Bazza

Xander, good pickup. It's not the first time I've been dyslexic reading a Hizen TADA 'something' or 'something' TADA... Thanks for setting the record straight even though its an old post. Someone searching for YOSHITADA information will now pick up on a good reference signature. Thanks. BaZZa.

Is there a word savant who can explain why coincidence could not be a case of synchronicity??? BaZZa.

FANTASTIQUE - please excuse my poor French. Gilles, this is an incredible exercise of vision and skill. I love it very much. Thank you for showing us such a wonderful video. Barry Thomas aka BaZZa Melbourne, Australia.

The wold of Japanese swords is deep and complex, nothing is simple. In talking of Kotetsu it is well to remember KAJIHEI: https://markussesko.com/2019/12/31/kajihei-鍛冶平/ BaZZa.

Well then, this 'little piece' looks like a modern made hobby piece to me. Good looking to be sure, but not old... BaZZa.

Can we comment on the 'little piece' if it is a jauce auction, or do our 'no comment' rules apply here????? BaZZa

DANG DANG DANG - TANG TANG TANG Gomen...

Thank you Peter - and now for a photo of the yari??? Some years ago the JSSUS published photos and an article on an intact kikuchi yari that was, if I recall correctly, an heirloom of the Hosokawa family. It was a stunning piece. I seem to recall too that it had a British connection. Paul?? BaZZa.

Sent to me by a friend: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/munekazu-an-exceptionally-rare-and-highly-importa-44-c-bb9472c874?objectID=175187878&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=26a6319182af7d923906808b9142d285 BaZZa.

3. THE LOCK 16 Lock inside 17 Lock outside 18 Lock maker’s mark

2. THE INSCRIPTIONS The gun has numerous inscriptions and stamps and I will certainly need help with some of them. 11 GÔSHÛ KUNITOMO JÛ YOSHIDA □ □ □ SAKU 12 Gunsmith SHIGE □ (KAO) 13 MEIJI Serial number & rear sight 14 Serial number closeup 15 Breech kanji inlay AMA □

1. THE GUN ITSELF Minna san, I have been very slack in bringing to you my newly acquired TEPPOU, nearly a year after I acquired it. Firstly, I wanted to take good photos; secondly, there is always another straw on my back begging attention; lastly, I’m notoriously slow and slack at the best of times. Just ask those who know me and they will tell you my middle name isn’t ‘Gunnadoo’ for nothing!! This TEPPOU has some interesting features, not the least of which is the exquisite fine and precise filing of the barrel. I have always wondered what the ‘snake eye’ holes were for in the front of the hibasami (‘hammer’). The closeup photo of this area shows the wedge for holding the match cord is still with the gun and in place through the ‘snake eyes’. I have never seen a matchlock (sample about 10) with this wedge still present. Another feature that surprised me was the dark, almost red, lacquered stock. Was it ‘raw’ lacquer I wondered? At first glance from a distance (like, when I first clapped eyes on it in the distant gloom of a room) the stock looked almost black. What also surprised me was the battered look of the stock, almost as if the gun had been thrown onto a pile of weapons after the battle was won. That the gun has had a lot of use is clearly shown by the erosion of the touch hole in the flash pan. The pan cover is present, but broken, again as if the gun was just thrown down. Unusual to find the flash shield is iron, rather than brass, with a ‘T’-piece extension that ‘locks in’ the priming pan cover (top removed for clarity). The flash shield locking pin, however, is brass and of the Kunitomo form. I also thought it a distinguishing feature that the match extinguishing hole – if that’s what it is – was under the stock just behind the barrel retaining band. The stock itself internally seems to be of less than adequate quality and workmanship compared to the other five guns I have. See for example the view of the match extinguishing hole (7 'Snuffing out' hole 1) where the carving for the lock plate recess is quite crude and careless. This can also be seen in the last photo (10 retaining pin slot) showing where a barrel retaining pin slot has been crudely cut. Barrel length is 66.6cm and the bore is 19.9/20.0mm = 12.0 momme. 1 BaZZa's 2021 teppou win 2 RHS lock & stock 3 Flash pan & hammer 4 Priming pan quite worn 5 Muzzle front quarter view 6 buttcap 7 'Snuffing out' hole 1 8 'Snuffing out' hole 2 9 battered stock lacquer detail 10 retaining pin slot

Vajo, yes, that's what I meant, though your Yamato Tegai pic with short 'inverse' bohi shows one should never say never with Nihontou!! BaZZa.

Yes, but... I've never seen a Nihonto where the bouhi ni tsurehi has the narrow groove near the back and the wide groove below it. Always the wide groove is near the mune and the narrow groove at or near the shinogi. So far I think indeed a Vietnamese blade. BaZZa.

I sent the link to a mate of mine with broader interests ans he replied: ============================================================================== Hi mate, Thanks for the link. I think what we are looking at is a variation of a Vietnamese guőm sword. maybe you can post this link for the thread? These sabres often have Habaki type mounts. It's a really nice example, with some age (I'd hazard a guess at late 18thC, but it's just a stab in the dark!) Anyway, this might be a good place for them to start their research. Hope you are well, Chat soon Antique Vietnamese arms | Mandarin Mansion ============================================================================== Regards, BaZZa.

BOKUDEN https://www.e-nihontou.com/products/detail/534 BaZZa.

Agreeing with Dale's expression of difficulty in assigning school or period to such a tsuba, to me the OP's tsuba is certainly real and likely quite old, but for all that it has a rudimentary, agricultural 'look' to it. I don't mean this to be critical, but rather to say it doesn't appear to have the 'finesse' of a 'school' piece. So, might I suggest it was made by a local (rural??) craftsman seriously intended to be a practical tsuba. I feel it fits the Hizen/Nagasaki connection. BaZZa - but what do I know...

With the 'reverse' takanoha yasurime and the niji mei certainly not any of the 'great' Shintou Nobuyoshi. BaZZa.

Regards, BaZZa.

Definitely not Showa. 'One-hand' nakago and longish blade suggests Muromachi. The near non-existent hamachi also suggests old with numerous polishes. From the photos the blade is redeemable, but whether the cost of a polish is worth it needs close in-hand inspection. BaZZa.

I'm sorry too Tomu san that it isn't yours. BaZZa.

Tom, I hope it is yours and you can show us the rest of the sword!!! BaZZa.

Bizen Toshimune is in Ono's GENDAI TOKO MEIKAN. Decades ago I used to have a sword made by him, though no special inscriptions, just signed and dated. BaZZa.

Peter - looking forward to the reveal. BaZZa.

BaZZa.