Stephen Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 nice to be back on track and a mod can remove my Off topic now that Milts SP joke is gone. Piers i think it would be very informative to see a step by step on how to take one down. Maybe in a new thread.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 11, 2008 Author Report Posted September 11, 2008 Piers i think it would be very informative to see a step by step on how to take one down. Maybe in a new thread. Good idea. The photos for the illustrations will be in a week or two, when I get back to Japan, if people don't mind waiting.
Eric H Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 A recent acquisition. The calligraphy reportedly by ARISADA KARAHASHI, the painting of the Sazare Ishi by another artist. Would be interesting to know what is written inside the original box. Eric
Bungo Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 " Would be interesting to know what is written inside the original box. " I have one hawk painting done by an old master ( not my fantasy ), supposedly it was given to a pilot who actually flew the mission over Pearl Harbor. The dedication was written inside the box just like yours............... been trying to have that " translated " for years. Problem is it's very hard to take good " complete " pic of all the kanji writings. If anyone interested, i can try to take pics and people can have a go at it. p.s. from the front of your scroll box, it says national anthem.............so I think what's written inside are the words of the national song. milt
Bungo Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 " Or even better....sell or trade that evil Republican gun to me, where it will have a really good home Brian " How can you tell it's Sakai and or Republican ? By the brass decorations ? milt
Bugyotsuji Posted September 11, 2008 Author Report Posted September 11, 2008 Milt, your gun is covered in decorative brasswork as you say, and this is an immediate indication of Osaka, where flashy merchants wanted to show off their guns. The multi-metalled wheel decorations remind one of a Kabuto Hachiman-za. The brass do-ban band behind the breech is very wide, another indication of Settsu, or Sakai. The moto-meate, or near sight is in the shape of Mt Fuji, another characteristic. Kunitomo guns are often similar to Sakai, it is true, being in direct competition for the lion's share of the market, but they tend to be a little more restrained, or understated. If you open her up, there is a good chance you will find an Osaka smith's Mei there. As to Brian's Republican comment, he lost me too! :lol: On third thoughts, he must mean that you surely do not support the NRA and the gun lobby, Milt? A true Democrat like you would surely want Brian to have your gun...
Bungo Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 Milt, your gun is covered in decorative brasswork as you say, and this is an immediate indication of Osaka, where flashy merchants wanted to show off their guns. The multi-metalled wheel decorations remind one of a Kabuto Hachiman-za. The brass do-ban band behind the breech is very wide, another indication of Settsu, or Sakai. The moto-meate, or near sight is in the shape of Mt Fuji, another characteristic. Kunitomo guns are often similar, it is true, but they tend to be a little more restrained, plain or understated. If you open her up, there is a good chance you will find an Osaka smith's Mei there. As to Brian's Republican comment, he lost me too! :lol: arhhhh, " high "( realistic-wise) class( lowest class based on Tokuwawa's edict ) money making merchant's toy , I can see the Republican association. I see 2 horizontal and one vertical long pin that seem to hold in the barrel of the gun.............remove those and take a look-see ? Wouldn't affect /disemsemble the " firing mechanism " would it ? milt
Bugyotsuji Posted September 11, 2008 Author Report Posted September 11, 2008 Oops, Milt, don't touch any of the pins aft of the wide brass band. Yes, they are for the firing mechanism and are another quite different world. Your picture shows only two horizontal Mekugi pins in the woodwork below the barrel, where you would put your left hand when firing the gun. Those two are the only ones to remove. I need to post this and then go back and look at your gun again to make sure... hold on a sec. Number One, between the foresight and the Fuji sight. Number Two, between the Fuji sight and the firing mechanism. Only those two. It may be that someone has lost the pins for the holes there, so you should make some later...
Bungo Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 oops. too late now, I remove the vertical pin................... good news is, the firing mechanism didn't fall apart and the barrel is safely out . Post pics soon. It is signed milt
Bugyotsuji Posted September 11, 2008 Author Report Posted September 11, 2008 oops. too late now, I remove the vertical pin................... good news is, the firing mechanism didn't fall apart and the barrel is safely out . Post pics soon. It is signed milt You are a brave man, Milt! Looking forward to seeing the signature!
Bungo Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 vertical pin back in, firing mechanism still work. However, the 2 horizontal pins don't go in, I think I have to force the barrel and press down harder to re-alignthe holes................. here's pics in 2 installment milt
Bungo Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 the mei........................... milt
Bugyotsuji Posted September 11, 2008 Author Report Posted September 11, 2008 Congratulations on the birth of your new baby!
Bungo Posted September 11, 2008 Report Posted September 11, 2008 what new baby ? have this for years........... Now can you help translate the mei ? p.s. found out I have to actually ease up on the pressing to align the holes.......everything back to where they belongs milt
Nobody Posted September 12, 2008 Report Posted September 12, 2008 Now can you help translate the mei ? The mei reads Sesshu ju Enami-ya Sahe-e saku (æ‘‚å·žä½ æ¦Žä¸¦å±‹ä½å…µè¡› 作).
