Luc T

I echo Piers here, if you want a cool piece of history in your mancave, this is a perfect old item. The condition is too poor for a collector, and a decent restoration will cost you an arm and a leg. Enjoy it as it is, it is genuine after all, and better than a replica.

This JAF fair edition is something special for the Japanese Armor Society. For the very first time, a shinsa will take place outside Japan. 3 Japanese NKBKHK shinsa members will come over to evaluate armor related items. The team will be in contact with the Japanese jury during the evaluation. Unfortunately, the session is fully booked, I hope we can do this again in the future. For the record, since last Year the NKBKHK is recognised by the Japanese Governement.

It looks like a late Muromachi kabuto, made in the style of Nobuie. Made front to back, 5 rows of rivets, mabezashi… certainly Kanto work.

hi Mark, I have never seen this one before. typical work for the period.

the most frustrating part for me was that there were some interesting pieces that must have been signed, but not a word of explanation nor notion of the mei. One helmet, probably a Nobuie, was appartenly dated 152(1?), but no name on the display... about the helmets, there was a momonari kabuto with butterfly maedate that is magnifficent. (Sakura museum)

Yes, there was a splendid oyoroi, dated 14 th century. This was an edo high end copy, or less likely a late muromachi armor What we see on this picture is a Joshu koboshi kabuto, made around 1570, not early 1300.

Certainly not! A Joshu (or Soshu) koboshi kabuto dates from the late 1500, not the early 1300. This is elementary knowledge.

here a nice preview of their ‘expertise’

Partially edo and modern?

I visited the ‘show’ today. i am shocked about the many wrong datings… elementary knowledge is absent, and this for such an institution. if you visit the expo, which I recommend, let the items speak for themselves, and forget the text on the labels.

Hi Gary, this is a set made in West Japan. I think this counts for all the pieces of the armor. the Kabuto has a slight akoda shape. Better pictures would be good, this can also be Sagami work. the menpo is rather the so called nara-style (from what I see) the dou, nuinobe, is also rather Nanto style. the lacing, nice detail here, is als rather West Japanese.

Hi Alain, Apart from the patina, what I see is a Myochin edo hanbo. Chin, Yadome..

On the road from Santa!

According the mei and nengo, this is a first generation Nobuie. Nobuie 1 started in 1504 (the first known nengo). Nobuie 2 started in 1532. An elegant helmet. It would be good to see the different angles.

And yes, N°9 is almost printed! this will be a top edition!