Alex A

Hi Dustin. Piers is your man to talk about those. I kind of know what your saying as there are never many for sale in UK and often they are a smaller bore. Though from time to time large bore turn up in talks here, sometimes proper hand cannons lol Noticed this the other day, but sold A massive Japanese hand cannon ‘Ozutsu Teppo’ of the Tazuke-Ryu School | Wick Antiques Ps, you may want to ask Gary where he finds all his examples. O zutsu matchlock - Tanegashima / Teppo / Hinawajū - Nihonto Message Board

Brett, i like the sword above that you present but i don't love it. I can really appreciate the skill and control that went into producing it, like you say. To me its a little too much. I'm a sucker for Yokoyama choji, when its done really well, but. At the end of the day, what i have found to be the most beautiful hamon on a sword, is Hizen Tadakuni gunome midare. I no longer have any good images and to be honest, images will never do it justice. Aoi art sometimes describes his hamon as "Cumulus clouds" or "Summer clouds", in hand you would see why. The hamon is perfect against neat well polished Hizen Konuka hada, its a beautiful combination. Not overpowering or overly flashy, just subtle perfection, a bit magical when you catch it under the right light, like mist.

We are spoilt in this hobby, in that there are so many old Japanese swords in good condition. Compare that to something like an English Medieval sword and finding a pristine one is rare. So when i look at the sword above and compare, i think its more than adequate.

Im kind of getting the impression it could be an early 20th century assembly that has been made to look a bit older, but what do i know.

I get the same warning pop up with that one as the same with NMB, Nord ant-virus makes me jump through hoops on various sites. Anyways, i cant add the pics here as they belong to the owner, Piers, will send you some via PM. I have bought from this seller in the past and he was good to deal with, i cant say anything about his website though. Description below, seems expensive for a non.............shooter A very nice study of a 19th Century miniature Japanese Matchlock (Teppo) with working lock. This tiny matchlock measures only 15cm overall length with a 9cm octagonal barrel fitted with two brass sights & finely decorated with a silver & gold dragon along the full length. The brass lock in full working order, the wooden full shaped stock probably of cherry wood. The 9cm barrel does not have a touch hole so is it is not usable and was probably made for a wealthy family as a childs toy or as a piece of jewellery or maybe a craftsmans sample as a none working example.

Sometimes bump into Teppo and always trying to fathom them out. The barrel appears to be inlaid but i cant quite see clearly enough. Rare to see one here but i guess the dealers theory of toy works?, or maybe a later tourist type Souvenir ? Was kind of a disappointment to read "no touch hole" Miniature Japanese Matchlock

Agree that meteorite prices over the last ten years or so have exploded, a 20kg Campo Del Cielo meteorite i sold a good few years ago for £1600 will now sell easily over £14000 Which kind of makes me gutted i didn't hang onto the bulk boxes of that stuff i sold many years ago. However, for a tanto or even a Katana, you can still pick up broken meteorite iron like Campo Del Cielo reasonably cheap. 500 GM LOT OF CAMPO DEL CIELO METEORITE CRYSTALS FROM 1-3 gm IN SIZE | eBay UK Ps, if any of you are wondering what "meteorite crystals" are. Some meteorites are just plain boring, nothing of interest, hard to sell. Some people freeze them with liquid nitrogen and smash them up, hence now got a saleable "lot" someone might buy to sell on as little cheaper versions or make jewellery etc. A lot of money can be made that way.

As you mention in the way you did. will tell you why. Any flaw like that will immediately kill a lot of interest, Its gimei and there are a boat load of shoshin waks out there for the same money. Agree with Lewis/ Rohan, would try ebay. Ps, not sure folks here are used to "silent auctions"

For those interested in tsuba in objects, just added a Tsuba "candle stick holder" in a thread marked Old Japanese metalware in the members area. Didn't want to end up with various threads talking about the same object,

In hindsight, One hell of subject when it comes to dates This thread was not about that.

Get the impression that someone that once chiselled mei got bored one afternoon and became artistic.

Maybe starting a new trend, though i agree its unnecessary. On the other hand, dont folks patinate modern tsuba?, it is unusual though and dont really like fake patina unless for a reason like restoration. Then it has to be done well, above somehow dont look right, its like a full stop between patina and blade, no blending contrast. Ps, out of curiosity, would you think any modern sword would get patina on the nakago naturally?, as most just live in a nice modern home and never see the conditions that force patina. A lot of folks will add a touch of oil to a modern nakago, i do.

I look at some of these and just wonder why folks would carry them as a tanto. There were better knives to carry, as in pointier and sharper. I get the impression some were just kept and used because of sentimental reasons.

Heres another. Dont know the Japanese term but the seller described it as "tree bark" texture. I think its supposed to resemble pine bark, like the way if flows as if the saya is a tree trunk. Picture dont show it but it has like a red hue colour under the black which pops out under light.

Dont know anything about modern swords meant for cutting. After seeing a picture on youtube the other day showing a guys nose cut in half from a sword that shattered. Best to do your homework, obviously.