Geraint

Hi Lisa. I'm afraid I can't help with the translation but I do suggest you start looking at Chinese ceramics. I'm sure you know about Satsuma wares but I do not think this is one of them. The style of the painting and the costume worn by the ladies is not Japanese, I think. Hope I haven't spoiled your day. All the best.

Have a look at this thread, viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19206 where similar tsuba were discussed, (That is, similar to the original tsuba in this thread.) All the best.

Hi David, It's a little hard to tell but are you confident about calling it a chu kissaki? It looks to be on the large side in your photograph. All the best.

Yes, it's true that most are a little slim for the purpose, I was trying the idea out for size but even if the suggestion regarding yari used in this way is the case most of them have a good deal more rigidity than the average ken. So I guess we are back to the talismanic aspect. All the best.

Hi Ken. My understanding is that in almost all the sources chokuto is used as a term referring to straight, single edged swords and that tsurugi or ken is reserved for double edged blades. Beyond the basics there ares some hints on this page of a sword from Ed's site, http://yakiba.com/Ken_MichiYuki.htm and the link, that suggest them as talismanic protection for the home. I am failry sure that some were made for the Western market, or at least mounted for that purpose, at the end of the 19th century. Another reference from Rick Stein's site suggest that yari tanto were worn as yoroi doshi, as some of these are ryo shinogi perhaps there was a similar reason to carry a ken mounted as a tanto. I am sure that others will chime in here but I enjoyed your ken so allow me to add a shot of mine. All the best.

Hi Dow, From what I can make out the mei is painted on? Does it look like gold lacquer to you with the sword in hand? I think it suggest that the sword is by Soshu Hiromasa, look him/them up. Detailed measurements and photos of the whole blade will help people form an opinion but the whole package is nice, thanks for sharing.

Dear Justin. I think I should put my hand up here, it may have been me that used the "H" word and not you. I must confess I looked it up before posting just to get it right as well. Ho, hum.

Hi Matt. That's beautiful! Did you do the oshigata as well? All the best

So apart from all that it's great, right? I take it that no one has seen this dubious feature on any other tangashima, sorry Ron, gun?

Hi All. If you are reading this then you have probably already noted the matchlock pistol on Aoi Art with the an extension on the hibasami to make cocking the pistol easier. Not something I have come across before. http://www.aoijapan.com/hinawa-ju-matchlock-gunarquebus Now go on, tell me that you have all got one of those! All the best.

Hi Gheorghe, When you say, "That is..." did you mean to add an image? Otherwise have a look at this, it may answer your questions. http://www.jp-sword.com/files/gunto/mounting.html All the best.

Hi Gary and welcome. Your sword is a very good find, (though the hilt wrap is not pretty as has been pointed out by Robert). Regarding your question about rankings, have a look at this link, http://www.nihonto.ca/ratings.html This should tell you what you want to know. Enjoy.

Hi Stephen. For me all I can get with the link is the very small thumbnail so can't see much. What made you go for this one? All the best.

Barrie If your'e sure it is paper then away you go. Another trick is to get a coping saw, (scroll saw?) blade, snap off the end with the pin through and use that to snag the paper. If your kozuka has had a cutlery blade fitted then the stuff they used to glue them together comes out in really hot water. Have fun.

Dear Chris. There must have been something about it that made you part with some cash, what was it> Look at the seppa dai and the hitsu for kogai and kozuka, what do you see? All the best

Probably not going to appeal to most tsuba collectors but to a collector of Meiji metalwork...... ? These two look better in the catalogue and are what they are, they also seem to be part of a small collection, one or two pieces of which are quite good.

And just imagine how it would look with the yokote back in the right place. All the best.

Got it Jean.

Jean, I'm not sure that leather thong translates too well. In Oz your thongs are your flip flops, in the UK a thong is something different.

Very helpful link and the secret is revealed! At least this will save those of us in the UK from worrying about Jean looking for a leather thong! All the best.

Hi. First up please sign your posts with at least a first name, (board rules). We need to see pictures of the rest of the sword to be certain but at the moment there are some question marks. The mounts are not shingunto mounts, the hilt wrap is certainly wrong and the tsuba is also doubtful. If you can find it there should be a mekugi, (bamboo peg) under the hjilt wrap at some point. This should push out though you may have to struggle a bit. When this is free the sword should come out of the nakago, can't resist saying that you need to be careful at this point. The decorative motif, which I assume you refer to as the markings, has no connection with anything railway oriented I'm afraid. A picture of the blade overall and of the nakago with any markings, as well as overall shots of the whole sword will allow people to give you the lowdown. Don't get your hopes up on this one, it doesn't look too good at the moment. Meanwhile have a look at this site, http://ohmura-study.net/905.html Lots of things to see. All the best

I suspect that what Curtis is referring to is the outline of the hamon rather than the activity within it.

Hi Ludolf. If they are over sized then almost certainly produced at the turn of the 20th century. Large brass tsuba, usually one sided in their decoration made for export. small sized nakago ana and no seppa dai. All the best. Oh and nothing to do with the two mei.

Thank you Morita san, I should have got that one. There is a smith signing this way from circa 1661, listed as NOB620 in Hawley's. All the best.

Morning Don. The sword itself is in kai gunto mounts, for use by naval officers. The mounts are complete though a little battered, missing one seppa? The blade is an earlier wakizashi and seems to be in quite good condition. The signature seems to be Bungo no ju Fujiwara ?? yuki. Not yet sure of the second to last character. This would make it a sword by a Bungo Takada smith, a group not always highly valued by collectors but appreciated by military men. A nice find and a fascinating aspect of your history. All the best.