Davis

Much more practical Piers. Something like the "ceiling hooks" once used by British fire brigades. These were almost identical to a yari, long pole, spear shaped blade and with a small blade set at right angles. They were thrust into a ceiling and twisted, in those days ceilings were lathe and plaster and when the lathes were brought down whole sections of plaster would fall. Very messy! Another method of use was to find a joist and thrust the right angle blade against the nearest lathes working along the joist 'till all the lathes were cut. The example from The Lanes certainly isn't practical . As you say it might be symbolic.

Alex, At first glance it seemed to me to be a repurposed broken polearm. My second thought was a firefighting axe. However, it's too ornate and not robust enough to create firebreaks or hacking away burning material. I can't see that it would have any practical use in firefighting and would not last five minutes.

My thoughts too. Unfortunately there are no sources that I know of that can be referred to, judging by the large numbers that come to auction there must be thousands in the UK. As you say many have suffered losses. Subjects featuring Intact samurai and arms and armour are not so common.

Thanks Colin and Jean for your replies. Colin you are spot on, it is one of a pair I have the other. Unfortunately I left a bid on this one but didn't manage to get it. Thanks also for the link I hadn't thought of looking there. With commission this one went for just under £600. "Naito" seems to be a rather good artist but have often wondered if he did all the work on these pieces or just carved the faces.

This plaque was recently sold at auction. I have several similar but know very little about them and would like to learn more. I guess this type of plaque was exported in large numbers from Japan during the early part of the 20th century. The seals on this one might read Naito but that too is just guesswork. I would particularly like to see other examples that members might have or know of. Sometimes retailers labels can be found on the reverse, does anyone have an example? Can anyone help, all information welcome. Thanks.

Lockdales Auctioneers under the heading "About Our Auctions" state "Bladed Weapons: we can post bladed items now within the UK again" I'm finding it all really confusing. Colin, I agree with you regards the state of this country.

Another.

Alex, when I acquired this it was in a very sleepy state. Blade covered in thick grease, tsuba rusty, binding disintegrating. Very difficult to take apart without damage. Probably not much different from when it left Japan.

Dan, I don't collect tsuba but this one is on a sword that I have.

Thanks Dirk and Bruno. Book dealer Alan Bale once had the two volumes swords/tsuba and was asking £800, so obviously the "illustrated swords" is the rare book. Yes Ian, It's nice to have an original but as I don't want to damage it, don't refer to it much. Dale, you always have something of interest so thank you very much for your detailed reply. I am downsizing and wanted to know the value so I could fix a reserve when consigning to auction. Now that I know the value I will keep it. My collecting days are long over but I'm sure Martin ( In another post ) would be interested in the information you have, much of it new to me. I will let him know, thanks everyone for your help, it is appreciated. Mick

Hi Martin, I tried to provide that information but it wouldn't work for me...old age and lack of computer skills. In my post " Value of old German Book" Dale, it seems would be able to provide you with much more information, a lot of it new to me.. Also, I told you the wrong number of tsuba. Basically, it would seem, Rudiger the Baron of Biegeleben was selling his collection. Tsuba 607 - 725 were "linked" to the Archduke. Thanks very much Geraint, for some reason I had thought the blade was much older -perhaps I'm thinking of another of his swords mounted in that way.

Hi Martin, you probably know of this. While researching for something else I came across a reference to the collection of " The Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria" It mentioned that 17 tsuba with a link to him were to be auctioned off on Monday 10th December 1923 in the Kielmannseggsaale. This would seem to suggest that the nobility had the interest, resources and opportunity to acquire some good pieces. Source. Japanese Sword Guards In The Collection Of Georg Oeder Of Dusseldorf.

Would anyone have an idea as to the value of this book? It's a heavy tome with 37 illustrated pages of tsuba and fittings from the Gustav Jacoby collection. For something published 120 years ago the details show up quite good. I believe there are at least two more companion volumes to this one that I have. One gives a detailed description of all the tsuba shown in my book, the other has illustrations of swords that were in the Gustav Jacoby collection. Jacoby donated the bulk of his collection to a Berlin museum. Years later, museum staff witnessed the crated boxes containing the collection being loaded onto ox-carts, this was in 1945. The Hermitage is probably where the collection resides now. Any thoughts or additional information would be welcome. The book is in good condition for it's age.

