Alex A

Agree, definitely conned.

Colin, anyone, who in the UK has any stuff they are selling? Yokoyama, Tadahiro?, Hizen, in polish?????????lol If only i could have bought your matchlock when you had it, Colin Timing, wasn't meant to be. More motorbikes it is, maybe.

I have contacted a few people but to be honest, not too sure i want the hassle now. The UK is an hard place to live at the moment, though sure there are worse places. The dealer suggested find a new hobby. Already have a few but this was the main interest. Perhaps higher end tsuba, dunno. Though saw a thread where folks were even concerned with those and descriptions for customs. FFS, what a world.

Eventually, it will be a bigger issue for everyone, the way things are going.

Making a few enquiries about a sword and the dealer says he cant use EMS, so i says i know that, try UPS, had one come in not too long ago. He replies, he don't think UPS will ship swords to UK now and checked with the dealer i used that told him "it was ok up until March". Anyways, he will check with UPS himself. Ps, when a dealer states "you want anything else besides swords", you know we are in trouble. You work all your life, eventually pay off the mortgage and finally think you have time and a bit more spare money for the hobby, then it all goes to **** That's life............. What can you do.

On a side note and maybe others have noticed. Anyone remember a time when Shinshinto swords used to be a lot cheaper than they are now?, its like no one was interested. Prices gone up a lot over recent years, especially for the likes of Yokoyama smiths.

Resurrecting this thread. According to Markus and from the interpretation of "Bakugi-Sanko" (see below. image from "Japanese sword mounts" by Markus. "Blade length measures 1 Shaku 5 sun to 1 shaku 8 sun (45cm to 54cm)" That is not tanto/Sunnobi kind of size, as mentioned by Guido at the beginning of this thread. Just happen to be going over this as seen the term years ago and was wondering whether it was a term for Ubu swords of a certain size that are smaller than katana (as in mounts). Going from memories, always assumed they were longer than average wakizashi with longer nakago. There was Samurai that preferred smaller Katana, obviously, by the number of waks we see that are mounted like Katana, but shorter than your pedantic 60cm nagasa. Semantics lol

At last. Thats the first time i have ever seen one of those hefty type of unusual tsuba on a sword.

The information available for later smiths.

Regarding mumei swords and papers. You have to be able to live with non fact, but opinion. Your opinion and that of the organisation. Some can, some cant. For me, its a matter of how much $$$$ you want to spend on something that comes with ???? and will always be ????. Organisations are not infallible with opinion, they get it wrong and that's a FACT.

Edit Dont want to say what i want to say in case it upsets folks. Horses for courses. PS, for any newbies with their heads spinning by all this, go back to what Ford Hallam stated and stick with that.

Not sure if i can post these so feel free to delete. My brothers friend is in Tokyo and saw these. Asked my brov send them on to me. A bit grainy.

Nail on head, Sam. I became dizzy many pages back.

Hi Peter, i will pm you over some pics and you can take a look, let me know your thoughts. (check your pm) Stumbled across it an arms fair. I know nothing but thought it was genuine or at least functional. Though i know nothing, so had to ask. We are at the stage where kind of thinking some cobbling of parts probably been going on in the past. Though i still kind of like it, i just like the smaller Japanese guns. Anyways, take a look and let us know.

No need apologise, Piers. It was just in hope that the timing was right. As said, a real unusual moment, sat in a corner of the arms fair on my phone. It does go to show that you never know what you might come across. There was a little replica on another table, first time I've seen one of those. The gent gave me a card but stated he don't sell privately, so i guess that's that anyways. Good learning curve, none the less. Cheers Ps, will pm you a few pics over of both sides of the gun, as im interested to know a little more. No rush, when you have time.

I get you, Piers. It could be genuine, just not typical. We see European pistols that stand out as shall i say "oddball", that's just a way for me to get my head around it. (in the grand scheme of things). I was very tempted, must admit. As in hand, id did appear genuine but knowing little i knew i couldn't pull the trigger on the spot. I will say, it had a certain appeal about it and for the right price may actually be a nice little kind of a display piece, even if it does come with some ???. As always, appreciate you helping out. On a side note. was reading up about these little Japanese pistol type guns. Came across a site that said they were not very well regarded for actual battle use, don't know whether that's true or not. Also, wouldn't usually upload images like that. It was a rare moment. Nothing at the arms fair that appealed and then that appeared in the corner of a display. The gent said he only sold at arms fairs, so imagine my need for quick answers

Apologies, I've had to delete the images as i think the seller may well be a member here and not want his sale online. If anyone wants to discuss the gun and images by pm, will be happy to do so.

Looking at the gun and having more time, its as though the lock plate has been cut short for some reason, maybe off another gun? (just a thought)

Its an unusual one for me these Japanese guns, Piers. I don't see enough of them for sale to warrant me buying loads of books and doing loads of research, i would likely ever buy only one anyways. To me it looked a genuine used antique but like i say, just don't know anything about them. Appeared solid enough and looked to have been functional at some point. Takes a keener more knowledgeable eye than what i have. As the old saying goes, if your not sure, ask. Appreciated. May actually give up the quest to own one as its too far out of my comfort zone.

Thanks Piers, glad i asked.

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At arms fair, found this, looks genuine but know nothing Edit to add, one of those moments when your pretty sure something is genuine but don't know enough to not make an ignorant mistake. Actually been after one for a while but never see them here, especially at local arms fairs.

Thanks Ray