Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini

Piers, is that Mon upside down and the box has drawers on the other side as well ?

Guido, at this point to maintain the level of work we need your Daisho with visual glossary+kanji

Hi Brian. PM sent.

It has been transformed during the ages into "marmonner" ...and "barbottare" in italian. Same meaning.

Nice set Jean. May I ask who made the Tsukamaki ?

Thanks Barry. All shamlessly downloaded and stored for future references

Guess it comes from latin Barbarus derived from greek Barbaros, "that speak a not understandable language". Being in later times applied to persians and german populations, with hostile meaning. Germans usually had beard but in sanskrit "varvaras" means "wooly hair" so might be this played a role when the mix-up of the meanings begun in middle east.

Guess they had an hard time in describing a Menpo. Hereunder a venetian "Barbuta", helmet with cheecks protections :

Hi Ian. If you're interested also in the italian time of the Tenshō mission it might help to read Dall'Isola del Giapan: La prima ambasceria giapponese in Occidente, by Yasunori Gunji, Unicopli publisher, Milano 1985 ISBN 88 7061523 5 . Hardly more info on armor, anyway.

Hi Henry. Tameshigiri in recent times have begun a little abused term especially in US and can mislead a potential purchaser . Lots of teenagers cutting soaked beach mats or pool noodles call it "Tameshigiri" and most of them sooner or later begin to cut bamboo or other types of targets many times with no (or not enough) proper training. That's why Ted is afraid about the quality of the blades to be used in such an action. Hagire are a no-no when safety is required. Call it overcautious thinking, but on other fora you can read topics and see pictures of what happen when something doesn't work, for any reason. Better safe then sorry. Condition of the tsuka is another thing overlooked using an antique for cutting. Lesser (but *healthy*,refurbished and well-cared-for) antiques are sometimes used by well-trained (read silverback) practicioners as in the past there were little to no chance to get a custom made sword, either Japanese or american made but nowaday is much better, especially for young people, to have your custom-made sword for such a practice. Fits your body and school requirements much better then likely any antique (deserving this fate) you can purchase, and (if properly made by a professional) are more forgiving then an antique that most likely already suffered his own share of battering. This doesn't mean an antique is a lesser sword then a modern replica or a Shinsakuto. I bet Gabriel, out there, is scratching his head as me about the topic's sword... Might be the original intentions were to promote it for forms (kata) and not cutting (tameshigiri). Yet, for forms too antiques still have their limitations for the very same reasons : dimensions, weight and Tsuka conditions.

You know my heart is divided between different weapons so I perfectly got your feeling... What's OT ?

Each blade should be judged in his own cultural, historical and geographical environment. Wars hardly were won, civilizations hardly crumbled for the effect of just one weapon.

Happy Holidays from me too

Sorry, Tenugui wasn't the correct therm, just one I'm familiar with. Great explanation Ian.

Shan, may I ask if you've ordered a shirasaya for this freshly polished blade ?

Tenugui apart, wasn't it supposed to be the way Hachiman or Marishiten used to "enlight" the warrior ?

1) experts don't care about these types of items so didn't enter the topic 2) because you didn't post the mounting until requested and because Shinogizukuri Tanto are rare might be a good reply (IF we consider it is effectively a Tanto).

If it didn't get refurbished sometime during its life, the regular-sized Kodzuka rules out most if not all of the previous suggestions.

....pun not intended... Oh well you of the Commonwealth can't blame a poor italic to be a little funny when talking about ladies. Unless the Queen is involved of course. ... wait.... again no pun intended... :D

Hi Mark. Might be, but you wantn't a Tsuba in your sleeve or elsewhere if you're hiding a blade. That's the reason for Aikuchi.

Guess you've not clear enough the togi process. Before the polish means after all the checks (Windows included) that are needed to understand if the blade can sustain or deserve a polish. More, different schools and periods needs special attentions, so a Togishi (that's worth his salt) MUST know what he has in hands (surely at least ) *before* the polish in order to take the correct steps no matter about the conditions of the blade. Not a perfect kantei but has to be close enough. Best wishes for the online appraisal.

Shan, a Togishi worths his salt usually have an idea of what he's handling even before the polish. So what was the opinion of yours that had the opportunity to hold the blade in hands before and after the polish ?

I've put custom made swords for kids in the same basket as the BDS and consequently ruled out by the words of "the collector"...

Flash might put off people with Nakago patina but the mekugiana seems drilled to me, not punched, so I guess it's not Muromachi and tend to agree with Franco on this one.

Considering how small should have been the owner, supposedly adult if we rule out the BDS, I would rather believe Mishina in the Doll's sword theory. A Bunraku puppet of extremely high quality might be another possibility IMHO.