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This is in Japan...I have never seen anything like this...any ideas?

Andi, I liked your article on making a shira-saya etc. http://www.zatoichi.de/tanto_01/index.htm

Incredible workmanship, and check out that price...pretty incredible also.

Here is another labled as..experimental..

Jean, your right, this thing give the word "hand gun" a whole new meaning! http://www.japanauctioncenter.com/view2 ... /m68945764

Ian, what was its approximate size anyway? This one does not appear the have any measurements. What country would this most likely have come from? Its in Japan but I was thinking it might have originated some were else.

Here is an interesting item, anyone know what it is?

Dont you worry about an airport employee trying to steal it in your luggage, I have transported guns before in a case and I would have assumed that a case would less likely to be rummaged through.

Tony, did you take any pictures..or buy anything? Did you meet the owner?

Dennis, I purchased 3 fairly expensive items from him (he is an American) using a bank transfer...the items arrived in good shape and on time...I have not talked to anyone else who has purchased from him but if I went to Japan his shop would be on the ...must see...list. On another forum I have heard people say that he lists and sells items he does not own but shows pictures of anyway...but if thats the case as long as the people get what they pay for that I do not see a problem with that, A finders fee? I have heard complaints that his armor is not as old as he says or not matched...but thats normal for armor...His web site is hard to navigate but he has more items listed that anyone else I know of, some really nice items to.

Uwe, You do not find many places that actually sell matched suits of armor, most armor is composite sets put together from various parts. Japan actually specializes in taking apart matching suits of armor and selling the individual pieces, I see this all the time there, Its really a sad thing.

James...as of today 300,000 yen is $3,318.40

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/ ... a0oJobuuzw They have some interesting swords etc.

http://sky.geocities.jp/kounodori0522jp/IMG_8166.jpg Looks like a hachi wari jutte.

The New Generation of Japanese Swordsmiths Tamio Tsuchiko (Author), Kenji Mishina (Translator) has a good discription of "nie" and "nioi"

Craig, Don Cunningham did some excellent research, I use his books for reference a lot. I purchased this kusari gama from him a while back, a photo of it was used in one of his books " Samurai Weapons Tools of the Warrior "

I have look all over and have not found another picture of one...thanks for the reference.

Thomas, someone put a lot of work into your sword...hard to tell what kind of wood it is...its a nice one.

I have no idea how old this unusual jutte is. Has anyone seen any other jute like this...I would like to see any pictures of other juttes or similar types of weapons. http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/estcrh/Samurai%20jutte/

Jean, great article, I think the perfect combination would be to have scanned pictures and photos, that way you have good two dimensional pics by scanning and photos give you the multi dimensional pictures. For looking at a blade scanning works fantastic, but for looking at the entire sword you still need photos.

George, do you have any pictures? scans are great for some things but nothing beats a good picture!

Mark, great pics..nice hada..a classic tanto.

Mario, I see what looks like a ...w..stamp on this blade. is this the same stamp as yours?

Mario, have you seen this site http://ryujinswords.com/shostamp.htm it has a lot of good info.

I find that depressing.....