Kago yari

[IanB]

A week ago in another related thread I promised to illustrate what I think is a real kago yari. I have now taken some pictures and include them here. Notice that the whole yari is only some 32 inches long, the head itself being 3 1/2 inches. The head is sankaku section having, on the largest face, a simple horimonon of a Buddhist sword and a short tang without a mekugi ana. The shaft is red oak with a small iron habaki and has the top section lacquered, probably originally in gold. At the base is an elegant iron ishizuki that seems to have been designed to act as a counterweight since it is quite heavy and tends to balance the blade. The scabbard is covered with bear fur with the base bound with cord, and again, seems to have been gold lacquered. There is no doubt that this whole yari is original and old. Whether it is a kago yari or a small makura yari only the original owner could have told us, but its size suggests the former.

Ian Bottomley,

[IanB]

Here are more details

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Thanks Ian.

 

Much more simple than Venice's one, but this has a verifiable origin.

 

Also, the shaft looks to taper from Ishizuki to blade, that should be another point in favour of it being a Kago Yari.

[kusunokimasahige]

Love the kago yari Ian posted, am curious about the Buddhist symbol underneath. Looks like a Varja...

 

 

KM

[estcrh]

  IanB said:

a short tang without a mekugi ana.

Thanks Ian for taking the time to post these pictures, a very interesting yari. Without mekugi-ana how is the blade secured to the shaft and does the shaft have any sign of having a mekugi-ana in the past.

[Bugyotsuji]

This spear has a good feel to it, Ian. Thank you for showing this.

 

Is it a museum piece or something in your own collection?

[IanB]

Piers, No, it isn't mine.

Ian