Ladies Make -up boxes, ... and/or pill containers. Most interesting and a pleasant diversion from the normal threads of late dealing with the ever increasing number of Chinese Fake swords and cast tsuba. Please post more of your " bits " as you call them. These artifacts are of great interest and give us all a better perspective of life during the Edo Period. ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, I've always enjoyed the few Netsuke that I own, ... but I find such an auction as the Harriet Szechenyi Auction has the effect of causing great damage to a hobby. With prices as obscene as 265,250 Pounds for a tiny ivory carving, .... suddenly everyone feels their netsuke are under-valued and the dealers get caught up in the feeding frenzie. I have NEVER seen a Netsuke with a realistic value approaching 2500 pounds let alone the number of 15,000 - 25,000 pound netsuke being offered and actually SOLD. There are people with too much money and too little brains in this doomed world ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, A wonderful collection, ... ... Ron Watson

Dear Heidar, Not too many Icelanders here, ... A question : Do you know what is the noisiest thing in the world ? Answer : An Icelander and a Seagull fighting over a dead fish ! Anyways, ... welcome to the NMB and excuse my humour ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Roy, Without the gun in hand, ... it is impossible to see exactly what the problem is. I suggest you get out your phone book and look up Gunsmith. Surely there is one left in the UK ? ... Ron Watson

Dear Junichi, In response to your query about Japanese-Canadians serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, .... During WWI Japanese volunteered to fight in the Canadian Army. Out of the 196 volunteers, 54 were killed, 93 were wounded and only 49 returned home safely. After a long struggle, the surviving veterans were finally granted the right to vote by the B.C. legislature in 1931. WWII was a totally different situation, ... as most of our Japanese-Canadians lived on the West Coast of Canada and since it was feared that the Japanese might form a fifth colum should Imperial Japan launch an invasionary attack, it was decided to move the Japanese inland to internment camps. Since Canada was effectively out of the war with Japan after the capture of The Winnipeg Grenadiers, and The Royal Rifles of Canada in the fall of Hong Kong unlike the Americans who were heavily engaged in the War with Japan, there was LITTLE need of Japanese language translators in the Canadian Army whereas in the US Services there was a GREAT need for Japanese translators. In total I believe there were only 4 or 5 Japanese-Canadians serving in the Canadian Services during WWII up to the end of the war in Europe. Once the war in Europe was finished, ... more Japanese were asked to enlist for Canada's soon to be involvement in the war with the Japanese. The dropping of the Atomic Bomb ended the war with Japan before Canada could join with the Americans in the overthrow of the Japanese. Looking back in hindsight it was of course a mistake interning Japanese-Canadians during WWII, ... but one must understand and have LIVED with the thought of a possible Japanese invasion, .... and not be some bloody Politically Correct armchair historian of the present who can only see the negative without having lived the fear. As a side note the MOST famous Japanese-Canadian to serve during WWII served in the Imperial Japanese Army as an interpreter, and interrogator as well as an infamous torturer of Canadian POW'S. His name was Kanao Inouye commonly refered to as the Kamloops Kid. He personally was responsible for the torture and murder of a great number of Canadian POW'S. I personally knew two of the Canadian POW's that he tortured. Kanao Inouye was tried and convicted of HIGH TREASON by Canada after the war and was executed August 27, 1947 in Hong Kong's Stanley Prison. ... Ron Watson

Dear Keith, Rather than collect a specific field of Japanese Art, ... ie. Nihonto as opposed to Tosogu as opposed to Ukiyo-e, ... I collect a cross section of Japanese Art. I use the word Japanese Art as opposed to Samurai Art in that Netsuke as an example would not necessarily have been used by the Samurai class, ... but yet form an intergal part of enjoying the Edo period and the Samurai era as well as earlier Japanese periods. Of course there are favorite subjects that play a role in collecting, ... mine being the Tanegashima and it's accruments. The one criteria that I limit myself to is to aquire genuine examples of the best that I can NOT afford. In this I have been very fortunate in being in the right place at the right time, ... and also in hind sight having started collecting when prices were not so expensive as today. When I do occassionaly still aquire a piece I study the piece to death, ... unless one studies books, the internet, and the opinions of other collectors one will never get full value from the artifact acquired. The intellectual knowledge is FAR more important than the possession of any specific object. A caution here to new collectors, ... if one is set on collecting Japanese Art avoid the artifacts which show excessive wear, damage or commonality. My firm belief is that ANY artifact ( you will notice I did not use the word ART ) that is acquired deserves to be restored to its original beauty and/or function and this alone can be terribly expensive. Unless one has the where-with-all to carry or have carried out this exercise, ... well then leave this field alone and take up collecting hockey cards or whatever. In closing, ... I would have to state that although the several swords I own form the basis of my interest, ... they are only a VERY small part of the whole picture of my interest in the Arts of the Samurai or the historic Culture of Japan. I attach a photograph of a SMALL part of my collection in order to show the diversity of my collecting interests. ... Ron Watson

