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Ron, the problem with selling something like this on the forum is setting a price. Since auctions are not allowed how does the owner figure out a price that is not to low, if it is to high then the owner can always lower it I guess but if it is priced to low due to lack of knowledge the owner would be losing money.

Some armor images and discussion here. http://nihon-no-katchu.proboards.com/th ... hams-27-10

Ron, once again thanks for sharing your considerable accumulated knowlwedge with us.

Here are some upclose examples.

Thanks John, the translated version was sort of garbled.

Ron, there is some type of information on brass / bronze used in Japanese guns here, but it is in Japanese, maybe someone can translate. http://www.sanmei.com/contents/en-us/p1853.html

Recommended reading material. BOOKS IN ENGLISH. Noel Perrin "Giving Up the Gun: Japan's Reversion to the Sword, 1543-1879". Olof G. Lidin "Tanegashima-The Arrival of Europe in Japan" Shigeo Sugawa "The Japanese Matchlock" (English version). Rainer Daehnhardt "Espingarda feiticeira: A introdução da arma de fogo pelos portugueses no Extremo-Oriente = The bewitched gun : the introduction of the firearm in the far East by the Portuguese" (Portuguese and English in one book). BOOKS IN Japanese. Taira Sawada "Nihon no Furuju" (Japanese Antique Guns). Shigeo Sugawa "The Japanese Matchlock I & II"

Online research material. Inatome gun manual, Gakushuin University Library. http://glim-els.glim.gakushuin.ac.jp/ki ... INA07.html Inatomi gun manual, The New York Public Library. http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigi ... id=1918492 Inatomi gun manual, Bonhams. https://m.bonhams.com/auctions/21101/lot/458/ The process of teppo and cannon making, National Museum of Japanese History. http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/publi ... tness.html Secret Books on the Art of Gunnery, National Museum of Japanese History. http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/publi ... tness.html Marksmanship teachings, National Museum of Japanese History. http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/publi ... tness.html The Introduction of Guns in Japanese History, National Museum of Japanese History. https://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/exhi ... 61003.html The Introduction of Guns in Japanese History, (downloadable pdf), National Museum of Japanese History. https://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/exhi ... 1003_e.pdf The Impact of Firearms on Japanese Warfare, 1543-98 Delmer M. Brown, The Far Eastern Quarterly Vol. 7, No. 3 (May, 1948), pp. 236-253 http://www.pinterest.com/worldantiques/ ... e-1543-98/ Shigeo Sugawa's web site (English version). http://www.japaneseweapons.net/ Shigeo Sugawa's web site (Japanese version). http://www.xn--u9j370humdba539qcybpym.jp/

Brian, would it be possible to pin this so that it will be permanently available for viewing at the top the threads. Early Japanese firearms images. Japanese matchlocks and equipment. http://www.pinterest.com/worldantiques/ ... rai-era-t/ Touch hole cannons used in Japan. http://www.pinterest.com/worldantiques/ ... le-cannon/ Western style firearms used from the Edo through Meiji periods. http://www.pinterest.com/worldantiques/ ... y-samurai/ Japanese firearms illustrations through the Meiji period. http://www.pinterest.com/worldantiques/ ... he-meiji-/

Ron, I have assumed that this one at least was cast, what do you think?

Dan, the Japanese cast some pistols and touch hole cannon, they also used metal worked matchlock barrels. Here is a link which shows how the majority of matchlocks were made. http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/origi ... 98e96d.jpg Bronze matchlock pistol barrel. Small bronze cannon.

Jim, there are two completely different weapons that are being called by the same name (kabuto-wari, hachi-wari / wara), one is a a dirk like weapon with a square blade that has a curve towards the point, this shape is known for leaving a very nasty wound. The other weapon is an iron truncheon, one of many iron bar type weapons used in feudal Japan right through the Meiji period. the truncheon variety were usually blunt. The name itself is not important and no one should dwell on the exact meaning, no telling when it started to be called this and was this name meant to describe the dirk or the truncheon or both? An iron truncheon could be called a "helmet crusher" or "skull crusher". Who used these weapons and when were they used is questionable but they were real weapons even if some current examples are of more modern construction. According to Serge Mol According to Don Cunningham Dirk type with a square blade. Iron truncheon type, shown next to another iron bar weapon, a tessen fan.

Brian your right, I did not know the term for this type, here is an actual fukuro naginata.

Yep it is sold but here is a link to the sales page. http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/2013/1310_4035syousai.htm Here is a link with some really nice yari and naginata including a fukuro naginata for anyone interested. http://www.e-sword.jp/baiyaku/baiyaku_sw4.htm

Thanks Jussi!!

I have never seen this shape of fukuro yari before, it looks like a kikuchi fukuro yari, does anyone know the correct name for this?

Darcy, I think you echo the sentiments of the vast majority of forum members, every response like this can cause an untold number of people to hesitate the next time they have a question or want to post a reply to a topic. There is no need to be harsh with people who do not have the same level of knowledge that you may have, is this reply another example of the "brutal honesty" that was just being discussed on another thread viewtopic.php?f=56&t=19631 If so how about trying to promote and practice "compassionate honesty" in the future. Try treating people they way you would have wanted to be treated when you were young, or how you would want people to treat your kid, mom,sister, dog etc.

Much of the book is available online. http://books.google.com.ph/books/about/ ... edir_esc=y

I would also like to know the source of this information.

Jeffrey, learning can be inexpensive or even free (by reading what is on this forum), when the time comes were you can afford something nice you will not make the same mistakes many others have made.

But photography has come a long way.

Some excellent examples, here is something that is really unique, it is a completely matching suit of Japanese mail (kusari) armor, it also appears to be in mint, unused condition. As far as I know this is the most complete armor of its type currently known. Two unusual features are the kusari hakama (mail pants) and the hybrid three panel kusazuri/haidate (thigh armor) which is attached to the kusari katabira (mail jacket) by kohaze (toggles). Add a pair of kusari tabi and you would literally be covered from head to toe on mail, quite the defense against even the sharpest sword.

Ron, here is an essay in Japanese on this very subject from the The National Rifle Association of Japan. Using an online translator will give you some idea of the contents, maybe a Japanese speaking forum member can add some details. http://www.riflesports.jp/nraj/archives/neji/index.html

Ian, several years ago I saw this small hand held shield for sale in Japan, it is the only one I have seen but it would work much like the one in the print. I suppose that if you were facing a pistol wielding opponent at close range and you were not prepared to fire back, something like this thick iron shield might actually stop a bullet, of course I have no idea how old or authentic this shield is.

Ron, it seems that the gunnery manuals were not actually wood block prints, each was individually hand drawn from what I have read, the images I have seen range from very primitive to incredibly detailed, the quality and content depended on ones status in a particular school and wealth. There are actually very few prints that show matchlocks at all, only a handful really, one book that was pointed out to me recently has some of the best prints showing matchlocks in use "Budōgeijutsu hiden zue shohen" (武道芸術秘伝図會 初編), by Masatomi Ōmori and Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1855, the title roughly means "martial arts secret view", maybe someone can do a better job on the title. http://heartland.geocities.jp/hamasakab ... b2802.html One image from the book in particular caught my eye, it shows a mounted samurai pointing a matchlock pistol at another mounted samurai who appears to be holding up a small shield as a defense, which would be the first use of a hand held shield I have seen in any Japanese print. Any opinions on whether this print is actually showing a hand held shield.