Bazza

Also found this text: Google keywords: shirasaya horsetail reed https://islandblacksmith.ca/process/carving-saya-scabbard/ http://www.scnf.org/styled-10/styled-4/styled-8/Saya_2.html https://www.woodworkforums.com/archive/index.php/t-154064.html ABOVE LINK HAS THIS TEXT: Schtoo 12th June 2012, 04:24 PM Steve, Found this after a quick look; blog page with rough instructions about preparing tokusa (http://ameblo.jp/minamototaiken/entry-11168496333.html) In Japanese of course, but they give a rough description of boiling, then drying then wetting and slicing it down a side and peeling it open. The bundles in the pic at the bottom are how I've seen it used, for smoothing out textured surfaces like an abrasive brush. Like I said, I've never used it but I did recall the fellow I was watching being very careful to not only not use it in a vertical orientation, but he repeatedly brought the dust back into the area he was working. That's why I assume it breaks down a little rapidly, but perhaps that was part of how he was using it. I think I can buy it at the home centre here, wrapped up into a puck for smoothing out carved items. Never bothered with it myself though, maybe I should? Oh, I don't know that it's the same plant but there's a kind of garnish/pickle that uses horsetails, and it tastes pretty good. Have to introduce you to e-no-abura/shiso oil/perilla oil. Great finishing oil, and tastes good as salad oil or in leaf form. Stu. Also try keywords tokusa horsetail reed BaZZa.

Martin, The heavy "pock mark" pitting and tang colour suggest to me the possibility of fire damage. Decades ago a policeman gave me a confiscated wakizashi blade that he told me had been found in the remains of a fire. Re-tempering is also a possibility. A polisher or very experienced collector should be able to help with an opinion. Regards, BaZZa.

I've had a copy of this book for decades. A great read. Thanks for the refresher Michael. I also have a favorite passage. I'll have to dig it out... BaZZa.

Bugyotsuji wrote: > PS Your blade actually says 造之 'Tsukuru kore', reading the characters as they are. > Kore wo tsukuru is a slight nod, or further step towards correct grammar, but is an > interpretation, along the path of how to render classical Chinese into readable Japanese... Is the 'o' correct Japanese and the 'wo' a relic of 'old days' English scholar translations??? I don't remember 'wo' from my 3 years of trying to learn kindergarten Nihongo. BaZZa.

A darn good re-read from 2010. Thanks Alexi. So much to read, so little time... BaZZa.

Decades ago I bought 9 swords from one old digger. In the course of conversation he confided to me that he once had a long-barrelled Luger pistol, but he 'took fright', cut it into small pieces and threw them into the nearby (Yarra) River. BaZZa.

A Friend in Steel no longer with us at one time had a Baby Nambu in MINT condition with holster. This was quite the joy to behold. If my memory serves me correctly it was made by the Tokyo Electric Light Company and only 1,200 were made. After his passing I do not know where it went. BaZZa.

Mark, No, no. I'd go with Andrew. I've had another squizz and there is a bit of rust that with a casual look suggests a rh stroke, but the bottom looks right for NAGA. Sigh, my son suggested I don't repair my grumbling auto trans and suggested its even time for me to give up my driver's licence. Perhaps its time for other giving up... BaZZa.

MORIMITSU?? Unless I need new glasses and eyeballs to go with them!! BaZZa.

Sadly, I no longer have the most cringeworthy tsuba I've ever seen. It was unbelievably UGHHH and looked like a beginner's first attempt at an iron tsuba with a high relief blob that resembled a person. This was very pre-Message Board and I almost wish I still had it to show here... BaZZa.

Moriyama san, thank you so much for this ref. A great service bringing an old (hardly necro!!) post to augment a current post. Thank you too to Piers san for the original 2014 post, which I seem to have missed. I would have given it a 'LOVE' emoji at the time. BaZZa.

The 'blunt' shape suggests to me an armour-piercing style?? BaZZa

Yes indeedy. Disassembling my first teppou (I have 6) I came across the problem of how to get the lock out. Then just 'looking over' the area saw the blind hole and thought 'Voila'. Brilliantly simples... ('simples' as per an advertisement on local TV!) BaZZa.

Hmmm, I wonder (friends will be shaking their heads)... is the tsuba proper meant to look old and battered to suit some Japanese ethos??? I find it hard to believe an extensive mei would be put on a battered nonentity to claim a scalp, as it were. Whatever, I find it charming for reasons I'm having difficulty elucidating (head shaking all round)... If its just had a hard life surely its no surprise a well-cut mei survives intact? Is there such a thing as atomei for a tsuba?? BaZZa.

Thanks to Baka Gaijin/Colin san here is a fascinating story from his link with General MacArthur making a cameo appearance: http://www.smokingsamurai.com/SAMURAI_SHOKAI.html BaZZa. With thanks, always learning...