Chris Davies

Hi Uwe. Thanks 😁👍🏼 What I was wondering is, was it carried over from Osode? The white and orange “pipping” seams to only appear on tosei sode or dou. 👍🏼

Finished 🙂

I’ve worked more on the “enhancements” of the sode. I’ve looked up these details and not found much. When was this “trim” introduced? Does it date armour? Is it a specific katchushi?

This is the work so far. Updates to follow x

Started an “embellishment” of my.. Kiritsuke Iyo Zane. Sugake odoshi Sode. (Is that correct discrimination?) I’ll let the photos show my efforts 🙇🏻

Another (hand built) maedate 前立. (Thank you Piers D 😁👍🏼) Worked at odd times over two weeks. Visually inspired from the statue of Toda Ujikane at Ogaki Castle.

My girlfriend said “Either the bike and the armour goes or I do!” …. I miss her sometimes….🤔

Hi, I’d like to set up a YouTube channel and make some videos at some point. And a few travel videos too. Japan and Thailand are in the near future 😋👍🏼

A new creation to my collection is this. A sun Maidate. Two days work. Wood base. Gold leaf finish. I’ve made a few maidate and thoroughly enjoy making them 😁

Thank you all.!! I’m compelled to learn as much as much as I can. From an appreciation and love of real samurai armour… And now with a group of people who know, understand and appreciate real historic armour. 😁 koberi 小縁 translate as “Little stitching” ??? 👍🏼 Regards Chris x

Enhancing the “trims” on my Haidate as the printed pattern is quite faded. See photos. Any thoughts? Question. Part names of Haidate. The leather reinforcement strips I think are called chikara gawa. But are the additional edge trims (as added on some examples) called Kawa Fukurin? Also, is there a name for the “cross and grass” motif? And what’s the origin of this pattern? Thanks 😁👍🏼 Chris

Not all my work. Maybe half. Eboshi Kabuto and dou are Iron Mountain. The armour on the right 1960’s replica with Edo period Osode. Recent additions are scratch built “tatami” mats on wheels and stands for the suneate. Two of my pet hates are suneate falling over, and not getting at the back to clean 🤣

My “collection” to date.

Hi, Thanks all for positive comments and encouragement 😁👍🏼 Bugyotsuji. The plastic “click” buckle is an experiment. Fed up having to tie hakama for Iaido 🤣… and next job is add restraining tabs to the haidate so not flapping about. Uwe. Everything is built from scratch and added a couple of photos of them. Also another Haidate photo of the cord now added. And “lifting” the detail on the leather trim. Regards. Chris 🙇🏻

I’ve “built” a set of sengu armour (that fits me 😁) from scratch and learned loads along the way. Photos at attached