Davis

Hi Anyone have any thoughts on this mei?

Hi I am having difficulty translating this "inscription" on the bo-hi of this su-yari. It is mumei, suriage and has only one mekugi-ana that has been cut in half by the shortening of the nakago. It has been the victim of much neglect before it was rescued. Can anyone help? Mick

Hi I once owned a yari that had been dug up from a WW1 battlefield in France and this makes me wonder how many British soldiers used/wore/carried Japanese weapons during the two World Wars. From memory and I stand to be corrected, I can recall three. WW1 Clement Milward/General Allenby. Post 1945 Field Marshal Festing. Also flipping the coin I can vaguely remember a European blade, polished and mounted in fine Meiji military mounts exhibited at the Ashmolean sometime in the sixties. Can anyone add more information? Unfortunately the references I once had are long gone. Mick

Dear Gilles This picture will show the location. The blade (still rusty) is bo-hi and 44.5cm in length, the nakago is 45cm, so combined 89.5cm. The nakago is ubu with only one mekugi-ana. The mei I believe reads Heianjo Ju Shimosaka. Mick

It appears that the other pictures I tried to attach have got lost, so will try again.

Hi Several years ago I acquired or should I say rescued a yari. The finely decorated pole was in good condition but the Hira-sankaku-suyari was covered in rust and prevented inspection of the hidden detail. At some time during it's long life it had suffered voilent full-on impact, which has created some misalignment. From time to time I study this piece and wonder. Something that baffles me are some markings it has on the nakago. Are these 1. Measurements 2. Assembly marks 3. Inventory marks 4. After battle notches. I hope to include some approriate pictures but computers and photography are not a strongpoint. I hope that this is of some interest and that some of you may have similiar markings on your yari and can explain what they were intended for. Mick

Thanks for comments and observations. What do I think? I still have more questions than answers. Studying the piece makes me think it's creator would have had the skill to execute a finer, more geometric design if that had been his intention. A red hue is evident in the picture, which would normally indicate fire damage but in natural light this is not seen and is due to the lighting conditions when I took that picture. Re-patination?. That is a possibility. Do I think it has been? No. The sword is 45cm long and of wide proportions. O-kissaki, mumei, ubu. F/K- Soten copy -Uji River. Menuki of foilage/fowl - very average. The entire sword had been subject to years of neglect and abuse, covered in some unknown substance, solified glue/shellac? With regard to the tsuba, several hours of removing the grime with a soft dry cloth revealed it as it is shown now. Beauty or is it in the eye of the beholder? Re-patination? Yes, a possibility but done decades ago. Do I think so? No. I think the poor storage has lead to the permeation of moisture lifting the original patination. In effect spalling. Spalling can also be evidenced in fire damaged buildings!! Getting back to the blade, Shinshinto? Yes. Sobre, strong functional - I should imagine very. Menuki/FK everyday average. So what quality of tsuba would be expected to bo found with such a sword?? For me the word enigma comes to mind. I will try to send another picture soon - I tried yesterday but they were to large became invalid and disapeared into the ether along with what I had written. Mick

Dear All Thank you all very much for taking the time to answer my request for information. The depth and detail of your replies is very impressive and most helpful. I do not collect tsuba, although I do find them fascinating. The forum is a wonderful educational aid and I have found many gems hidden in it's archives, I am attaching another picture that may be helpful. Once again thank you all very much. Mick D

Hi This is my first post and I will make it as brief as I can. I have acquired the occassional Japanese sword over the years but my knowledge of tsuba is very superficial. So can anyone help provide any information on this one please. It's from a wakizashi that I have and measures 7cmx7cm and the rim is 5mm. I believe it depicts the "endless circle of the seven treasures" and I would date it to mid Edo. All opinions and comments welcome. Mick Davis