Dear Pat, Your matchlock ( Tanegashima ) appears to have elements of both the Bizen tradition of gunmakers ( the silver serpentine pin and the silver barrel bands as well as the circular pin holes ). The barrel however looks to be more Kunitomo in style as does the tear drop shaped trigger. If you disassemble the gun, ... I'll bet you will find a signature on the underside of the barrel. Photograph the signature and post it on the forum here for translation. It is not unusual to find a Tanegashima with influences from more than one school, particularily during the latter part of the Edo period. It certainly looks like it is in lovely condition. Congratulations on a nice aquisition. The silver inlay on top of the stock is called a MON, ... a family crest ( coat of arms ). ... Ron Watson

Dear Craig, I concur with Brian, ... there is no reason why you cannot post BOOKS FOR SALE that you happen to come across in your everyday pursuit of another livelyhood and/or retirement. I wish you all the best in whatever endeavours you pursue. Kind regards, ... Ron Watson

Dear Darl, Two woods that are suitable for making Saya and/or Tsuka are : Magnolia also called Yellow Poplar in the USA and the second wood is called Red Alder. Either wood is suitable, ... but I prefer Red Alder. Both of these woods should be available from US Specialty Wood suppliers if you do a Google search for Exotic Woods you should be able to find a dealer. ... Ron Watson

Dear Chris, I applaud your kindness in inviting non-Japanese polishers to have their work scrutinized by the Sword Community at the up-coming Minneapolis Show. The problem arises ( known to both of us ) that few if any swords will be entered as the " amateur togoshi " living in Canada and the USA probably number less than 5 or 6 individuals, ... and given the long and expensive distances inherient for most of these individuals ( as well as most have a primary job other than polishing to contend with ) there will be FEW if ANY swords entered. Never-the-less I congratulate you on your efforts to better educate the masses. ... Ron Watson

Dear Guido, Perhaps Brian considers $ 25,000 - $ 100,000.00 swords upper quality ? Still an interesting statement. ... Ron Watson

Dear Chris, et All, There now, ... after Louis' posting, ... and the decent photograhs of an AMATEURS polish, ... I think most of you will recognize the truth about just how talented some non-formally trained, non-Japanese Togoshi really are. I rest my argument. Thank you Chris for the offer of a surgeon, ... but my heart is that of an 21 year old, ... and my BALLS are that of an 18 year old ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Chris, It's been many years since I attended a Sword Show, ... and you are right I LIKE you am opinionated. I go back to the days of Dean Hartley, ... Cary Condell, .... Kotoken Kajihara. Funny, the swords I showed these men had the opinion that they were of very high quality, and very well preserved. Surely one of these gentlemen would have pointed out my swords having an " amateur polish ". No, ... you go on spreading your " opinion ", that .... ONLY the Japanese are capable of a Professional Polish. It is your opinion, and I have mine. It is when you come down on a non - Japanese trained polisher that irks me without having had the blade in hand for a close examination. And you have the audacity to call me " opinionated ". I think my points are valid. We can disagree and leave it up to the individual collector to decide whom and where they want their swords polished. Neither YOU nor I have a monopoly on experience. ... Ron Watson

Dear Chris, The question I asked was have you in hand examined a sword polished by Louis, .... YES or NO ? Have you examined a blade polished by Doug Blain, .... YES or NO ? Well my friend if you think you are going to get the TOP NOTCH Japanese Polisher working on your particular blade, ... you are naive. It will unless it is a VERY IMPORTANT sword be polished by a STUDENT not the MASTER ! In other words an AMATEUR. The ONLY thing you will be happy with is the fact that the Togoshi happens to be Japanese, ... after all it's their inherient right to rub stones on nihonto no matter what the outcome looks like. Yes, Chris I've seen beautiful polishes done in Japan, ... but I've also seen some of the worst looking messes imaginable. I have also seen ( on this forum ) some God awful polishes by non - Japanese polishers. You however promote ONLY the Japanese are capable of a good polish, ... and I respond with that is a load of rubbish. There are polishers here and in Europe ( although I do not know any personally in Europe ) that can do superb work. It is a matter of examining their respective works to decide upon whom you are going to intrust the job to. I have posted numerous blades on this forum, ... and agreed before you jump on it, .... photos are not the same as in hand examination, ... but never-the-less, ... no one has criticized the POLISH, ... and ALL were done by non-Japanese Polishers, ... and many have been examined by bigger dealer/collectors than you and deemed beautiful. Go ahead and spread your bias for " Japanese Polishers ONLY ", ... there are some of us at least who have the years of experience to know better. There's an old saying that: " if a lie is told often enough it becomes the truth ". ... Ron Watson

Dear All, I make an apology when an apology is in order and take it from an old timer, ... there are some WONDERFUL as Chris derogatorily calls them " AMATEUR polishers ". I stand by my post with no apologies UNTIL " someone comes back with a post that is convincing ". ... Ron Watson PS: Henry, thank you for the YouTube link, ... I for one enjoyed it !

