Bugyotsuji

To start the ball rolling I think I am seeing 英直 Hidenao or è‹±é“ Hidemichi as the Mei on the left.　The school on the right should be obvious, but I'd need to hit the books.

Very good. Thank you that very interesting link. So, I must have misunderstood what my friend was saying; it wasn't the Number 2 turret, but a 12 inch secondary gun turret. Oh, and he mentioned that such swords are illegal in Japan. If you take one to the police and try to register it, they will confiscate it and cut it in pieces. Sometimes the pieces find their way back to katana kaji, but often they are disposed of as scrap.

Had a chance to ask some 'experts' this evening and one of them had an interesting story. He said he has seen marks like this before on post Meiji swords, particularly on those produced by Hori...i? (He couldn't remember the smith's name) from Hokkaido who was in charge of producing lots of swords from the blown-up No.2 turret of the Mikasa which had come back for repairs from the Russian war. Many of these war swords were in fact made by the smith's disciples, and he had a system of codes so that he knew which disciple had made which blade. He asked if your tanto hahaba is thin, indicating it might be a navy blade. PS One of the swordsmiths told me as an additon that the Nakago mune could be used for writing the name of the person for whom the sword was being made, the Tame-mei. It could also be used for practising inscribing a Mei, or even for completing a Mei when there was no more space left on the Nakago.

Ian. 3,000 JPY and 2 days to go! 27cm x 24cm x 10cm. Dealer in Kyoto http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f57579566

You shouldn't be so modest Carlo. Some of those are stunning, and I am surprised that you have managed to find representatives of so many special occasions in Japan's spectacular early bid to throw off feudalism and become a modern world power. Very nice.

On the old board I posted a list of possible subjects: "Kiseru, photos of castles, Netsuke, Coinage, Ukiyo-e hanga, urushi nuri ware, zogan, jingasa, Mon, kimono, boshi, horse trappings, guns, etc., things you may not have any questions about, but you might want others to see." They don't have to be of any great monetary value, but as long as they stimulate the imagination! Most of my things have no great value, but they provide a link for me back into a very special age on this planet. At the moment the board has gone rather quiet. Possibly many people have not managed to find the new board yet. What happened to Carlo's bits? If no-one has anything to add verbally or pictorially to the present themes, then I am tempted to show some shoku-dai candle holders and Andon. I can post two or three pictures of yari, Netsuke, coins, jingasa, wooden and Urushi boxes and chests, cosmetics containers, Tanegashima, matchlock equipment, etc. Can you add your pictures to flesh out any of these areas? If anyone has any objections to this thread, please post away. I can imagine that people might think it is hogging the subject matter of this whole discussion area. If so, I am quite happy to shut up and get my coat! :lol:

Why can't you show the actual marks? It could be directons for hitting a family Mon... but without the stroke directions and other little indentations in the metal we are having to work through a Western mind filter here. Look at number 3 on this page: http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/buke_km/buke_km5.html This Mitsuboshi Mon was also used in an upside down version, so your drawing could... possibly... be the one stroke, with a direction arrow meaning 'faces up' on it??? This is a very long shot, though, as I've never heard of this being done!!! :lol: PS Your signature may need to be reinstalled, Austin!

No, but where did you find it? Context can be useful. Your drawing doesn't show any 'stroke' directions, by the way.

Actually, I cheated a bit by looking at the replies and doing a bit of research. It seems to be a mixture of two sayings, the first half Buddhist. Very interesting. We like these puzzles!

濃州ä½æµ…井æ•ç§€ Noshu Ju Asai Toshihide Edit. Now I've just discovered you had the answer written all along written under the photos! :lol:

Not many matchlock pistols were produced, John. There may have been more ceremony associated with its use since only a leader would have one. It is held in one hand, like a sword, and fired at fairly close quarters. We are encouraged to put our left hand on our hip when we fire, so how we look is as important as how accurate we are. To flick the pistol after firing would not clear the barrel though, and even sometimes the ramrod falls out if you're not careful. I think it is just a triumphal flourish, following on from disposing of your enemy. Ha! Slight disdain, like a sniff? One other thought. The matchcord will have been blown clear, so a flick of the gun could be an excuse to move the burning end away from the body... But we risk going off thread!

Next to Wally? Yes, you could be right. That was rather a clever shot Stephen. Did you recognize the armor/armour? My daughter is in the piccie too.

Some sake cups from various wars and battles. The top one is a heavy artillery officer returned to Japan from the Russo-Japanese war around 1904-1905? The middle one set was created for someone who worked for the Red Cross with the Imperial Japanese army late 1930s, early 1940s (?) and returned safely from Shanghai. The bottom one commemorates the war dead of the Russo-Japanese War 1904-5. It says å¿ é­‚ç¢‘ Chu-kon-hi which was inscribed on memorial stones throughout Japan after the war. Japan was closely allied with Britain at the time. 'Spirit of Loyalty'... to lay down one's life for one's country?

A holster for my Tanegashima tanzutsu, cut down to size. Black lacquered leather with gold Hosokawa 'Kuyo' (Nine heavenly bodies) Mon from Higo.

The whole castle musket troop. Can you see me?

To match Ian, not easy to do, is a muna-ate/mune-ate breast piece worn for firing a teppou when wearing dogi, not armor/armour.

A rather rare yari bukuro, in asa or men, with sasalindo kuruma mon.

As the explanation says: "all topics related to Nihonto, collecting, the Samurai, Japanese Art or Japanese history" we were running an assorted thread on the old site. Not particularly to ask questions, but just to show whatever else you happened to have. Ian posted his magnificent horse finery, and then Carlo showed a Boxer Rebellion "Alliance of 8" red lacquer cup with the Western Powers flags, then Ian came back with some unusual travel coverings for swords and a mune-ate/muna-ate, ...and there the thread locks. I am planning to take a few shots now of things to back these up, but if anyone wants to take this thread in another direction feel free. We can always come back!

I bow to Nobody! PS I like the quotation though. Very good!

Are we supposed to write our answers here? I can't see Nobody's answer... did you actually write something, Koichi san? Ooooh... it's dark in here!

Under different light to show its truer color/colour. 21.3 cm overall length 11.9 cm blade length Width of hilt and beginning of blade 1.4 cm

Then the ura and the inscription

Some close-ups of the proverbs on the 柄 hilt.

Well, since Ako had their festival recently it might be a good time to post piccies of my Bashin!

Strangely enough, we do the Chiburui motion after firing our matchlock pistols.