Tcat

Hello all, I am trying to determine an acceptable measurement range for the length and width of the 'base oval' from a higo kojiri, wakizashi size. I doubt that 'base oval' is the correct term, but they would be the same dimensions as the cross sectional oval at the point where the woodworking meets the kojiri (outside measurements) on a period saya. ( A kojiri like this, but for wakizashi - http://www.cgfinearts.com/images/small/ ... MCG_sm.jpg) Any suggestions?

Haha... Brian, I predicted that logic. Perhaps I am taking this too far, but I thought it worth mentioning that since this "sword" is almost certainly a Chinese repro, I think it highly unlikely that the previous owner of this slinky scaley number was killed purely for her dress... More likely, the scene of this crime was the back of a restaurant somewhere south of the Yangtze. Note that here in China, very little in the way of meat (snake meat is no exception) gets wasted. There are several snake dishes the Chinese are very keen on, especially in the south. The skin looks to be of the type I have seen adorning snake meat on lazy susans in several major Chinese cities. Now - rays on the other hand...

What about the rays?

Have purchased a number of tsuba from this fellow. He has always been honest, flexible and prompt in shipping. Wouldnt hesitate to do business with him again.

Hashimoto, born 1949. Detail from a 2003 publication entitled "Toshin cho koku - Hashimoto Shu ha" (The Sword Engravings of Hashimoto Shu ha).

Kim, The image you have provided is a mirror flip. Viewers are going to have to be proficient at reading mirrored grass script and mei before they are going to be able to tell you what that means - without having to download the image, open some photo editor and reflip it again to get the image to be true. Not the simplest of endevours - make it easy for them; I suggest reposting with a correctly arranged jpeg. Regards, Alex

One day................when I have 65Gs to spare.................the price will have gone up to 150.

I believe it says '小山氏兵持' Regards,

Much of the time when bohi extend the full length of the nakago, this may indicate suriage or o-suriage, but this is not always the case. Alternatively, when bohi do not extend the full length of the nakago, the sword may either be suirage or ubu. Some swords were/are made with bohi cut all the way through the nakago intentionally. Bohi extending through the nakago does not neccesarily mean that the blade has been shortened; as a stand alone factor it may suggest suriage, but by itself is by no means a definitive indication. Take a look at this thread and note the discussion about suriage, bohi and what makes a sword obviously suriage / o-suriage. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6418 then read this article http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/articles/Suriage.pdf Enjoy

Hi, I tried contacting 'espace4@espace4.com' for this pdf catalogue and got a failed delivery mailer-daemon reply...

I think you are quite right about this, but I also feel that due to fact that the arrival of the Mongols and the subsequent destruction of their fleet (twice) were somewhat random and externized events*, the incidents later went on to heavily influence not only the robustness of an 'us and them' mentality among the Japanese, but also a unique type of Japanese spirituality. In turn, these notions would then later have been built upon and manipulated by revisionists to augment arguments for internal national policy in favour of centralization and consolidation - which may have been harder to support without the events of history...but yes, I concede that they probably would have happened anyway. I like your use of wake-up call, but I think it was a little more than that and its influence should not be underestimated. *What I mean by this is that these events were not the result of decisions made by anyone within the country, they happened simply "naturally", by "fate" or "destiny" or "the will of the gods".

Hi Henry, I respectfully disagree, and raise you a Kamikaze I think the influence on Japanese history here is less about the adoption of technology or materials from the Mongols and more about the effect on subsequent Japanese culture, traditions and belifes as a result of the "kamikaze". However, some have noted that the Mongols did indeed influence military technology of the time, most importantly (for us especially) the Japanese sword. More on that later... Though I am no historian, I have somehow gotten the idea into my lay head that the destruction of the Mongol fleets via "kamikaze" had a profound effect on galvanizing and solidifying Japan's nationalistic self-centric notion that the nation was born by devine means, and that it was still under the direct protection of an "intervening" god or gods. This could have been seen by some as almost akin to 'proof' of the old legends of Izanagi, Izanami Amaterasu etc. Also, I would go so far as to say it makes sense that these incidents likely had an effect on the development of Japan's position towards all 'foreign' entities in general. I think John said it better than I could: There is also the point to be noted that nothing unifies a segregated group more difinitively than a common enemy. Threat of invasion from an external force, whether or not said in invasion occurs, is a unifying force to those who feel threatened. This likely had somewhat of a unifying effect on Japan, as noted above. I agree with you here to some extent. Obviously, it was not on quite the same scale as D-Day - but, would it have been the largest landing of any fleet on enemy soil? Most historians think so. I suppose we will never really know for sure, but one thing we can be sure of is that the Japanese certainly felt that they had been "saved" from a terrible peril by these storms, hence the telling and retelling of the legends of "kamikaze" in Japanese culture. Certainly these may have been exaggerated over the years, as all good tales are, but typically there is no smoke without fire. Back to my point about Mongols influencing Japanese military technology and the Japanese sword, I remember reading somewhere that Mongol armour had some influence on the development of the uchi-gatana. Mongols used thick leather armour which worked well in protecting soldiers against attacks from most Japanese swords of the early 13th century. I hope he wont mind me doing so, but I will take the liberty to quote something Clive Sinclaire wrote on the matter in an article on Masamune, to be found at http://www.to-ken.com/articles/Masamune.htm : Food for thought. I really wish I was there. Very jealous of all who could make it. I have promised myself I will make the journey next year. And hopefully come back with something shiny. And pointy.

