Peter Bleed

Thank you, Ford, for turning this thread around. I considered just walking away from the NMB over the tone and content of the early discussion. But you very skillfully brought us back to specific content and useful insight. I'll be going to the library this afternoon! Peter

Okay. The good parts of this thread present DATA and substantive discussion that are useful and clear.There were some bad parts, too. Peter

Well, gee, Ford, please give us a hint of what tells you that these seppa-dai are not functional. They look like seppa to me. Peter

We are informed that James McElhinney has presented an article in the latest issue of Orientations that shows comparisons between some Namban tsubas and Sri Lankan metal work. I would love to see this discussion. If anyone would post us a pdf - or send me one - I sure would love to see it. Peter

Some years back, I bought some VOC ceramics from Holland and had NO problems or costs. Peter

The banner on the left says Kojo Senyo which is about taking care of the imperial residence, or something. P

Looks faked to me. P

I want to speak IN FAVOR of this gun. To see sure, it has been modified. And this work looks well outside the usual efforts of Japanese gunsmiths. In my part of the world, gun slicks say that this guns "has been cowboyed." Now in polite collectors' circle, modifications like this are "BAD" and either avoided or undone. I feel, however, that we should NOT ignore modifications that were made to Edo period arms. In fact, lots of guns were updated and/or re-purposed in bakumatsu and early Meiji times. I do not think this work should be ignored or destroyed. It reflects processes and techniques that were out there. I'd like to know who was doing this work, and why it was being done. Peter

Obviously not a standard gunto wrap, but by later '44 lots of standards were being broken. Are we sure that this wrap post-dates the War? Could it have been presented this way in te winter of 1944? Peter

There has been more reaction to my post than I suspected there might be. Please let me use Bruce's question as a point of further discussion. The issue is less about what the Japanese might have done with the resources that were put into sword production, then what swords may reflect about the thinking of Japanese leaders who decided to undertake simultaneous war again China, Britain, Holland, Australia, the US, and USSR. What in the world were they thinking? This community can enjoyed swords as art and historic artifacts. We can even spend serious personal income on them, but those are trivial issues. War is different. Another book that seems to offer insights into how the War developed toward its resolution is Marc Gallicchio and Waldo Heinrich Implacable Foes War in the Pacific, 1944-1945 Oxford University Press 2017 Peter that

Rey, Welcome to the world of Japanese sword collecting! This is a world were "new guys" are teased (that would be me, sorry) and then lectured. My serious reaction is 1) WECOME. 2) sword collector love to share their knowledge - even when we don't know all that much. 3)Find a direct contact with another sword collector, and 4) meet that person so that you can see real swords. - Don't try to buy anything and don't be critical. But at this stage in you interest you must see soem real stuff. If there is any way you canattend a sword show you should do that. Best of luck. Peter

I'm betting this koiguchi is attached with some manner of Chinese glue. I recommend that you leave it alone. Peter

The events and tragedy of WWII gets rather little attention here on NMB. Oh, to be sure there is interest in gunto and swordsmithing of the wartime era. But I think we rarely remember that Japanese sword collecting in the world is as it is today a result of the end of WWII. “We” have got these wonderful art of objects because Japan cataclysmically lost WWII. I think that means that we sword collectors ought to consider the events and processes of the war. In that light let me say that I have just finished reading the Japan-related sections of Chatal Nolan’s The Allure of Battle and it helped me understand nippon-to. I recommend it to this august community. You will appreciate it! The book is a grand assessment of global military history and the Japan section is but a part. The treatment of Japan is, however, very good. It never mentions swords, but it makes clear conditions that let Japan pour resources into making what we know were the best swords in the world while at the same time the nation produced a total of FOUR (4) oil tankers during the War! While Britain was “arming up” to deal with Nazi Germany, Japanese military leaders favored “arming down” and depending on inferior opponents, superior will, and the ammunition of flesh. Like I said, read this book! It will make you a better sword collector. Peter

Interesting, indeed. I hadn't seen it. Thanks Peter

I was going to avoid this discussion but it keeps going. I agree with the others who see this as a rather early Showa-to. It clearly has what early collectors called "The Showa Hump" which is a slight but noticeable thickening of the mune above the kissaki. I see little other upside potential for this blade. I'd let it go, Dave. Peter

good luck! P

the date is 1862, but the signature is not completely visible P

Maybe I was a bit too gushy. Still, this is a interesting blade and certainly interestingly presented. The relationship between the ha-tetsu and the ji-tetsu is - well - marked. The word "strident" comes to mind. And certainly, the hada is aggressively presented. Still, I think it is worth looking at if only because it can be seen. And I can't help but point out that this is Mito, not Sendai. Peter

Anybody at all interested in straight grain should take a look at the Mumei katana offered this morning by Tsuruta-san, https://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/2019/19159-2.jpg A very interesting sword and a great example of late masame hada. Peter

Thanx for these insights. There was a time when I got along but I also came up in the generations that used WWII vintage texts (Ano kado in tateiru Jynusa ni kikimasho "Let's ask that Cop standing on the corner").and those old Harvard texts, I gave them up when I had to work thru General Nogi's suicide note!. The whole computer thing happened after that. I'll keep working, tho and I do appreciate the help. Peter

And you dog needs combing P

This was a very useful and clear discussion. Thank you all! Peter

Friends, I beg the help of this wonderful body! I have been trying to - well - "join" the Miyagi-ken Sword Collectors face book group thru this URL https://www.facebook.com/MiyagiOkatana/ I have posted a couple of message - in English - and gotten a reply. But I can't figure out how to use the power of Google translate or how to attach images My strong specific desire is to use this vehicle as a means of showing images of my swords to the people who I think could REALLY assess them. Can anyone point me to a "dummies' guide" to using Japanese Facebook. There has to be a way! Peter.

I have managed once again to raise an issue, ask a question, that NO ONE cares about. Golly, a test of the operation of NMB got more play this morning than did my sincere attempt to consider the processes that brought swords in large numbers to the post-War world. Maybe the modern collecting community has reached a new generation so that the activities of Post-WWII GIs no longer matter. Collectors today may care more about Token DaiIchi, the complexities of Juyo judgements, and EBay than they do with the greedy desires of young men presented with piles of surrendered weapons in 1945. But I am sounding remarkably like an old guy, myself so I will stop. . . . But only after I say that Bill Shea has informed me that he IS assembling another volume on the recovery and collecting of Japanese militaria. Keep your eyes open... Peter

Indeed, this is an interesting discovery. I hope it will be thoroughly investigated and well presented. We just seem to get over the "giving up the gun" trope! Again, thanks for the posting! Peter