cju777

Good point- they offered me a small discount when I mentioned that once. Didn’t end up getting that particular blade at the time but it was appreciated.

Hello Leonard, AOI has been discussed here quite a bit and considered a very credible dealer of swords, especially to those outside of Japan. My first was from them as well. While you are not likely to get a diamond in the rough they are generally upfront in their sales and reputable—I say generally since sometimes the English translations are not the best. A forum search will get you a lot of opinions. I’ve had a positive experience with them. Some folks don’t care for their auction system when things first pop up, so if it is a newer listing be aware of that. tThey were responsive and helpful in all of my email questions. As for shipping to the US. That was and I think is now again included in the price. They usual mention if there is an additional cost in the listing for larger items like naganata with fittings or armor. At the worst of the global shipping issues there were additional costs and delays but I think those are over.

Ian, can’t help with anything I have seen, but did want to highlight that the 5-7-5 pattern of the Kiri Mon as opposed to the more common 3-5-3 also adds “imperial” or some official flavor to the set. Thanks for sharing curious to hear if anyone has seen something similar.

PM sent.

Just adding some additional kudos to Ray from a recent purchase— always the best packaged nihonto I receive and a pleasure to buy from. Thanks!

I just checked Amazon (USA) one is listed at $136, maybe the algorithm had to reset after it sold out. Abe books as well: https://www.abebooks.com/9784770031303/Facts-Fundamentals-Japanese-Swords-Collectors-4770031300/plp

I'm not a fittings expert nor novice really, but that price prompted me to look up Nobuie. Article by Marcus on him that might help explain why its desired at such cost: https://markussesko.com/2013/06/14/on-sengoku-era-inscriptions-on-nobuie-tsuba/ Darcy (RIP) had one listed for sale some time ago as well: https://yuhindo.com/nobuie/

Shot in the dark, Sue-Enju or someone drawing linage to them in early Shinto/Momoyama transition. Can't explain why very well after hitting the books and photos than longer than I expected , just a feeling. Thanks Jussi!

This may have been here before, but I like it a lot so here goes- top is a 1941 Yasushige, in “high class” T98 mounts. Lower is an unsigned late koto blade used for the war in good mounts and leather cover. don’t tell my typical nanbochuko group they’ve been replaced on the kake.

To provide an example- I have an o-wakizashi Dewa Daijo Kunimichi, with a nagasa of 58.2cm. From ~1650s This is Danny Massey’s take on that length (trying to sell it so I’m sure it is a more positive take, but I liked it): “Wakizashi of this length are referred to as "o wakizashi". Specifically, this refers to a wakizashi that is longer that the Tokugawa maximum regulation length of 1 skaku 8 sun. This blade has a nagasa of 1.92 shaku (58.2 cm) When we encounter such a sword, we can be certain it was not worn by a merchant class person. It would have looked like a katana when mounted in a koshirae. This would have been for a samurai that wanted a longer daisho and with some clout or permission to exceed regulations, or for an official that had been granted permission to wear an o wakizashi.” http://nihontocraft.com/Dewa_Daijo_Kunimichi_Naga_Wakizashi.html

Yes, got my first sword off of him a couple years back and his book more recently. Hasn’t had as large inventory as he used to but still a couple there: http://www.nihontocraft.com/Nihonto_for_sale.html …and great to buy from. I can share his email via PM, but I think it’s on the site above too.

This might be the book for the color photo you posted. Some of the text/layout is similar... and a picture of it's cover was posted by the same martial arts group that posted the color FB photo you have. https://www.bkrbudo.com/shop/books/ninniku-yoroi/ Ninniku Yoroi (忍辱鎧）by Alex Esteve. I'd note neither of these are individuals or sources I am familiar with, and the second seems to be in the marital arts community, not an armorer or collector. I cannot comment on their validity or authority.

I'm not an armor or "ninja" expert but came across this thread and did some searching. The book for the black and white photos is: THE WAY OF THE NINJA: Secret Techniques Masaaki Hatsumi · 2004 · ‎Philosophy https://books.google.com/books?id=6EEHNynxfd8C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Looks like page 101 for the photos you noted. I don't have the book but parts are up in googlebooks, the pictures are copyrighted, but text is sorta searchable.

And all are in hand - thanks again! https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/38839-tsuba-starter-set/

Thanks to @Stephen @kissakai @christianmalterre for the December fundraiser, I a now has a tsuba collection! I really enjoy the mix of types, added to the tiger one I had previously due to a like of tigers at the time. Now on to a lot more homework to find more about their styles, etc... really wish there was a "Connoisseurs Book of Japanese [Tsuba]" out there that covered it all.

Piers, he was commenting on Jean's signature block: Jean L. Soshin Gimei

@kissakai’s has arrived. Thanks so much! They look great out with my blades are getting no ready for the group photo whenever the last package arrives. It’s been here at least once before the post office sent it elsewhere…

@christianmalterre’s has arrived. Thanks so much!

That was quick on the Kanemitsu! Nice set.

Ditto on what Piers said. Also wanted to share one of Darcy’s blog posts: https://blog.yuhindo.com/a-katana-by-any-other-name-would-cut-as-well/

Merry Christmas! Woo-hoo, thanks again for starting this Stephen. I've sent the payment and my shipping info to Brian. Besides two pieces I have that came via koshirae I've not gotten into fittings much so these will make a great start. Cheers to all!

Hey Stephen, I''ll give the snipers some more fodder. Shinny brass on the collar. $650 Merry Christmas from this side of the globe.

$500

$400

There was quite a few pockets of US ground forces in China and SE Asia in WW2. General “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell’s CBI Theater forces that included Merrill’s Marauders—limited—but more than a few when you include the logs tail. Also in China- US Army Engineers and associated logs folks built and maintained airfields once the flying tigers became the CATF and 14th Airforce. Also some advisory groups with both sides (even Mao had a US Army liaison team). Plus the random OSS types active in the region. Marines get all the credit (deserved credit for sure) for the Island campaign but the Army was running around Asia quite a bit back then too! Post war who knows who was running around those days, as you note. Start of the Cold War and all. Side note since you are in Thailand too, Phrae has a cool museum to the Seri Thai units the OSS trained.