Very interesting. Thought to be the victims of one of the two "kamikaze" which saved Japan from Mongol invasion. Considering how important these events were in Japanese history, I would have thought this topic might generate more discussion... Anyway, here is the CNN link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/25/world/asi ... shipwreck/ and the 'graph for those in the UK: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... eabed.html

Wow Guido, nice job! People were starting to tell me you cant get hold of the stuff. A great many thanks for this. Interesting to see the other types of samé on offer as well...

Many thanks for the info all!! Guido, I guess I owe you another beer. I am trying to track down some of this rawhide for a project, but apparently it is very difficult stuff to find.. Ide be lost without NMB, cheers guys

Malcolm, Thats great. I have been in touch with Ohmura san about another question in the past - but what I need to know is where to get the rawhide!! Shark species please, anyone??!!

Yawn.... the above reminds me of the "is it a long tanto or a short waki" debate. Pretty much never ending and quite pointless. Keith, I agree with your comment about fumbari typically being more obvious in tachi, but, Martin from what I understand, is right - without more knowlege of the blade, in many cases one can never really be sure whether it was originally mounted as a tachi or uchigatana. When you (Keith) make comments like , you undermine your own argument. If it was intended to be a tachi, it is a tachi. Alternatively - More or less...yes. If someone has mounted "a blade" as a tachi (with the intention of it performing as a tachi) it becomes a tachi. In the same vain, if someone mounts what was originally a tachi as an uchigatana, it becomes an unchigatana. From what I understand.... Is correct..... But........I am no expert....and expect some kind of flaming for this....

Malcolm, Thanks, but I am going to need rawhide rather than anything tanned. Also, it shouldnt matter that I am in the UK....I am actually currently in China. The rawhide however needs to get to the US somehow... What I really need is the name of the species of shark from which 'blue' samé comes. Regards,

Dear all, I am searching for some 'blue' samé. Some of you will know this as the type of samé which can be found on WWII naval issue kai-gunto and kyo-gunto saya. If a source does not currently exist for this type of samé, could anyone provide me with the name of the species of shark from which this skin comes? I really want to track down a hide of this. Any and all help is much appreciated,

Quite! I am more than prepared to part with the money, how im going to get it in the first place is a different matter! Certainly, anyone else is welcome to this info also. (PM sent)

Thanks Peter, Yes, I have noticed that actually, ebay and US dealers are quite overpriced compared to Japanese and UK dealers...(unless youre talking about 'Lanes' I wonder why this should be... I have a personal favorite dealer in the UK who I have recently started getting most of my stuff from, hes a pretty cool bloke Otherwise - thanks guys. I just think its pretty outrageous that such claims can be made on ebay. I have no problem with someone who knows no better referring to a machine made gunto as a samurai sword, but someone who should know at least roughly what they are talking about and then goes on to mislead in such a way...its a little disheartening for a novice like myself. Quite... I hope one day to have in my posession a nice example of a Heian Tachi. One.....day.........

Thanks Mark and Peter. This is a seller I am certainly inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to, as he has been described as honest and reliable by several NMB members. However....I hold the same reserved excitement as Keith. The blade looks to be in pretty nice condition for a sword so old - and I have never heard of a Heian Kodachi (although I am simply ignorant of many things...). Nakago looks interesting; old, but that old? Also...I know it shouldnt be a means to judge, but the price seems low for such a clean blade with 800 years of history. Can it really be a Heian Kodachi/Tachi....? If so, I want it...

Can anyone comment on this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/320754898636

Hahaha! well, I hope I wont offend anyone if I bring a lovely local girl (or perhaps two....what say you Guido?) along with me for the beers, and I might add I am still yet to hit 30, but am very keen to talk Nihonto with experts. If it makes any difference, I think I qualify as a sad lonely old bastard at heart - and many people have told me so