Peter Bleed

Mike, I couldn't even try this one, but it was great fun and educational at several levels. Thanks. If one of these comes my way, I'll snap it right up. Peter

With the small pix you have provided, I would say this could be an interesting sword. The blade has been seriously shortened with the last kanji lost. Kane somebody. And the guard looks pretty good to me. Peter

No one ever got fired for picking IBM . . . or Shoami Peter

Still, what do you think about this tanto ? I think you should let someone else buy this sword. The "mei" was not written by a Japanese and the blade looks like it was trimmed off from the front. Peter

The koshirae presented in this thread have been fabulous. A real treat, But I think they may be derailing us from the more basic issues of “saving the koshirae.” The reality of most Japanese swords is completely unrelated to the treasures Kunitaro-san has shown us. I’m sure that in the past 70 years – and in the centuries before that – fabulous treasure koshirae have been dispersed and destroyed. We should discourage that kind of activity. But most of the swords we collect were equipped with fittings that were – if not ephemeral – intended to be functional and easily adjusted. Our swords usually come to us with a mixed bag of tosogu that reflect bad taste, economic realities, and functional wear and tear. Just because they came to us like that did not guarantee that that is how they ought to remain. I don’t like the modern practice of tricking out old swords with brand new saya and cleanly rewrapped tsuka. I treasure “Samurai swords” and like pieces that show their use by working warriors, even if they have dings and other “flaws.” I would not replace a saya because it is worn were it was carried as part of a daisho. Still, if old mounts are in poor condition and were never of any particular quality, I see no reason to give them particular privilege. This is especially the case with gunto. Late in the War, lots of swords were mounted in a mishmash of cheap pieces that truly seems to have selected because they were expendable. I see nothing wrong with separating those kinds of blades from their “Koshirae.” Peter

Ron, Take a look at the Soshu Masatsugu discussion by kyushukairu It is NOT the sword we are discussing, but see if you think it looks similar. Forgive me for NOT knowing how to link to the page itself. Peter

This sword seems to have - ahhh - remarkable similarities to the blade recently discussed on the Board in a thread labeled Soshu no Masatsugu? (相州住正次) Signature style seems comparable, and look at the lead filled holes. Hmmmm Peter

Sure!. It says that the old signature was Sho shu Masatsuge and that it was shortened by Naoyoshi. Cool!

Doesn't it say "ko mei" - as in "old signature"? P

Friends, Thank you for the responses. Indeed, Tierry, I do not think either of the koshirae I mentioned is "Ainu." I would still like to know who might have carried the red/black carved koshirae, tho. Maybe it is 20th century tourist art. And Barry, I recall seeing your koshirae at one or another of the Chicago shows. These certainly are a "type" of "Japanese" sword. I cannot believe that these were "samurai" swords BUT I do NOT think they were made by or for the Ainu. They are short swords that have carved antler fittings, tightly wound "rattan" binding, and crude blades. I have NEVER seen this style of fittings presented as Ainu in museum exhibitions or scholarly publications. I think someboby else in Japan carried these swords. I wonder if they might be swords of the commercial hunters called "matagi." If somebody has information on them, I would love to see it. Peter

Dear Friends, I started this cold fall morning with a message from an NMB friend alerting me about an "ainu koshirae" being offered on eBay (thank you, Mike!). I had to wait out the eBay work stoppage (has somebody talked Steve in from the ledge?), but as soon as the world's flea market reopened, I eagerly looked at the item I had been told about. A couple of items on eBay may serve to help us recognize Ainu swords. Now I know we do not “discuss” items still being offered at auction. But I think sharing insights about items on display is a legitimate activity for collectors. It happened at shows and shops all the time. Talking about objects, sharing our insights about them, is how we learn. The question I would ask is “are these Ainu swords?” This is the first item http://www.ebay.com/itm/D3250-stSw-Japa ... 20ec370903 As you can see the seller clearly labels this as Ainu. It is a nice koshirae – and certainly reasonably priced. We also have to recognize that “Ainu swords” are a couple of different types. Some were locally produced by the Ainu for their own use and with their own stylistic embellishment and imported “Japanese” elements. Then there were “trade swords” that Edo period officials gave to Ainu leaders as status symbols. These tend to be tricked out “Japanese” swords with coarse fittings. The sword mentioned above may be one of those, but frankly it looks to me simply like a nice – if rustic and sturdy – wakizashi. I do not believe that every rustic nipponto was made for the Ainu. Let’s look at another item currently being offered to the world market. http://www.ebay.com/itm/291240468413?ss ... 1423.l2649 This is another koshirae that I have not bid on (yet). But I think we can again ask if it is “Ainu”. It is carved wood that appears to have been made for a delicate blade. The carving is not of great quality and features cross hatching. That is to say it is like other Ainu work. And some Ainu pieces were lacquered. Who beside the Ainu would have carried a “sword” like this? Neither of these koshirae shows classic Ainu motif – bracket shaped line and fish-scale hatchering eg. But they both can be compared to the weapons used by the folks who lived on the northern frontier of Edo period Japan. Peter

