Russell P

Thank you very very much

I know this is not really related to traditionally made Japanese edged weapons but could someone please help me with a translation on a painting please. I have owned this for 20 years and can not translate the signature. Any help really appreciated. Thanks Russell Pearce

Jean I used a Canon 50D with a 18-200 lens at full zoom with sun set light streaming over my left shoulder, in a dark room (hence the reddish colour of the image). Amateur way of photography for the subject but it works for me. Have a great day Russell

Thanks huntershooter I wonder if a different picture would help. Does the Shinogiji look burnished in this picture (of the same sword)? Russell

Hi I have posted to this forum before and discussed this sword at length – so no need to discuss again. However – I have a new camera. Just thought I would share this image. Have a good day Russell

Eric I found another in the series http://katsublog.wordpress.com/2009/04/ ... i-sepukku/ Russell Edit I also found this about the same set of pictures : Caption: A staged version of the Japanese ritual suicide known as Seppuku or Hara-Kiri, circa 1885. The warrior in white plunges a knife into his belly, while his second stands behind him, ready to perform the decapitation. (Photo by Sean Sexton/Getty Images)

Eric H picture 21 - Unknown Ray Allen link - 1 minute 41 seconds Tells a story don't you think Russell

Was there more than 1 Hattori Masahiro? The signature on mine does not match and it has no Seki stamp. Mine is a takayama sword Translates as Top Left Right Respectfully Made Takayama Sword Polisher hommura Kosaemon Sword smith Hattori masahiro Russell

Thanks for saving me some money folks. One last question about this poor blade before I put this away. Is this called a Kuichigaiba? Regards Russell

It has taken some time to get these files to the right size.

Hope this clarifies how bad this is.

Pictures attached and it looks like it has had a very hard past.

I have a oldish blade that has taken some abuse before I had it. It has been in a draw for more than 4 years. Information: Japanese Sword Inventory Blade type Katana or Tachi Length 80.5 cm total Nagasa 61.7 cm (cutting edge) Shinogi Zukuri (standard shape) Motohaba 2.6 cm Sakihaba 1.8 cm (Bottom to top) Moto kasane 0.4 cm sakikasane 0.2 cm (Bottom to top) Sori (curve) (blade is miss shapen but a guess at the undamaged blade is 0.6 cm. Reality 0.2 cm to the middle of blade then another after the middle. Koshi sori (near handle) Lori mune (Triangle back of blade) Horimomo None (engravings) Grain – unknown not polished Hamon looks Shuguha with what looks like inazuma or nie juba (only partially polished) (straight temper line with little lines visible – needs polish) Utsuri – unknown Chu kissaki (boshi unknown) (normal size tip) Nagako Suriage 19.7 cm kiri (3 ana, (holes) all seemed to have been punched not drilled.) (Tang been shortened) Yasurime kiri (or could be something else it is in such poor condition) Tang really dark and uneven. File marks not really clear. Mu Mei (not signed) Date school period ? Koshirae – none Tsuba – none Comes with habaki only Date acquired 2006 about £80 but can not really remember. Comments : really badly abused and a very small light blade, just long enough to be classed as katana. Had dremmell treatment before me. Might not be able to take a polish. The hamon is visible for 14 cm on one side only. The shape has changed due to the abuse it has had. The distance between ana s is 11 cm, so this could have been shortened by 11 cm, so could have been about 73cm originally. Would you get it polished so that research could be done on it? (I may put a limit of £250 worth of polish just to get some history or do nothing), I can not decide.

Thank you Colin – good information. This does not look like Monkey stealing Man Fruit - to me. So just depictions of naturalistic scenes around a lake - in my opinion. One side a hunting scene (man with a Shiba Inu or Akita). The other, monkeys round a tree. It was worth asking - thanks again Colin. Russell

I have been told that this is "Shoami in Nara style". I am no expert. I was watching the “Antiques Road Show” on the BBC. On it the expert examined a bronze with a monkey stealing fruit. He talked about a story or legend. This lead me to re-examine my Tsuba. Could some one let me know what the legend of a monkey stealing fruit is please? Also does this Tsuba depict this scene? Are there any other hidden stories depicted in this tsuba. Any information would be really appreciated. There is a dog or goat with houses depicted on the tsuba as well. Thanks in advance Russell Pearce