Dear Guido As far as I know I pint equals 568 ml, ... therefore since there are 1000 ml to a liter, .... a pint is much more a man's drink than your dwarfish 1/2 liter. ... Ron Watson

Dear Chris, and Louis, First to Chris, .... I have seen some of Louis's work and I would rate it as good as MOST all of the Japanese Polishers. That my friend is after 40 + years collecting Nihonto. This bull about only the Japanese or Japanese trained polishers being capable of turning out an EXCELLENT polish is just so much crap. Indeed I have seen so called Professional Japanese Polishes that leave a hell of a lot to be desired. There are at least two excellent Sword Polishers in Canada and neither received formal Japanese apprenticeships. In fact one sword I submitted to Shinsa was considered so good ( the polish included ) that Kotoken Kajihara shook the Polishers hand and congratulated him on a job well done. A question for you Chris, ... HAVE YOU examined a sword polished by Louis ? If not then how the hell can you make ANY type of judgement ( but for the brainwashing you have received gratis no doubt from the JSSUS ) ?? Secondly to Louis, I have a very nice Yari in need of a polish, ... let me know when to send it. Your work from what I have seen is most certainly on a par with the Japanese Polishes I have seen, ... and I have examined many ! ... Ron Watson PS: Louis you should not have edited your post, ... to hell with those who critisize your abilities. Keep up the good work !

Dear Eric, Yes, ... echoing David's words of thank you ! ... Ron Watson

Allan, Although ebony is an exception, ... few other woods offer the coloration desired for menuki. Most woods have a tendency to swell and/or dry out ( leading to cracking ) which would be another reason for the lack of wooden menuki, ... again ebony being an exception. Ebony would have been a fairly exotic wood in Japan, ... and therefore along with it's being a very dense BLACK colored wood which is capable of taking and retaining a high polish would be an exception to most other species of wood for the manufacture of menuki. Just a few thoughts which come to mind. By the way, ... I think the set you have acquired are quite well executed, and being made of wood quite rare. Congratulations. ... Ron Watson

Dear Thomas, Congratulations on your well written research. I must say I am delighted with the depth of your article. It made a very fine read indeed. ... Ron Watson

Dear Ed, If we are to assume the poster is nothing more than a statement of providing the peoples of Japan with an indication of their country's great prosperity, ... why then only propaganda of a Militaristic theme. I see here no poster showing advancement of Industry, nor Scientific achievements. What I see is a direct correlation to what was going on in Germany at the time, ... 1933 being the year Hitler was appointed Chancellor of the Reichstad. The poster is one of Militaristic aggresiveness, ... nothing less. ... Ron Watson PS: See Japanese aggression in Manchuria.

Dear Eric, Ian, and Piers, Although my knowledge of Horse related accrouments is rather limited, ... I must say I have found this thread most interesting and informative. Surely we are indebted to you three members for the explanations not to mention the beautiful photographs that encompass this little known subject of Samurai related objects. Some very rare artifacts have been brought to light which for most of us would never have been seen nor known nor understood beforehand ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Barry, A discussion on the Tanegashima depicted can be found by looking up : An Interesting 8 Monme Tanegashima ... under General Nihonto Related Discussion ... April 29, 2010 ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, The Urushi was the major worry, ... I had great fears that the Leather Rejuvenator might cause the urushi to soften and peel away, or worse yet dissolve ! I was careful to try a small area first to see if this might happen ( thankfully it did not ). The second great worry was how the contact cement might not stick to the treated leather ( so far so good ) ... thankfully ! In fact any spots where the urushi was flaking previously on weakened spots were stablilized to the leather treated with the contact cement. ALL in all so far I am quite pleased with the product and the results. Surely after this many weeks I should have seen any problems that were if they were going to arise. I am hoping Ian will step in here as well and give me a little reassurance as I know he has considerable experience with Museum conservation. With respect to the Gun Case you seen the other day, .... patience and determination are the key to acquiring a given artifact. The Naginata that I own took a full 10 years of haggling before I acquired it ! ... Ron Watson