Bazza

> this Tanto has two different hamon > one side is in gunome choji in Bizen style > other is worked in soshu.. I believe this is called konotegashiwa?? BaZZa.

Luca wrote: > What is your take? I'LL TAKE IT!!!!! Quite one of the nicest pieces I've seen in a while. Congratulations Luca. BaZZa.

I once had a big Shinshinto katana with a red-lacquered same tsuka. I still have a Shinshinto katana with a gold-lacquered same tsuka. BaZZa.

Piers san, Yes I'm fine thanks. Delayed by Mother's Day here and a slight attack of empty bottle plus granddaughter baby sitting today!! I'll be back on the PM 'ere long. I've also dug out some old files from my arrow head collecting mate's days of the UCHINE he made. He did the eggshell lacquer as well and polished the arrowhead. Photos below FYI. Also attached is a document with info from a search I made at the time. Best regards to all, Barry T. Classical Weaponry of Japan - UCHINE info.doc

Shooting from the (not so well informed) lip - the first one with the kanji is indeed elegant, also possibly quite old and quite possibly of shakudo that the finish has been polished off. See the remnant colour clinging to the hitsuana and nakago ana outlines. However, the reddish present surface colour is lovely and best left unmolested, I think. BaZZa.

Amber, imagine being 10 years in the future and looking back. You will be amazed at your journey and where it took you and what your view is 'then'. I've been a blade person for 60 years, but I do follow tsuba and tosogu and have a small eclectic collection. For tsuba and discussions alone you will find this Board an amazing place to be and wonder how you found time to go to work!!! However, for a close to the truth, if not the bone view of collecting tsuba one of my favourite tsuba reads is this one below. Its a bottler... Do give us your thoughts when you've read it. Best regards, and to finish with a great closing quote of a famous Nihontou sensei "Gambatte kudasai". BaZZa. aka Barry Thomas.

I'm sorry I asked... See my pm... Barry T.

Piers san wrote: > The blade is lightly oiled and packed away, and I can't really be bothered to prepare and photo it, especially with a work deadline approaching! YOU STILL WORK??!! Excuse my intrusion into your life, but how do you find time with gunnery and the Board?? I'm retired and can hardly find time for anything else with the Board and Nihontou on my 'to do every day' list!! BaZZa.

I would think the 5 characters are lacquer??? BaZZa.

Well Arthur, I gotta hand it to you, you just made a humble collector's day for saving something I saw years ago on a stall and thought it was special enough to acquire. In truth I know very little about armour despite having three tatty suits and one very nice ensemble over the decades. However, on the day I was helping a mate out at a gun show I took time out to wander around. A very good mate of mine had a table and as I passed by I saw a familiar shape ('FLASH' light bulb moment time out...) I dug out some old files and rediscovered I acquired this kabuto in August 2010 and wrote it up at the time. Rather than ramble on here, for those interested I have attached this old document. Arthur, of course you can use anything I have in my archive files. I guess 'I'll be back...' Barry T A LUVLY GUN SHOW FIND - edit added 10 May 2023.doc

Brian said: > people who take advantage and refuse to contribute....gone AND SO SAY ALL OF US. Begone all who aren't in this for the spirit of camaraderie and knowledge in Nihonto. BEGONE. Be merciless Brian, merciless. We who are left and who have been here for many, many years will thank you for your devotion and Spirit. BaZZa.

On 28th April Arthur G wrote: ================================================================= If you don't mind my asking, when was Yoshihisa active? And could you post some photos? ================================================================= Arthur, I believe he was active in the Momoyama period. Piers san once wrote that there were 15 YOSHIHISA smiths mentioned with those two characters. To canvass the discussions around this smith put HARUTA YOSHIHISA into the Forum search field. In the result is a thread from years ago that for the present discussion may have been missed: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/26078-phase-composition-mapping-of-a-17th-century-Japanese-helmet/#comment-263581 I have attached photos of my helmet. An interesting observation is that the plate that goes over the top is thick at the front tapering to thin at the back. BaZZa.

