Tengu1957

From the website of the armor society. They state of the 5 possible ratings that koshu Tokubetsu kicho shiryo is one step below Juyo and candidate as such . Maybe Uwe would like to explain how this should be interpreted. It's signed so they do not call it gemei but as I said I believe they would have to remove the Tehen to get a verification what generation it would be. I see no reason to get upset over my statement. I am a collector and not an expert. It is a big name but I think anyone of us would hope it would be first generation but willing to accept another generation.

Signature of the Myochin who did the remount. Late Edo Myochin Munekane

64 plate Kabuto , niji mei Yoshimichi with gold lacquer Japanese armor society certificate one level under Juyo. Remounted in late Edo with Mabishashi signed by Myochin Munekane with Shikoro and Tehen added . I really like the patina on this one. Thanks to Nick at Nihontoart.com for the chance to buy.

Same name on a mid Muromachi Soshu katana

I liked the design , it's a bit darker in hand than what the photo depicted. It looks like good iron. Sorry you missed it , I think you may have liked it as well.

8.9 X 9.5 cm , any thoughts on which school this may be ? Thanks for your help

Heavy iron Jingasa with Satsuma Mon I wonder if this may have been used by someone using a Matchlock ? I have seen many wood block images of gunners wearing these.

62 plate Edo period Kabuto and Menpo. Menpo is signed Myochin Yoshi nori. The Kabuto is unsigned but believed to be Myochin ( any thoughts ? ) Maidate of dragons claw with orb and the horns of the dragon. I like the russet iron. I wish I knew what the rest of the armor looked like.

OK, Thanks. As I told Anthony , I'm not sure what it is other than what I was told. It came from an old matchlock collection that is being dispersed after the collector passing. It had a tag as a Bukuro for a gun but could have been mistaken. The ties at the bottom did not look like other pole arm ties I have seen. I hope someone might have an image of what ever it is.

Here is one I like for larger guns. I want to get some other ones made. There is a notch in the base to hold the stock steady .

127;cm long by 25.4 cm wide

Just picked up a Bukuro or cover for matchlock. Indigo dyed fabric with Mon made from kid leather. I just happen to have a gun with the same Mon on the barrel.

This is Yamada Yoshitoshi , Yoshitoyo's Fathern with a test cut on a Shinshinto Wakizashi.

Tameshigiri - Koto Katana O- suriage 26.75 inches NBTHK Hozon to Mino Senjuin Early Muromachi circa 1500 Sword has pronounced Utsuri Tameshigiri conducted by the 8th master of the Yamada family of test cutters , Asaemon Yoshitoyo in November 1860 cut one body in half into the Dodan ( sand pile ) Test cuts on Koto swords are rare.

Supposed to be Ichiguchi Myochin , 24 plate . Ukebara still intact so not sure if signed. Maidate is Sanada Mon. Could be early Edo or a little older , any thoughts ?

I acquired another cutting test blade but I'm not sure if I will post it after this. I think it's fair to say during the Edo period armor lost a lot of it's functionality because it wasn't being used. During the mid 1700's sword making dropped off because of the lack of demand and interest . Tameshigiri was the only real proof of the functionality of the sword. The Shogunate encouraged it and if you read about the systems in place to manage it , it did establish a rating system of performance. It's always reminded me of contemporary people who will spend $100K on a sports car and never drive it over the speed limit vs. those who own one and take it to a track and drive 160 MPH. It can be appreciated for beauty and functionality !

There was a long discussion of this on this site in 2020. I have seen Bakamatsu swords that are longer than usual with a flatter sori referred to as Kinnoto style. I don't think sword smiths adhered to specific dimensions and have never seen a origami designating as sword as Kinnoto. Just like Satsuma rebellion sword fittings are called such because they were lower quality and put together , often with plain pieces of metal in place of menuki. There are no specific designation of Satsuma rebellion fittings.

Something robust ! Shinshinto Katana signed Fujiwara Kunishige - dated 1861 77.5 cm NBTHK Hozon A very hefty sword. It's been said that Samurai who carried extra long swords at this time were mostly rebels who supported the Emperor. Those that supported the Bakufu tended to carry swords that were shorter and more resembled Shinto swords perhaps to allude to a time when the Bakufu was in control.

Yes , it's Same

Koto Katana Osuriage - Oei jidai ( 1394-1428 ) with Honami attribution to Bizen Smith of this period with modern Hozon paper to same Smith. I wanted to post this because of the Chidori bird theme. Samurai respected these birds because they migrated for long distance across the ocean and many would perish in the process. Because of this they became symbols of perseverance. Edo period Koshirae in silver all of Chidori bird and waves theme.

This is a Yasuhisa sword of mine , I believe the same above . His Father Nagahisa was head of the Yamano family before his sone took over using the name Hisahide.

"To me ga are" , this is the term used in the NBTHK papers if the mei on the sword is good but the cutting test is fake.

Samurai sometimes named their swords , the most interesting name I have seen was "the nasty lady" ! Here are 3 I have: 1. Koto Katana attribution to Shimada Hirosuke 72.4 cm . Name given "Sasa no Tsuyu" cuts like dew falling from a Bamboo leaf. 2. Koto Katana attribution to Bizen Den circa 1500. 75.3 cm it's also a Tameshigiri but the sword is named "Shikainami" it means the waves of the 4 seas , it references a line in the No play Takasago regarding harmony. 3. Katana signed Kashu ju Fujiwara Nagatsugu 63.9 cm sayagaki by Sato Kanzan. Sword is named "kago Tsurube" it means a woven bamboo basket - it implies it cuts as easily as water running out of a woven bamboo basket.