Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini

Some people is working on these things just now (of course not the same sword). Still lot of work, but if you're interested in these things I'll let you know. For now ejoy this one : The same, with a longer way to walk on. For now get this one, T'ang Dynasty :

Very plausible. What struck me in that one is the placement of the "Habaki" (as to say the choos of the nakago's lenght/tsuka lenght)...

Hi Ian. I'm pretty sure the posted one was for sale in Germany quiet sometime ago. Indeed not an everyday occurrence. Here another one, differently mounted. if this blade is the same I once saw, the tsuka is disaxed to give some sort of help in drawing the blade. Much like some early Tachi. I wonder if these items are not related to an attempt to elude some restrictive law about weapons issued in Edojidai. Rather then have them confiscated the owner decided to screen them behind the status of "Daito of a Samurai", not implying it was necessarely meant to be worn. IMHO there is no way such an item is even only close to a Katana in any other aspect of real life.

Yeah, I felt like a chimp when John unveiled the simple truth... :D

It's from "Samurai Archives", which both me and John belong to. Others to come, on due time. :D

not the name but the job.. Thanks John.

Hi John. Taishi ? ...mmm... If the item is original to the period it is claimed to be, the Kanji might have an obsolete meaning, as the one for "Shin" used after... Might make sense if it's not the name after the surname but the job, "Great Messenger". But is it ?

The second Kanji of the name eludes me... 小村大X　護衛記念　清國駐屯　軍騎兵隊 : image deleted -

We should consider the possibility they'r wooden ones for training because shafts and blades shares the very same color in this black and white picture. Just a suggestion. BTW if you're interested in women's weapons training during WWII it's worth to search for Nitta Suzuyo, Toda-Ha Buko-Ryu.

Hi Ian. Here is my problem. Practical for what ? If it is a Jutte it should work as a Jutte, so why the pick ? And the rings at the supposed top ? Best thing I can think of is it's a tobikuchi refurbished as a jutte/jitte.

Hi Ron. ...mmm... Basically, I watch it upsidedown. IMHO it's not a Jutte but looks like a firefighter's tool. What is supposed to be the "arm" for trapping the blades might be used to hang the tool at the Obi and as hook to climb. The supposed signs of cuts are in the wrong position, over the hook, while in a real jutte they should be toward the end of the bar where is placed the ring that, possibly, once was used to tie a cord. Try to trace an ideal line following the angles of the cuts. Seems to me there is no way for a blade to leave such signs without touching also the hook. They're too deep for being the result of a blade simply sliding on the bar. Rattan might have been added later. I can't explain the presence of that triangular blade on a Jutte. Looks dangerous near the whirst/hand. Of course, just suppositions. I can be wrong. Provenance ?

John, if you're interested in IJN, a must have is "Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War" by Eric Lacroix and Linton Wells II, by the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis 1997 ISBN 0 87021 311 3 Great readings also Janusz Skulski's books about Yamato, Takao and Fuso, Conway Maritime Press.

Hi Dave. I think the restrictions apply also to Japanese, so if there is a differentiation it is down to the nature of the item rather than the ethinicity of the maker. But maybe this is what you meant. Congratulation for your sword, I like Anthony's work.

I would add to Ian's good post that "obsolete" weapons and military items has been created also in the past with artistic intentions or as status symbols (things that often overlap). Now they are treasured in museums side-by-side to the more ancient examples they were inspired to.

Do we not already have one in Dr Gordon Robson??? Barry Thomas Perfect timing.

...mmm.. "tsuba-like-object"...reminds me a post in another board in which a nice XIX century Goto Ichijo Tsuba was no more considered a tsuba because of the design entered the Seppadai : http://www.iidakoendo.com/info/item/b029.htm Honestly, Steve I'm giving to Franco's words the meaning that, as we (westerners) weren't forced to enter competitions in traditional Japanese craftmanship but asked to be admitted to them, well it's natural we've to accept the rules of our hosting part. Exactly as you say it all about cultural context. We're entering *their* cultural context so we've to accept their judgment. When Japan will be a multietnical nation as USA we'll possibly see a different situation. The fact that non-japaneses have been awarded of recognition in sword making and polishing, habaki making and tsuba making means that one day we'll possibly have also gaikokujin judges. I think that there is more danger reversing the matter. If it was a western pool of judges to screen western and Japanese works, likely western judges would give more recognition to the Japanese works just because "it's made by a Japanese" even if of lesser quality then western ones...

Hehehe... Ya know, without any desire to open any polemic, I must say that Youtube movies should be posted only by experimented movie makers. :D Happy new year to you too, Malcom.

I get your point but... As a re-enactor you should know that Yari used from horseback were a late introduction in Japanese fighting. Sword was the secondary weapon for the bow from the very beginning. Possibly japaneses for centuries never stabbed from horseback ? Remember that the main target for an horsemen against an armored opponent (both by foot or mounted) is the face, namely the eyes and mouth if facial armor is involved. This is a detail I'm sure you can't reproduce in SCA figthing. Stability on saddle ? indeed. Is using also the left hand to push the Tsuka (protruding from a side of the horse while stabbing and moving) any better, in therm of stability ? The missing page of the article about Combat-Damaged-Tsuba :

I think the design and purpose of Tsuba was already fixed when swords were still straight, and the change of the perceived purpose follows the change in tactics. WarabiteTo had small Tsuba with hardly a protective function and these swords were supposed to be used by Kanto soldiers slashing by horseback (but not only...). Yamato high rank soldiers surely on horseback had still the Chokuto with "rounded" Tsuba, well suited to stab. With the fusion of ChokuTo and WarabiteTo japaneses very wisely maintained the best of both types. We're discussing something that pre-dates *any* Japanese martial art and even the creation of a Samurai Class. Worth the pain ?

That's right, Tsuka-ito is perfect for that and you can put your left palm on the kashira to push. This is what I meant suggesting it's wrong to think like a footsoldier (modern martial artist). I can't see how you can do such a thing like the one you suggest while moving on horseback (I know Samurai were able to ride with both hands free, but I can't imagine the position you suggest as a viable one to strike somebody on the right side of your horse, possibly on a lower position if the target is by foot). I know you're both a martial artist and ride a horse so care to explain ?

It is an interesting article indeed, but seems the author in the introduction doesn't support the protection from enemy's blade as main purpose of the Tsuba. But I'm going to memory as I'm at work now... I would highlight that Kote are the items intended to protect the hand (also the hand) from enemy's attacks. There is the habit to consider the sword as a weapon for footsoldiers (martial arts mentioned so far...) but it's always forgot it was, in the first peridod of its history, a secondary wepon for *mounted* soldiers. We should remember that swords were, for a considerable period of time, used from horseback, position that lessen even more the chances of a slipping of enemy's blade toward your (armored) thumb and second finger.On the contrary, if you use the sword point first during a "charge" (may we use this word?) , you need something to stop your hand slipping on the blade at the impact against the target. Evolution of the combat led to footsoldiers, but the Tsuba had already achieved its place in the Samurai world, possibly offering other services to the new situation. If it was Tsuba's primary function we should have much more evidences especially on old ones that (supposedly) saw a lot of fight as good Tsuba weren't trashed differently from damaged swords. IMHO...

The New Year : :D anyway...

John, just added to my site some animations of what happens to the blade during Yakiire from Tatsuo Inoue's work. If interested, please check here.

Mr. X, wouldn't be enough to reply to O-Sensei-Sama Yuzo's E-mail to apologize ? BTW ... doesn't equal to say you supposed it was Gimei ?