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Not enough detail to tell if it is individual scales laced together (lamellar) or solid rows laced together (laminar), you would have to see that in order tell if the method of construction resembled the way Japanese armor was constructed.

Does anyone know if the antlers are a native variety.

Curran, you just cant fake that patina, thats as nice to me as the overly elaborate, lacquered, inlaid examples...I like those to though.

Thomas, it took 25 years to find the hardware or the tansu? Great example as the dividers seem to be missing on the majority of the ones I see for sale.

Piers I saved to picture but forgot to change to name to "piers katana-tansu.jpg" Anyway its a great example that deserves to be dug back up.

Ian, you are right about the Japanese mail laying flat and there was probably a good reason that the European pattern became popular, one thing I have noticed about the old style Japanese mail is that it tends to snag on itself rather badly, also on other mail or cloth it comes in contact with, the European pattern mail seems to be much less prone to that problem.

Usually the dividers are missing when they come up for sale, here are a couple of pictures with dividers intact.

Ed, thanks for the additional pictures of the kusari belt, it is very close in looks to the one I posted, belts of this type were probably common at one time but like many of the auxiliary armor items like wakibiki, manchira and manju no wa are now quite rare due to wear and tear, as many of these items were worn under armor and just plain lack of interest by collectors makes these items less desirable for dealers to find and sell compared to other armor items. These auxiliary armor items filled in some of the obvious and often pointed out gaps in samurai armor. When a suit of samurai armor is viewed with a full compliment of these extra armor items the gaps in the armor look less vulnerable to an easy attack.

Curtis, I can see nothing to critique, I wish I could do as good. The dividers look like the ones I have seen in antique ones.

Piers. I was waiting for your museum to open actually. The last katanabako were not mine, lately I have been collecting images of unusual or rare items, they take up less room...cheaper also.

Piers, the katanabako I purchased from Japan cost more to transport to the US than the purchase price. From what I have read and seen katanabako were used for transportation of swords in Japan. Something rarely seen are the leather covers and netting and ropes used when transporting swords in a katanasbako. Here are a few examples.

Thanks Guido, finding the most accurate name for items is not always easy.

Does anyone know if there a specific name for this type of sword storage box or are they considered to be tansu also.

I have only seen one other of these kusari belts, most probably wore out, there is another rare type of belt that covered the groin area, I have seen three of these. Another kusari belt. Lower abdomen/groin protector, cloth with kusari (chain armor) lining.

Edward, the kabuto you pictured is not actually armor, it is a "kaji kabuto". This type of kabuto was worn by samurai fire officials, it would probably have had a cape made from thick cloth attached under the rim, there might be attachment points on yours.

Piers, I hope you dont me enlarging this image a bit for us visually impaired viewers......and those who do not like technology.

Edward, I could not give you any more info on your armor than what Ian has told you but you might find some more pictures etc on the type of quiver you have. I have seen this type of quiver being called "shiko", try searching for shiko yebira, shiko quiver or shiko ebira.

Dear Piers, Thanks to Eric, ... I can now post the photos promised, ... please see the similarities between your link to : http://otakarajoho.blog10.fc2.com/blog-entry-383.html The overall design of the guns are practically identical ( with the exception of the elaborate decoration ). Please note I have replaced the serpentine pin with the original silver headed one, ... took a bit of work, but at least now it is correct. ... Ron Watson

Ian thanks, I got the general idea, and Ron, if you need some images edited down send them to me in an email and I will reduce them and send back to you.

Piers, I have never seen this trigger arrangement mentioned or photographed before, do you have any additional photos or information of how this works internally as compared to the usual trigger found on most tanegashima. Thanks for sharing this unique weapon.

Uwe, I ordered 2 of each myself, I am a little surprised at the lack of response for what will certainly be one of a kind books, as for the Watanabe #2, I have heard nothing yet but remain hopeful.

Waiting patiently Piers.

Well since my original post I have found a few more images of these very rare armors, here is one that recently sold in Japan, I was hoping nobody would notice it so I could afford it but no such luck, it sold for a rather high price and will probably not be seen again, I would describe this as a kusari tatami dou gusoku as it is a portable folding armor much like the karuta and kikko tatami dou gusoku. I looks like it got a lot of use and although its not pretty seeing items like this expands our knowledge of the subject. Just a few years ago it was common to hear people say that the samurai did not make and use full suits of chainmail (kusari) armor and with the exception of Ian's book it was nearly impossible to find any images online to counter that statement, now its a different story.

Justin, it may be greed with some people but with so many people doing it I have to wonder if there is more to it, maybe a complete lack of interest in their own samurai history and a lack of understanding on how we in the west view their history, if it was pure greed why not at least try to ask a high price on the complete matched armor before breaking it up, it is known at least in the west that a matching armor is worth more than the individual parts. I was looking a the Japanese Wikipedia site and was really amazed at how little information there was on samurai armor and weapons as compared to the English and even the German Wikipedias. Japanese Wikipedia http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%B2%E5%85%B7 German Wikipedia http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kategorie: ... C3%BCstung English Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:S ... _equipment

You have a good eye John, its certainly not an "art sword"!!!