Bungo Posted September 12, 2008 Report Posted September 12, 2008 Thanks, Nobody san and Bugsy, you guys always come through................ milt
Bugyotsuji Posted September 12, 2008 Author Report Posted September 12, 2008 Enamiya were a famous line of gunsmiths in Sakai. (They may have moved there from Negoro-Ji in Wakayama after Hideyoshi's famous attack on the temple complex, but I'd need to recheck my sources before being certain of my facts...) PS The Mekugi pins will become easier with practise as you discover their movements.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 27, 2008 Author Report Posted September 27, 2008 Well, it happened. I finally went for a 'new' set of armour/armor and brought it home today. It's still sitting in its Ikka-bitsu on the back seat of the car... I didn't dare bring it into the house. The problem with the set I've been using up to now is that some parts are (horror of horrors) modern repros. My 'Do' breastplate is completely modern, made in an extra large size (big tummy) by a company in Kyushu that exists on this kind of order. The 'Sode' shoulder protector flaps are also made by the same people, as are the kusa-zuri; both of these have nasty sharp bits behind that catch on things. My Sune-ate are very well done, but also modern. People often tap on my armor/armour and ask if it's genuine, sometimes with a slight sneer on their face, especially if they've been drinking... So... every part of this newly-acquired matching Katchu is genuine mid-Edo, finished in black lacquer. The Black Prince! It consists of a Momo-nari Kabuto, matching black steel and lacquer Menpo, an unusually LARGE and fairly heavy overlapping expandable Do and long Kusazuri, black Kote and Sode, Haidate, and Sune-ate. It is in astonishingly good condition. One unusual feature is the Sode, which are studded on the forearms with short sharp spikes! Maybe for whacking my own Ashigaru when they become insubordinate. A few things will need to be resewn, altered or repaired, but I fully intend to wear this set for displays. Oh, did I mention that it cost an arm and a leg? Now, how to slip it unnoticed into the place of honour/honor?
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 2008 Now, how to slip it unnoticed into the place of honour/honor? Unnoticed ? No way... :D Try saying you've won a lottery in which you were allowed to choose between a 20 y.o. girl and your Katchu, so you went for the Katchu because of your infinte love for the woman of your life that has no match under the Heaven etc.etc.etc... (be ready to walk on your knees asking for forgiveness anyway). :lol: And as soon as you recover from the hospital, please post pics...
Bungo Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 2008 Bugsy....... call it a loaner , like your car went to a repair shop and you get a " loaner " till the car is fixed. And don't forget to hide you modan repro armor. milt
Bugyotsuji Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Posted September 28, 2008 You guys bring a smile to my face! Thanks for the inventive thoughts. The boxes are still in the car. I haven't come up with the next move, although I love both of the above suggestions! :lol: The Kabuto is in the house, and I've asked the wife to wash two shinobi-no-o, even though she doesn't know what they come from. Once the transformation puzzle is solved I will try and take some nice piccies. PS Since she's Japanese I might just take the Japanese route: in through the front door with much hustle and bustle, saying nothing, but telling her to help. :|
Bugyotsuji Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Posted September 28, 2008 Sorted! (Sort of...) Phew! It's a bit complicated, but I have been forced to promise to give her some money to buy clothes... Question. Does it look better with the Tora-no-shippo Maedate, or with the Yattoko arrow-puller? Hmmm... Setting it up I have discovered that there is actually quite a bit of detailed work to be done if I am to be able to put it on it easily, quickly and comfortably for matchlock displays. Some of the indigo strings have lost their integrity and just pull apart. Some of the buffalo horn toggles have rotted away. Much of the cloth backing needs refurbishing or re-sewing, etc.
Stephen Posted September 28, 2008 Report Posted September 28, 2008 Tiger tail huh? thougt it was a snake at first, i think i like the latter, seems more balanced to my eye.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Posted September 28, 2008 Tiger tail huh? thougt it was a snake at first, i think i like the latter, seems more balanced to my eye. Hot damn, and I can't get anyone of my friends to like the tiger tail..... grrrrrrrrrrrr.... Last year at the Akashi Time Week festival it caught the eye of a professional photographer and they used my image up large for advertising this year's festival. I was sure it was the tiger tail that did the trick, but our Taicho says I should always use the Yattoko. (Which he gave me.) Balance... hmmm.... you must be right, Stephen!
John A Stuart Posted September 28, 2008 Report Posted September 28, 2008 Must agree Piers, with Stephen. The tiger tail looks like a cork screw, not horrible in its own right. Don't get me wrong, but, could you imagine the bottle that would open. John
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted September 28, 2008 Report Posted September 28, 2008 Cool either way, but I too have a problem with the tiger tail. Nice item, Piers. Compliments.
Stephen Posted September 28, 2008 Report Posted September 28, 2008 think a close up is in order for the tail.
Baka Gaijin Posted September 28, 2008 Report Posted September 28, 2008 Evening Piers, Thank you for the post regarding disassembly of Tanegashima. What is the large ceramic to the left of the Katchu? Best regards Malcolm
Bugyotsuji Posted September 29, 2008 Author Report Posted September 29, 2008 Evening Piers, Thank you for the post regarding disassembly of Tanegashima. What is the large ceramic to the left of the Katchu? Best regards Malcolm Hi Malcolm, You are entirely welcome! The large one is a Bizen pot, possibly a Hibachi, which was lying in the garden. Not had it valued or anything. The smaller one is an iron tea vessel.
Bugyotsuji Posted September 29, 2008 Author Report Posted September 29, 2008 Stephen, Carlo, John, thanks for the feedback, even if it's not what I wanted to hear... Close-up of the tiger tail to follow in the next day or two, Stephen.
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