Thanks John, I was going to write Captain Johns, then had my doubts and started to think about Biggles, memory not too good. Thanks Geraint, I would like to see it , Martin's article has opened a door on a fascinating subject. Martin, really looking forward to more on this.

Thank you Martin, a very interesting article. Geraint, I remember when the Field Marshal's collection came up for auction in London and feel sure the sword you mention was included, perhaps someone still has a copy of the catalogue and details of that sword? I remember from my early days of collecting that there was a collector who as a young British Army Officer took one of his Japanese swords to the trenches in the 1914-18 war. I also owned a yari blade that had been dug up from a former battlefield in France. I recall a picture in a 1920's book of the then Prince of Wales dressed as a Japanese General. As you say there must be other examples.

Thanks for your response and efforts John. This sword has been packed away for over a decade. I've only recently started studying it again. I think that it's a fine blade but I don't have the knowledge to pin it down to a particular smith. Years ago someone suggested to me, first generation Munehide, this really confused me. I realised then, after many years of collecting I was totally ignorant and would never truly understand Japanese swords. As for gimei?? Thanks everyone for your help.

This was a description of the sword given to me years ago by a collector/author.

Thanks very much for your reply and those links John. I own both swords. The first was bought very cheap. I've had the Munehide/Muneyoshi for many years and still don't understand what I actually have, it's an enigma. Downside to it is that it does have some tiny rusts pots. I will provide a few more details when time permits. This picture doesn't show much, I will attempt to do better. Thanks for your responses.

John, hopefully this picture will show up the area of corrosion much better. Kirill, thanks for that information, this sword ( 2nd ) also has mitsumune.

Same subject, different sword. I have limited reference material so would welcome opinions.

Thank you all for your comments and Geraint, the comparison. Before I posted, I had read here on NMB comments made by Guido Schiller on this smith. I had no expectations. This sword was an unexpected find in a very sleepy state. I can imagine it had laid unforgotten in a loft or cupboard for several decades. The blade ( fortunately ) covered in thick grease, tsuba almost black rust and kashira hanging by a thread, overall koshirae in understated nautical theme. Covered in dirt and grime. It was a good price and in my opinion worthy of collection. Thank you for your help.

I appreciate the pictures are not very good. If this signature is authentic this sword would have been forged between 1664 when he received the title and 1721 when he died. Unfortunately, I can't read Japanese, don't have the knowledge or the necessary references to make that call. So I have assumed it's gimei, am I correct?

Thanks John, I found this interesting. It seems museum officials were surprised that this sword found it's way to Berlin. I'm not. Berlin was home to many wealthy collectors and some of it's museums had extensive oriental collections. In 1944/5 artworks were crated up and stored in bunkers, at least one flak tower and even beneath the Chancellery building. There are many accounts of these being looted.

Thanks John, interesting reading. I made a note in an old book that I came across, a reference at one time there being 10,000 such swords in Australia, also that a former Japanese soldier spent a lot of time trying to buy them up, in the old Token newsletters somewhere. There were some good newspaper clipping from Australian newspapers sent by Major Brookes? at the time. This is from memory but I think it can be verified.

This sword is from the Alanbrooke collection which was donated to the Royal Artillery Museum. It was "Object of the Month March 2023". Apparently it has now been judged to have been forged around 1800. There are a lot of these "presentation" pieces that are not what they say on the tin. A "Generals" sword presented by Mountbatten to a well known British military figure fetched quite a sum at auction a little while back. I believe there is a definite pattern to the presentation of some of these swords. This is an extract from a document I came across "Mountbatten is sending Samurai swords to all five COS. These swords are ancient and valuable, having been surrendered by officers of good family......" I apologise for taking this subject a bit off topic but when I get time and can concentrate properly I will make a new post on the subject.