Dick Tait

Whilst my Tsuka wrap takes place; I thought I'd share the Tsuba with you. I know nothing about this tsuba (Age? Design? Indicative of any particular school? etc); so any comments gratefully received!

This (http://www.scholten-Japanese-art.com/netsuke_35.htm) may provide some insight to the meaning of the Puppy and Awabi Shell? Innocence/Purity? Dog remains/burials have been found in Jōmon shell middens and dogs were used for hunting. Perhaps the cord also has further significance with a Jōmon (Human/Canine) association? Just guessing really!

Thank you Lance, I will see if I can lay my hands on a copy.

This topic came at just the right time for me. After visiting a militaria fair (the only place in England, it seems, for me to actually see and handle Japanese swords, apart from the two I own) - I realised that I needed some more money! So, I liquidated some assets; my collection of £1 & £2 coins (don't scoff: face value £180 - net return £1387!) to invest in a) fittings & services to restore the koshirae for my Wakizashi (an on-going project - takes longer than I thought!) and b) some books. The books I bought, based on the above posts, are: 1) The Art of the Japanese Sword (Leon and Hiroko Kapp / Yoshindo Yoshirara) 2) The Japanese Sword (Kanzan Sato) 3) Facts & Fundamentals of Japanese Swords (Nobuo Nakahara) 4) The Samurai Sword (John Yumoto) I also bought: 5) A Beginners Guide to Japanese Swords (Bon Dale - The To-Ken Society of Great Britain) 6) Japanese Swordsmiths (Volumes I & II) (WM Hawley) These two previously belonged to Ron Gregory and were sold to me by Richard Fuller - nice provenance methinks! I already have: 7) The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords (Kokan Nagayama) I intend to buy: Japanese Swords of the Bizen Tradition (Darcy Brockbank / Robert Benson) 9) Japanese Swords of the Soshu Tradition (Darcy Brockbank / Robert Benson)- When it comes out! 10) The Index of Japanese Swordsmiths (Markus Sesko) - When it comes out! One thing I think is definitely missing for the beginner/enthusiast is a pocket book - something that could be carried around in order to quickly refer to; in order to inform, remind & confirm. Does such a book exist already (or will I have to write one!)? After all this (I think I am all booked out and perhaps a little bit wiser!) I will begin search out some Nihonto or Togosu. Next stop the next military fair! Thanks to all for your advice!

http://www.nihonto.com.au/html/tsu460_man_riding_carp_tsuba.html

Lots of Kaneyoshi from different periods and locations; you would need to compare, contrast, eliminate to narrow down to a specific school and smith. Blade looks pretty honest to me; perhaps a bit overpriced for a wakizashi (although I'm not sure what the market is like in Vancouver)?

Top = Authentic European (England) Flint, bottom = Modern Reproduction of North American (Canadian) Obsidian Not sure that this helps at all? Your friend's arrowhead is mighty fine flint-knapping!

Towards the end of this article there is good reference to the development of wakizashi length

This picture matches closely what I was trying to describe as a series of "double hills", like the hamon on my wakizashi: This was described as koto-bizen in this post. Can this type of hamon be narrowed down further to a particular period/school (oei/eikyo/sue), or is it fairly generic to bizen-den? Thanks!

Thanks. I've not seen/handled enough swords to discern the differences yet! Perhaps this photo shows better what I was referring to - this shape/feature repeats along the length of the blade.

Recently bought this mumei wakazashi (nagasa = 18" or 45.5cms and the sori = 5/8" or 1.5cms): The hamon is nioi-deki and has a series of these "double hills" along the length (and some nioi-kuzure): Would this be regarded as "koshi-no-hiraita" or just "irregular gunome midare"? I'm thinking Bizen-Den, but not sure which period. My hunch is Muromachi - but not that confident!

Saw this on an internet search. Wow! Does this mother-of-pearl inlay type of work have a specific name?

Think the mon is Seven treasures (Shippou, 七宝) - Don't know what family it represents. Possibly Takahashi Shippou-mon (Seven treasures pattern) is a pattern of congruent circles, overlaid and extending out in all directions. The name "shippou-mon" was chosen because of the repeating pattern of circles. The Japanese expression for "in all directions" is shihou-happou, which sounds a lot like the word shippou. Shippou is the word for the Seven Treasures of Buddhism. The circles in this pattern represent completeness and perfection, while the endlessly continuing pattern represents longevity, eternal youth, and a prosperous posterity. p.s. Your shin-gunto koshirae is similar to mine, good quality (pierced tsuba) and has the mon in the same place; see here

Thank you. Is there any reason behind this, or is it just "traditional"?

This page has a picture with your stamp - Iijima Token Seisakusho (private sector sword company trademark) http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7734

Were Wakizashi worn like Katana (i.e. blade upwards)? They are usually displayed this way, which begs a question: Should the Menuki be placed upright when "in hand" (blade-down) or when "in display" (blade-up)? Hope this makes sense?!!! Also, would the Kogatana/Kozuka face outwards (as a display of wealth) or inwards (hidden from view)?

Thanks all

I am thinking of purchasing a pair of Daisho Tsukas, and would like some advice on a couple of questions I have, if possible? 1) How old do these appear to be? (listed as 100 yrs old) 2) How much should I pay? (listed as £200) The quality worries me somewhat and I'm not sure they're quite what they claim to be.

Are there any plans for a UK Shinsa in the near future?

Bou - ぼう Han - はん Tsu - つ ?????????? Just a guess really! Would translate as "prevention of theft"? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????? But, I may be reading it the wrong way!!!

Andreas, I am not sure if this helps or not (I also could not find your specific mon), but your example seems to have the thicker surround; therefore, perhaps related more to the one on the left on this picture? Sorry, I cannot translate for you.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pcm9f/In_Our_Time_The_Samurai/ Only available for a couple more days, I think.

I have a sword to submit to shinsa, if only to confirm that it's not a National Treasure!!! :D

I think there are at possibly four different types of sword knot for Kyu-gunto swords: Army Company Officer black tassle type, Army Field Officer black ball type, Navy Officer gold bullion type, and Army/Navy General/Admiral gold/red bullion type. Edit - Perhaps the Army types are infact the same? The first having unravelled somewhat?

How much do the various (NCO/Company/Field/General) rank sword tassel/knots cost to buy?