Bugyotsuji

Finding myself agreeing with much of what has been written above.

Needed a vertical pin. Notice the ‘Western’ style key in the above padlock. The one below had just the right vertical pin length.

Not sure about the China angle John, but I think most of the old locks with a sprung prong key that we find were common throughout Asia. As to my made-up word ‘drum’, perhaps ‘cylindrical’ padlock might have been a better expression.(?) Such external locks and keys are of course another collecting field about which I know close to nothing. The funa-dansu safe was missing all four of the keys including the internal ones so I was happy when a locksmith agreed to make me a set. You have done a really neat job on your suzuribako, John, something to be proud of.

Bruno, the one on the right is upside down. Looks like a (haiku?) poem on the left.

Does the blade attract a magnet?

And in a more concentrated form on a ‘funa-dansu’ ship’s safe, designed with a heavy front so that it would float door-down (relatively watertight) should the sailing ship sink. These were expensive (for me on my salary) about 20 years ago but they’re a tenth of the price nowadays. I had a set of keys made for it, and one day about 10 years ago I found an old drum lock that fitted it perfectly.

It kind of has the same spirit as this old box, the one with which I started this thread…

Yes indeed. Well done. Many thanks.

These long Õdachi blades were actually used, according to a knowledgeable friend with whom I was chatting the other day. They had a very long Tsuka too.

Not easy to answer as antiques markets and dealers vary. Whenever I do rarely see Edo-period tongs for a candle holder, as I collect old lamps and lanterns and candle holders, I expect to pay JPY 2,000 to 3,000 for them. They may be more expensive in a shop in a city somewhere. Iron ones seem to be rarer than shinchu (brass).　Open-air markets can produce bargains though. So when I asked the dealer if he would sell the pair separately, he said 'No'. I didn't push my luck as I had never dealt with this guy before. But then he added that he wanted ￥3,000 for the whole box! Those little ribbed spatulas can easily be ￥1,000 each. Well, that was a no-brainer, so I snapped it up before anyone else could get any funny ideas! Didn't even haggle. To be fair, the tongs were in terrible condition, covered in black and red paint or lacquer or something so it took some time to chip that away and restore them.

Swordjoe, (you forgot to add your real name) you have just downgraded me for suggesting 遠藤 Endo above.

The nakago shots are all upside down. (The end of the nakago tang should point towards you.) 天秀? 遠藤?

Perhaps someone can explain their use better? For everyday use when burning charcoal for heating a tetsubin, yes, but also for the tea ceremony, to keep the ash ground neatly raked. (What I really wanted was the candle/wick pincers/tongs; all the rest were a bonus.)

Very, very close. Think of a hibachi and its uses.

About 20 cm x 20 cm sir!