John C

George: Did you ever hear back from them? John C.

Thanks again, BJ. I really appreciate not only the translation but also the in depth meaning. It helps to figure out the overall theme intended by the artist. John C.

I have a question about the engraving on the tabako-bon I'm hoping you all could answer. I was concerned the writing was made by a rotary tool of some kind due to the way the carvings have a scalloped edge. I've been able to take some closer pictures and it does not appear to be a rotary tool (the bottom of the carvings are not smooth and some of the areas come to a point). Indeed, the width of the carvings is very thin. It does not look like it was carved with a straight blade or chisel either. If I had to guess, a small circular or semi-circular gouge of some sort. Note the valleys coming off of the scalloped edges into the bottom. Have you all seen this before? Any ideas what tool was used? Thank you for looking. Regards, John C.

Rieker: Sorry to say both are reproductions. The tells are 1) the numbered habaki - the Japanese didn't do that; 2) the western Damascus style steel - not usually a Japanese technique; 3) the sharp ending to the bohi (groove) stopping in the wrong place; 4) the hamon appears to be acid etched or ground on. Price on each would be 50-100 dollars to someone into cosplay or a wall display. Regards, John C.

As this paper is from 1982, you should be okay. The local branch issuing of papers was stopped by 1980 for the incidents with the mafia. John C.

Hello again: I have a better shot of the 4 characters on the front of the tobacco bon from an earlier post. I believe the bottom left is Ne (rat) but not sure of the others. Could be Chinese??? Thank you again, John C.

I have a sword with a very similar hamon; same shape, no nie activity, and very little hada. I'm leaning toward high-grade showato. John C.

I guess I would add: 6) Does the wear on the patina (high parts) look natural from handling? John C.

From Kris's photo above, note how the ito has twisted a bit from use. John C.

Re: the bonji or sanskrit - looks like there was more to it at one time (possibly polished out). Perhaps the one pictured below or maybe monju?? John C.

At one time, the saya (scabbard) had a nice Kin-mushikui-nuri (金虫喰塗り) finish. Looks a bit deteriorated now. John C.

Thank you for those insights, Alex. In the very little research I have conducted on this particular item, I came across the notion that there is a subtle connection between the poem's use of "mist" imagery and the smoke rising from the pipe. Fits with the artistic sensibilities your were noting. A lot going on here, to say the least. John C.

Isn't that from that one modern shop that uses the 5-7 pattern for tagane-mei? John C.

I'm curious if "ray skin on Japanese sword handle" is on an actual list somwhere or if the particular agent who flagged it happens to collect swords. It just seems like an obscure item that few people would know about. John C.

Ed: One very slight addition in case you are doing research - the tassel is a company grade tassel so not only lieutenants, but also captains and warrant officers. John C.

Thank you, Piers, Colin, and Baby Joe. I was just reading up on kanshi. I appreciate everyone's input on this. John C.

Tsuka must be a fair bit longer as there is no corresponding hole in the nakago. John C.

Geez, Alex. "Set everything off" on a table full of guns... John C.

That's great news, Gerry. Hopefully your persistance is what paid off, though we may never know. John C.

I'm also leaning that way Colin as this form (separate tobacco-bon, zutsu, and ojime) seems to be distinctly Japanese based on the research I've done. But I also think that Baby Joe my be on to something that, if I may paraphrase, the maker was a fan of Chinese poetry. John C.

Wow! That's great. Too bad it's Chinese - it was sold to me as Japanese. The part about the orchid and grass makes sense given what's on the top (see pic). This gives me a lot of information to start researching. Thank you very much! John C.

Hello: I know this is a big ask, however I am really just trying to find out if the characters are Chinese or Japanese. But even a few words translated would get me started on researching. Thank you very much for taking a look, John C.

Luke: I haven't seen anything like a latch or mechanism that secures the nakago on dirks. But I will defer to the dirk experts for that. These tend to get rusty so IMHO, this may be a section of rust that has broken away? Not sure. Possibly just a piece of metal to keep it from being loose? John C.

Thanks, Colin. I had to look up wabi sabi. I had the same thought but didn't know the term. John C.

Just picked this up and I'm hoping it's Japanese. Google says Chinese, however I defer to the experts. What do you all think? Lots of poems (?) and a signature. I actually picked it up for the Nakashima-like bowtie crack inlay (bone I think). John C.