Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini

I'm with John and Jean here. Some harshness from *real* experts can be accepted and, in some way, should be expected. Hard to replace certain people.

Is it a Japanese horse and do you mount it in ful armor ?

You hit the nail on the head, under my point of view. They relied on the "momentum", the impact the line of cavalrymen had on enemies line, and quickly the oncoming support infantry acted in the break to sustain the now stopped cavalry and to take advantage of the caos. THIS is what Nobunaga was able to avoid at Nagashino with stakes and a very wise choose of terrain, and what really doomed Takeda army. Both cavalry and supporting units were slowed down and slaughtered not only by muskets but also by spearmen and, well, some sniping archer too. Mounted Samurai in scouting or arassing fleeing enemies were let unattended for obvious reasons, but not the same when attacking an enemy formation. Encircling actions to attack enemies flanks were coordinated with infantry to avoid to have the cavalry to fight alone, timing was wisely calculated. There is nothing similar to western squadrons, trained in the hundred and together, in Samurai warfare simply because Samurai armies were provided on a feudal basis and even in battle Daimyo preferred to have direct control of all their units. Not a definitive rule, but very often. See the switching to one part to another of whole armies that so often happened (Sekigahara teaches). II Naomasa mounted Red Devils counted in the dozens, not the thousands. Still acting with support were able to perform legendary actions. The "Seven Spears of Shizugatake" were... *seven*. Is that a charge ? The Kiso and other Japanese breeds can't sustain long runs as the arab-based breeds, even if Takeda's horses were the excellence, possibly because of imbreeding with chinese-provenance Fergana and (supposedly) Nanban horses. Good fighting horses were *hard* to achieve, maintain, train and replace in Japan. Sometimes I think a whealty samurai would have preferred to lose a kerai or two instead of his preferred warhorse.

Exactly. Where, in the link you provide, is described the way Samurai cavalry worked as a squadron of european cavalry with the same tactics and without infantry support ? Let focus on the operating way of mounted Samurai. If I'm right, the debated started on *how* Samurai charged (with or without support) not *where* or *when*.

Hi Ian. I would highlight, also, that Nagashino is too often thinked of only as a cavalry versus muskets battle, when it obviously wasn't. The same slaughtering happend to the cavalry-supporting Takeda units and infantry as well and for the same reasons. The proximity of the two lines (total around 100 m or so) gives the idea of how close you had to go before "charging" with cavalry units. Guess discomfort it's a matter of training. In Japan some Samurai were trained even to swing in armor.

Jacques, with such a great experience you should know that the therm "cavalry charge" has different meanings in different contexts (Balaklava/Nagashino). Obviously I bow to your superior experience in the matter and I stop this off-topic discussion. I don't address you to specific fora discussing the matter as I know in advance it's useless.

The horse museum of Japan has interesting studies about the matter, as well as living specimen of nearly exctinct breeds once used for transport and the ones for mounted combat. Even if of mongol origin, the difference between the two cavalries was in the number. Mongol were able to change horse much more frequently (they had plenty of supply).

Absolutely sure Jacques. You can see the retainers very close on horsemen even in your late period print. Old scrolls are more accurate as historical sources. It was tested recently with breeds used in the Sengoku and the horse (with armored Samurai on) was barely able to surpass the speed of a running Ashigaru, and not for long. Several hundred horsemen charging with no support as at Balaklava (and as "The Last Samurai") is out of discussion in historical Japan. if any similiarity has to be choosen, Moghul elephants supported by pikemen and misketeers are a closer match (as far as tactics goes).

...especially for archers. Horse drops were preferred to put the point of the weapons in. In some way they realized the amount of dangerous bacteria present there. Yours, but horse's ones too. That's because cavalry charges as seen in "The last Samurai" never happened in Samurai History.

Ashigaru to ashigaru ? I would say face/throat and left shoulder/armpit/side of the trunk. I'm impressed in thinking how you can sew back together the borders of the wound (to help it healing) with the triangular section a yari usually gives.

"Me like it..." :lol:

Hi Brian. Nearly pure Alcohol (99%?) has been suggested as the best option. It has been discussed in past topics.

Indeed, very nice.

Hi Greg. Your experience with WWII swords will be a valuable addition to this board. Happy to see you here.

Welcome Greg !

Naaay, just the other one is more "traditional". At "close quarters" looks much better then from distance. A nice one.

Welcome Renato.

Cool either way, but I too have a problem with the tiger tail. Nice item, Piers. Compliments.

Ted :

If I get the ones you're referring to (possibly Naginata), one lacks the Tsuba. Guess they looks identical but it's just the style of mounting, even if you might be right.

Unnoticed ? No way... :D Try saying you've won a lottery in which you were allowed to choose between a 20 y.o. girl and your Katchu, so you went for the Katchu because of your infinte love for the woman of your life that has no match under the Heaven etc.etc.etc... (be ready to walk on your knees asking for forgiveness anyway). :lol: And as soon as you recover from the hospital, please post pics...

Hi Piers. Yes, it's a good website but you'll hardly find a truly fantastic sword in auctions of Von Morenberg. Time ago I saw a Jumonji signed Fujiwara Sadanori that could be a companion for my Naginata, but at on-hand inspection it was Gimei...

thanks for the kind words Jon. I'll surely ask.

Hi all. Not sure it belongs to the general discussion so Mods feel free to move it everywhere it's more appropriate. Von Morenberg Trento branch will have an auction on 11 october 2008 : http://www.vonmorenberg.com/Default_en.aspx Might be I'll be sent to see the items on auction, so if anybody of the european members plans to be there feel free to PM me.

Have a good time here Jon.