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Ahh, that makes more sense

A very nice hoshi-kabuto, obviously of high quality The shikoro was probably replaced at some point, but goes well with the hachi. Wonder about the “Mino-signature”…do you have a picture?

Guess in this case it reads “Minamoto Yoshichika no saku”…hope I’m not too nitpicking

Seems to be signed by “直道” + kao (Naomichi).

Well done, Steve I sought for alternatives as well, but my source didn’t spit out anything…

攵was clear but I also thought it must be 阝on the left….

To answer your question, Lex. Yahoo has its pitfalls to avoid, like other online auctions as well. But from time to time (if you are lucky ) good items popping up. Best you only jump in with some experience in the background, though… Anyway, there are some trustworthy dealers regularly selling on this platform (Yahoo/Jauce). “Bellbottom” for example! You can also use a proxy, like Kelly. He has a list of recommended dealers! On a side note: I stumbled over a very rare armor on Yahoo some years ago and, with a little luck, was eventually able to add it to the collection

I echo Piers! Even within your budget you can get decent armor, but let me add some hints: Pay attention to the condition! Is the set displayable as is (i.e., can it be assembled like it is)? Especially a look at the lacing, the fabric and the cords is useful. Missing or scratched lacquer is not a problem (only optical), but the remaining areas of the coating should be stable. As a rule of thumb, if the armor “talks to you” it’s the right one…

Yes, it is a “commemorative date”, as mentioned above by Mark, Steve and Michael! To make it a bit complicated. The leather is called shōhei-gawa (a type of e-gawa, i.e. printed leather). Often used as chikara-gawa on haidate, framed by fusegumi, in order to reinforce the fabric part…. The date printed on it is allegedly the date it was first introduced in the 14th century…

It’s like with the forest and the trees….if you stare too long at something 🤓

Guess we getting closer…me and my eyes are tired. Next try tomorrow…🥱

Yes, well spotted -Otagi gun- 👍 About the craftsman, I’ve played with “保慶” (Yasuyoshi) with little conviction, though… BTW, the character above 住 might be 束…?

Hi John, I agree with 城州 about the 6. but still no success with the rest of the inscription. I can make out single characters, but can’t get them together… What you guys think about 1. “江戸住重行作” ?? I have strong doubts about the red one….

Seems so “植村宗壽口“. But can’t get the rest… For 2. I have “会陽正阿弥藤助信忠” (Aiyo Shōami Tousuke Nobutada). The first kanji has a different writing!

Let’s begin… 4 “忠時作” (Tadatoki saku, Akasaka school) 5 “就信” + kao (Narinobu, late Umetada school) 1, 2 and 3 I can partly read, but struggling with one kanji on each at the moment…

Hmm, is the dō laced with leather? Not sure about the shikoro anymore…same lacing as the dō?

Good Christmas “gift” Unfortunately the scarce pictures are quite blurry and don’t tell much about the whole. However, you may be right, it’s composed by different parts at a glance. As Maurice mentioned, the helmet is nice and bears some age, probably the oldest part of this “set”. The shikoro, on the other hand, seems to be not original to the hachi. Hence, a comparison (assignment) of the mon on the fukigaeshi and the one on the hitsu is quite senseless… If you like to share more pictures, don’t hesitate to

Dang, missed the strokes above….thought it are rust spots 😅 Thanks Piers 👍

Seems to be “國友膝兵衛” (Kunitomo Hizabei). Not sure about the reading of the red marked kanji of the name…

There is so much to learn out there. I’m afraid one life is not enough… Trying to understand and learn about “Mon” since many years…but seems I merely scratched surface 🫤

You are not ignorant, Bruce…it wasn’t meant that way 🙇🏻‍♂️ In the contrary, your question is legitimate! This Mon is made up of “stars” (星 - hoshi), but mentioned in some references (simplified) as kyū = 9 (九), because it is made up of nine of such stars. Other sources name it as “九曜” = nine suns… You see, it can become complicated…

Not Kiku, Bruce, but “Kyū-Mon” (or hoshi ). Can’t tell if Hosokawa-kyū, Kokumochi-kyū or Maru ni kyū, though… Very cool Tanto, indeed 👍

I had the same idea, Steve! “念” derives from the kanji Thomas has postet and can be read “nen” or “omu” (which can be translated as: sense, idea, thought, feeling, desire, concern, attention, care, to remember…etc) “之” ,on the other hand, can also mean “this point in time”. So the suggestion Steve made is worth to consider, I think. Although I couldn’t find another example as well….

念之…?

Nice pairing, Gary! This kind of Zunari are “usually” accompanied by a Hanpō, though….like the ushiro-date