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The shikoro looks to be older than the bowl, it is leather laced and the outer edges have nice detail work, the tehen kanamono does not look like it was fitted to the ridges of the helmet, it just seems to sit on top, I would expect to see a better fit on a 62 plate kabuto. Something just looks funny about the bowl to me.

From a quick glance at least #9, it looks oil quenched.

For anyone who does not understand the exact nature of this discussion, normally all parts of the kabuto would be symmetrical, in this case the two protruding rivets (shiten no byo) are not exactly opposite to each other, the one on the left has one plate between it and the center of the kabuto while the one on the right has two plates between it and the center, this is not something you would normally see on any kabuto. perhaps there was damage to the area that would have necessitated moving the location of the shiten no byo, if so then viewing the inside of the kabuto might show this, otherwise I can can not think of any reason for the miss matched spacing. Shiten no byo: Vestigial rivets applied as decoration to helmets. Hibiki no ana: Name of the four holes on some multiplate helmets below the shiten-no-byô. Holes in a helmet bowl originally for attaching a helmet cord but later decoration. Haraidate:Tubular crest holder attached centrally to the peak of a helmet.

Clive, talk about bringing something back from the dead, I have to commend both you ( for being willing to spend the money) and Robert (for carrying on this ancient and near extinct art). I hope to see the full completely restored armor eventually.

Here are some four examples of the two terms being used by different dealers and knowledgeable people to describe these types of kabuto. 1st. http://www.giuseppepiva.com Shiinari kabuto 2nd. Hermann Historica Topai kabuto 3rd. http://www.yoroikabuto.com Topai kabuto 4th. http://www.sengokudaimyo.com (Anthony Bryant) Shiinari kabuto

I purchased one sword from him a while back, it was as described and the transaction went smoothly.

Dave, very nice kabuto, you do not see this kind for sale often, I think it would be a "topai" kabuto.

Mark, I think that price is high even with the quality of the kote, for that price you can get a real nice kabuto, or even a nice kabuto and menpo, you may want to try and get the price reduced.

Chris, you should do some searching before proceeding further. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12605&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=Roush viewtopic.php?f=15&t=9882&p=82155&hilit=Roush#p82155

Robert, when you get your site back up and running let us know, thanks for the info.

Dave, very crisp clean lines etc, they just look to good.

Ken, here is an easy way, contact Kelly Schmidt (schmidt_araki@yahoo.co.jp), he lives in Japan and speaks English, send him a link to a yahoo Japan auction and tell him how much your max bid is and he will bid for you, Kelly will then ship your item to you if you win, he charges a flat percentage plus shipping.

Robert, do you still have a web site? I used to refer people to your web site when asked about Japanese armor restoration but I can not find your web site now.

Dave, I believe it would be an "awabi kabuto" (helmet in the shape of a sea shell), unless it was hammered (embossed) out of metal which would make it an "awabi uchidashi kabuto" (helmet embossed in the shape of a sea shell), if it was hammered out of a single sheet of metal it would be an "awabi ichimai uchidashi kabuto". Nice work! http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categ ... shi_kabuto

Rob, you can find tessen etc from time to time on yahoo Japan, here is a link were you can search for one, if you do find something that you are interested in there are several ways to go about purchasing for yahoo Japan. http://www.jauce.com/view.php?seturl=http://category.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/list/%E6%AD%A6%E5%85%B7-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%82%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF-%E3%82%B3%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3/2084259484/?p=%E6%AD%A6%E5%85%B7_aps_tab_ex=commerce_aps_mode=1

Here is another one. http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/op ... 070-00683/

Here is another interesting box, and quite rare, once I had a chance to examine it I understood why these are not seen very often despite once being quite common. The wood is very thin and yet each panel was drilled and pegged together with wood dowels only. 58 cm x 52 cm x 53 cm.

Thank you Morita san and Piers for the translations. Piers you may be right about why it was sought after, there is another one right now that is not getting much interest, it looks like the drawers may have been replaced and there is no writing on this one.

Piers showed a box like this one as being an ammo box, I have seen a few like it before but did not know their use, this one just sold in Japan for quite a high price for a small box.

Jacques, do you feel the same way about swords made with nanban tetsu?

Justin, here is a link to a few images. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tate_(shield)

This is for Ron, in case he has not seen it before, I ran into this item a long time ago but did not know what it was. I just ran into it again and remembered this article.

Piers thanks for the info, I will look at the bullets and see if they are marked etc.

I have this bullet mold, bullets and what is supposed to be some old match cord. "Tama-tsukuri" or "tama-igata" are possible names I have heard for the bullet mold, any suggestions would be appreciated , also possible names for the bullets and match cord, thanks.

Eric thanks for the link, I have not seen that particular type before.