Justin Grant

I have no intentions of arguing with you Eric, you seem very upset, I am too, like the others above, am sorry to have offended you and will leave you to this thread.

Eric, try JSTOR, the place that peer reviewed articles are stored, there are dozens of other places they are stored. Anthony Bryant has several out there where researchers of serious works do their research. The faults of the book you talk about have been debated here and other places. Noel makes the claim they have up the gun, they did not, and we have records that guns continued to be made in quantity post the period he talks about. In fact, the book of recorded Smith's is mostly of Smith's post this giving up period. He was a passivist who has/had a social statement he was trying to make. It's a good book, but I don't think it's the authority on the subject. But an introduction that once read, should propel people to find more information.

I don't even know how to answer that ridiculous comment, except to say, defending your ideas and text in front of a host of Professors and PhD's that have spent their lives researching and teaching Asian history is a smaller step than writing a book that is not vetted or and does not need to be supported by any facts other that what one chooses to see and is allowed to ignore any other facts they chose is harder? Alright then...... Some authors are credible, others are free to speculate and drop facts not supported, that does not make a public book a larger step. I have 3 published, does that make me more creditable than an academic who's sole focus is on research?

Every time I do, it gets removed. PM for details.

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Eric knows it was not the Dutch, but the Portuguese that introduced the weapon. Like Brian was saying, it was a Cut and Paste. I think Eric has forgotten more than I'll ever know about these things and I have been studying for a long time.

Sad thing is, some poor sod will pay the price because they don't know better. I agree, it is a 3-4K gun at best. I've seen better at Rago sell for $1,500-$2,500.

Some are, other fiberglass. I bought one from the ebay vendor a few years ago that turned out to be made of newspaper and lacquer. The papers were Japanese from the same year I bought it. It was sold as OLD, 50-100 years. Right....

Amazon.com has/had 3 different sizes available online last year, I picked up one for my father.

Thank you both very much. I'm not sure this tag validates the table as being from that event. So, I'll pass on it. But I appreciate your kind help!

All, I am trying to understand this tag on a table that has 4 dragon for legs and the top has a carved dragon. It is reported to be from the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis and purchased form the Japanese Pavilion. I know the top two Kanji read Japan, but not sure of the rest. There is no supporting documentation on the table other than this tag. Any help is appreciated.

Showa 3rd Year (date, roughly 1928) on the left photo Yamamoto Saku (made) on the right photo. I'm not a sword person, so others may chime in.

Piers Stupid question, but what would be considered a small caliber?

Thank you Piers!!

Dear Piers, When do you suppose this timeframe was? If we take Noel Perrin at face value, guns were restricted and centrally controlled, which we know was not 100% actual practice, regardless of edict. So, when do you estimate this open market gun sale to the general population took place?

Eric, I don't think that type of print was mainstream by any means, just as today. So to equate a social structure to a sub social structure just does not work. Now, I think there were/are items just for export, and items not designed just for export. Trick is, what are the indicators that one uses to identify as such.

If you look at the end of the stock, it looks squared off compaired to a traditional stock, which could lead to the idea that the thing was cut down.

Yes, and the EBay process for issue resolution take forever before they will credit your fees. I had it happen to me 3 times in December.

The stamped marking are the registration markings at or around the Meiji Restoration time. All guns were inventoried and marked.

It is dated Taisho 14th Year, 4th Months, Luck Day.

NKBKHK is THE leading armor shinsa and education group in Japan. Like Nihon-To, armor can be graded and atributed, but most armor collectors do not paper their stuff. This group is a study group with wonderful publications of meeting study material. Their site http://Japanese-armor.org/

Could it not simply be a hanger for a plumb to ensure a level or accurate shot? I know some used to tie a string on the barrel, but why not the butt? Or could it simply be an agamaki holder?

What about Zagane? Are they not relevant to this topic?

As long as you don't charge for the service and give full credit to the book and publisher, it is fair game.