Luc T

I see. Well, I hope this helps you anyway Gary.

I guess the doubt it is similar with appraising swords?

I can follow Thomas' thoughts here very well. this was also my doubt. what do we have: Sasama writes about such a smith, with no surviving works known. the quality does not correspond with the early Soshu or Odawara works. (this kabuto here is better, smells edo) what we also have, and this is quite unknown, also the Ichiguchi Myochin made this kind of kabuto during the early edo period. the genealogy of the Ichiguchi is far from complete, It may be an unrecorded smith. If it is the one mentioned in the SMZ, I think we have to wait till more kabuto pop up. this kabuto has similarities with the late Soshu smiths. If it is one of them, it is certainly made after the troubled period of the battle of Odawara, wich was a turning point in the production of armor allover Japan. I think we have to wait till more works from this smith appear, before we can be sure.

when I think of Soshu zaboshi, I have the Odawara Katsuie (相州小田原明珎勝家) as a reference, see picture. Gary's kabuto however is quite different. The quality and execution seems a lot better on Gary's kabuto. I can follow Ian if he thinks on the elaborate Kaga zaboshi. Always learning..

haha, you knew it from the beginning!

Myochin Iehisa, indeed. Soshu work. after Odawara 1590. rare find.

At first glance, I thought it was a Haruta. I am still surprised about the signature.

Thanks guys

Very intersting kabuto, congrats!

Ian, the nanbokucho style is not far away here, indeed. But as you say, I also think it is later.

no Piers, a standing ridge.

Sometimes, you find an item that intrigues, but you don’t know why. here a kabuto I bought recently, Any thoughts?

English only.

Approximately 30 armors, some with several detail pictures too. No swords.

Who knows the name of the seller?

This is insane! I never bid on such pieces. One day they will understand that a matching full suit is worth more than the sum of the pieces.

Peter, here we find a ww1 or 2 helmet from time to time. I can tell you, despite their age they look at least kamakura

Replica

hi Gregg, the menpo is a modern reproduction. you better look for an old one, or an hanpo if you want to spend less money.

Hello Fred, there are more than 7 Muntsugu recorded. do you have more information?

Value is not the same as price.

about the okenari. I bought this okenari a few weeks ago, it is signed 'Joshu ju Narishige saku'. The Joshu smiths are wanted by collectors nowadays, but they are scarce. Do you see the resemblance?

In my opinion the kabuto is certainly worth a professional restoration.

I agree with you Uwe. The okenari has a lot of features that point to a Tohoku or Odawara kabuto. It is possibly older than edo, but again, I can't see this with only this pictures. Myochin? possibly, but it could be pre Myochin too. It is certainly no Haruta, Bamen, Saotome or Nagasone.