Wow! Peter

And it looks like it has a Showa 22 dated Torokusho. Given a discussion we had earlier about the date when registration got up and running, this seems like an interesting bit of content. Peter

Steve hangs around with high rollers. I have seen one or two of these, but never at the 5K level - well - maybe at yen. Peter

Dan, Thanks for setting off an interesting thread. Anything that lets the experts in the Board - in this case Ron - share their insights is wonderful. Mandrel welding has always been a mystery to me and this explanation was useful. But let me ask about those very late brass barreled Japanese pistols. At least some of these seem like European designs. Were that "machined" (or should we say 'carved'?) or were they cast and cleaned? I wish i could come up with an image, but I can't. Peter

Gabriel, This is, indeed, a terrific contribution. It is well researched and quite useful. I am also very pleased that you have made it available thru the JSSUS. Thanks!. Peter

And before you even begin "reading" anything, the shape and size of the nakago will tell you what the first characters have to say. Peter

And what is this? It appears to be dated showa 26. http://www.ebay.com/itm/SA241-Japanese- ... 20ea7d9f04

Armold and Chris, Indeed this is an interesting question. I just can't believe that swords were ever entirely unobserved. But of more immediate interest just yesterday - during our neighborhood, OMG! - one of the neighbors brought over an Otanto her grandfather bought in Japan. It is a family treasure and not in play, A nice niji-mei Kanetsune. What is relevant here is that it has a Showa 27 dated torokusho. It was purchased from a "dealer" but I paid the document no more attention. I'll go back and see if there is more specific information. I can easily believe that dealers who were servicing USAF officers might be early adopters of new regulations. Peter

Friends, I need to follow up a conversation I had at San Francisco with Cole Cantrell, buut, I can't find the card I carefully filed away. Can anyone share a phone number please... Peter

One could only wish that the NBTHK could once again present a Shinsa in this continent. Peter

Cher ami, Vous posez des questions sincères, mais difficiles. Ce style de tsuba est commun et toujours juste appelé "Shoami". Je pense qu'ils étaient très commun. Mais, votre tsuba est en très bon état. crêtes de famille sont également inhabituel. Il ya beaucoup de raisons pour lesquelles une tsuba pourrait avoir crête. Le reliant à une faction ou une activité est difficile. Peter

These fittings were embellished by or in Ainu style. I am sure that they have little to do with the blade - as we think of it. This could have been done on a cheap/old shirasaya that had been shipped north to the ainu trade. Or I suppose it could be Ainu carving done one a plain wood fitting made for a blade that had been shipped north. One way or another, I'm here to say that these are "Ainu" mounts. I think they have nothing to do with thsi blade - aside from the fact that old tanto likes these were essentially "trade goods" at some points in Japanese history. You ought to find somebody who likes ainu stuff... Peter

Thanks again for these insights. And let me say how wonderful google translate is! Indeed, I am familiar with the official explanation/description for adopted heirs in Japan. Maybe I am being cynical, but I wonder how they actually worked and how they were arranged, selected, and managed. I wonder if there were institutions outside of the official "family" that oversaw these matters. Did places like Hizen or Sendai, or Osaka have formal or informal associations of swordsmiths that could contribute to these decisions? And if they did that, did they also oversee technical traditions etc.? I wonder if Kunikane got together with Yasutomo and the other guys once a year to drink, sing, gossip, and arrange marriages, apprenticeships and charcoal deliveries. Peter

John, Thanks, This is an interesting article. PETER