Piers san wrote: > There is a type of 'mist' in Japan, especially during the rainy season, that seems to waft and fall like curtains of drizzle.　 I have read that the nukame hada of Hizentou can be described as 'mizzllng rain'. An English source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4wltytTwXR73XKR3DXq1VDh/mizzle-and-smirr-13-british-words-and-phrases-for-rain A misty drizzle. The term is commonly used in Devon and Cornwall to describe a mixture of fine drizzle and thick, saturating mist or fog. Although mizzle might seem like a clever portmanteau combining mist and drizzle, it likely derives from the Low German miseln or Dutch word for drizzle, miezelen. Also Nurie san's book: https://studyingjapaneseswords.com/2018/07/14/29main-seven-areas-of-sinto-sword-part2/ Hizen swords have "... Very fine Ji-hada (surface), sometimes called Nukame-hada." and Markus Sesko: https://nihonto.com/sixth-generation-tadayoshi/ "Two types of jihada are most commonly found on Hizen blades. They are the konuka-hada (rice grain) and the nukame-hada (misty drizzle). These types of hada consist of extremely tight mokume that has become known as the distinctive “Hizen-hada”. " I see this when I look at my Omidaijo Tadahiro katana (nidai). BaZZa.

Its an absolutely fascinating read about back in the day. BaZZa.

G'day Geoff, A good summary, thanks very much for taking the time to put it together. Is your Kanetaka the same as the smith in the Mino-to Taikan??? Could we please see a photo of both sides of the nakago?? I'm interested to see this as a friend of mine has a nice Kanetaka katana, from memory also in Shinguntou koshirae as yours is. I'll have to ask him for a photo. BaZZa.

Nice tsuba, at least oi loiks it. BUT, what is that little lump just at the end of the branch on the rhs of the first photo??? Tekkotsu??? BaZZa.

A 'stab' in the dark - is this kozuka by Goto Ichijo?? BaZZa.

Loved all this Arthur et al. Looking forward to the zunari write up as I have one by Haruta Yoshihisa. Barry Thomas aka BaZZa.

I have received the following email from a fellow member of an antique arms collectors’ group here in Melbourne, Australia, who would like to get in touch with the buyer of a Japanese Naval sword recently sold at auction in Perth, Australia. Pleas PM me for further details if you are the buyer. Thanks. Barry Thomas --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recently a Japanese sword was sold at Henry’s Military Collectables in Perth that was a Japanese Naval sword captured in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. I lived in Rabaul for five years and was the local military historian. I also knew the underground Japanese Naval Headquarters systems very well. Having left the country, I returned later on and spent a further ten years working all over the country flying helicopters. Below is a link to where the Japanese Naval sword was sold. I would be grateful if you could give me any information on who in Perth purchased this, and whether they would be interested in selling the Rabaul sword. Yours faithfully, Terry McMahon. https://www.henrysmilitarycollectables.com.au/products/sold-items/ww2-Japanese-naval-surrender-sword-with-australian-provenance-sold.aspx

OTTOMH - BUSHU MASAKUNI... BaZZa.

Its a 'goofy' tiger - a good sign IMHO. Like a goofy Shishi. Good renditions of a creature hardly if ever seen. BaZZa.

Looks like an o-suriage hirazukuri wakizashi... Would truly need an in-hand examination and maybe a window?? BaZZa.

Wow, something I 'collected' has at last become useful!! Not quite early Meiji, but I don't think much had changed by 1919... I think I can track down your early Meiji reference Piers san, but it might take some time in the best 'Gunnadoo' tradition!! BaZZa. YWCA film of AINU in 1919.doc https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/a-trip-through-Japan-with-the-ywca-ca-1919#

Agree, but perhaps more tanago, John??? Kijomomo has more of a 'kick' inward. BaZZa.

I'm no 'real expert', but using the vernacular the point (kissaki) looks 'dicked with'. The bohi on an 'oily' looks interesting, but unless a 'real deal' can be done there are probably better value for money swords 'out there'. BaZZa.