Brian Posted March 16, 2021 Report Posted March 16, 2021 That far right hand Kozuka.....hmmmm... May be something very nice. Anyone with more knowledge than me? Quote
ROKUJURO Posted March 16, 2021 Report Posted March 16, 2021 I read the MEI on the left KOGATANA as MINO KANEMOTO, but don't take that too serious! Right KOGATANA might be MIHARA KANEMASA, but that is only a vague guess. I like that iron KOGAI very much! The KOIGUCHI of the SAYA does not look old, although it seems to suffer from inexpierenced use; good traditional SAYA are differently made. Of course this one could have been made from an older one with the help of the metal fittings. In the end, you will have to show your sword to an expert for an in-hand inspection. 1 Quote
Janrudolph Posted March 17, 2021 Author Report Posted March 17, 2021 Brian & Jean, thanks for comments. When my (our) research has been completed, I will have to decide which one of the kozuka suits the saya best. BTW, it looked very strange to me that the saya has two pockets for kozuka/kogai, one opoosite the other, but the one pocket is "blind"! Jean, I think what you said about this saya (that it could have been made from an older one with the help of the metal fittings), is spot-on. Johan Quote
Janrudolph Posted March 17, 2021 Author Report Posted March 17, 2021 I think what I would like to show you all here near the end of this thread's running is some pics of the sword's habaki. Once again the question pops up: could this be period, or is it recent? To my inexperienced eyes it looks to be of very high quality, but it also looks to be in pristine condition. Please tell me what you make of it. Could this habaki have withstood the ravages of time since Enpo? Johan Quote
ROKUJURO Posted March 17, 2021 Report Posted March 17, 2021 Jan, that is a nice HABAKI, but I don't think it is old (= older than 100 years). Please remember that HABAKI have to be adjusted or newly made after a polish! So it would be rare to see an old blade with a HABAKI of the same age. This applies as well to TSUKA and SAYA. Even TSUBA were often replaced following changes in taste or court orders. SAYA can have two pockets for KOGATANA and KOGAI; it is not so rare. If one pocket is 'blind', it may support my idea that an existing modern SAYA was adapted to your blade and fitted with (rather unusual) metal fittings of very recent manufacture. This goes also for the TSUKA. Quote
Janrudolph Posted March 17, 2021 Author Report Posted March 17, 2021 Thanks, Jean, I really do think you have given some valid points. Well, it seems this is the end of this thread, and I express my gratitude for all of you that have contributed something. I have been on a learning curve all the way. Johan Quote
Dave R Posted March 23, 2021 Report Posted March 23, 2021 My first thought when I saw this was that it "might be" one of those Bakumatsu era Toppei Koshirae. They can certainly get weird enough for this to be one. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 24, 2021 Report Posted March 24, 2021 I see clouds and lightning, down the left side, but what are the spikes? A beast of some sort? Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted March 25, 2021 Report Posted March 25, 2021 20 hours ago, Geraint said: It's a dragon Bruce. All the best Thank you my friend! 1 Quote
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