Yari Mei,Help please.

[Lindus]

I think it translates as "Hein Jo Ju Ishido Suketoshi". Would if correct this be circa 1600???

 

Thanks

Roy

[W K Clifford]

http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4598

http://log.bidders.co.jp/item/135215658

 

your mei does not match with the above two, though, mind you

[Lindus]

http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4598

http://log.bidders.co.jp/item/135215658

 

your mei does not match with the above two, though, mind you

 

 

 

It would not as it is another Yari that has been with me since 1989, and complete with pole and saya from a collection in Scotland. Thanks for your input though.

Regards

Roy

[W K Clifford]

not sure I understand you, but your Yari is supposed to be signed by the same smith. mei being carved differently, well, is a problem, isn't it?

[Lindus]

Hi Yimu

Not quite sure what you are saying old chap?.

 

The Yari is of a different form and may not be by the same man but the mei is genuine and taken from a yari in my collection that has been with me for fo over two decades.

 

Perhaps you mean that it may be by a student signed in his master signature or the other was this?.

 

Roy

[cabowen]

I think he is saying that the signature on your yari is gimei (fake)....

[W K Clifford]

I think he is saying that the signature on your yari is gimei (fake)....

 

No... I did not mean that. Actually the strokes in your mei are pretty close to the other two, only stylish variations. so I think a little research is called for, that is all I am saying.

[mdiddy]

so I think a little research is called for, that is all I am saying

 

Here you go. Plenty of variation between all three, not just Roy's example. As well, there is little info available on this smith - no papered examples online and no oshigata in references.

[W K Clifford]

Here you go. Plenty of variation between all three, not just Roy's example. As well, there is little info available on this smith - no papered examples online and no oshigata in references.

 

these pictures are not helping, dude. The second and the fourth are the same yari, which is the one in the second link I gave above. the first one is the yari in the first link I gave. And the meis on these two are close enough. The mei in the third picture is the one in question. It is a bit different (but also close). In fact, may be I am just being paranoid...

[Lindus]

Aparently there are three smiths signing in this way working 1624-73 {Thanks Tony}. This may be the reason for slight variations in the mei. At least the translation seems ok.

 

Roy

[mdiddy]

The second and the fourth are the same yari, which is the one in the second link I gave above. the first one is the yari in the first link I gave. And the meis on these two are close enough.

 

Would you be able to point out how these meis are "close enough"? I'm afraid I see just as much difference between the 1st and 2nd as I do difference with the 3rd. I would give bonus points if you could tell me the crtieria for determining "close enough" at Shinsa.

 

these pictures are not helping, dude.

 

Dude, lining pictures up like this can be very helpful in not only comparing kanji to kanji between meis, but also spacing between kanji as well as lateral/vertical placement on a nakago.

 

Darcy illustrates here: http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/mei_exercise.html

 

Eric uses the same analysis in a recent post, comparing to a shoshin example here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8850

 

If this is not helping, would you be kind enough to share scans of oshigata from your reference books for additional comparison?

 

 

Edit: Just saw Roy's update. Perhaps this explains the differences between all three.

[Bugyotsuji]

Roy, thanks for showing your Yari. "Hei-an-jo" has a nice ring to it!

[Mark Green]

I doubt there are many Gemei Yari out there. Although, anything is possible.

 

I love my Sukitoshi Yari, it is one of the prettiest pieces of Japanese steel I have ever seen.

 

Roy,

Can we see more pics of the blade of your yari?

There were a number of generations.

[Lindus]

I doubt there are many Gemei Yari out there. Although, anything is possible.

 

I love my Sukitoshi Yari, it is one of the prettiest pieces of Japanese steel I have ever seen.

 

Roy,

Can we see more pics of the blade of your yari?

 

 

There were a number of generations.

 

Hi Mark

 

Yes it seems that smiths useing that name go back into the early to mid koto period. The blade is not in polish so these scans only show a little of the workmanship, and as it seems there are no "Trained" polishers in the UK it will never get a polish. For such lowly rated smiths ,perhaps they only made Yari?,the work that can be seen seems pretty good, sadly this old guy is fully mounted,stands with saya eight feet in length, so now with our house changes and loss of my Armoury in the course of the yari is coming to the end of its stay. Considered Keeping the small blade and selling off the mounts,would be a shame I think.

I have always been a fan of pole arms and both Yari & NaginataI have and and have had show some striking quality work,could never understand just why they are the poor cousins in Nihonto.

 

Roy

[Lindus]

Roy, thanks for showing your Yari. "Hei-an-jo" has a nice ring to it!

 

 

 

How did ya know that it has a fine embellished "Ring" on the pole................Damn thats spooky!!!

 

Roy

[Bugyotsuji]

Good honest looking blade.

 

Recently someone said that red yari are quite rare and relatively more valuable. I wonder whether that means that the whole 'Yari no E' pole has to be red?

 

As to the popularity, or lack of, of Yari as opposed to Nihon-to, I must agree. Like it or not, there is a clear pecking order, even though a Tachi/Katana, a Naginata and a Yari might be made by the very same smith.

 

Since your post, Roy, I have taken my spears off the wall and given them a good dusting off. In fact, over the years I have discovered little ways to mollify the destructive effects of time and circumstance. In the past I would not have dared try anything, but accumulated hints on restoration of Japanese antiques leads one to a point where you decide to take gentle palliative steps. I have six spears (three in polish) and every so often I rediscover that I love them to bits. Many thanks.

[Lindus]

Hi Piers

 

Although my posts are always pretty ordinary I try to provoke a renewal of interest in some area of our hobby, I have noticed that older collectors tend not to spend time with sections of their collection untill another collector calls. This recently happened when an enthused wine collector dropped in, he had bought a mixed case of Bordeux wines all dated from the 70's......I have since ploughed through the remains of my small celler & am now minus two Grand Cru that have been sitting there since 76.

 

I remeber the great English Armour collector John Anderson saying that it had reached the stage when he only opened the door to his massive collection when another came to view them, this led him to selling his entire armour collection to a Japanese. Once gone he started again with renewed vigor...we are an odd lot but huge fun.

 

Roy