Japanese Spear - Hira-sankaku Omi-no-yari

Lee · 11th July 2009, 11:49 AM

Thank you, Stekemest, for your kind comments. I was very fortunate to live in Stuttgart for several years in the mid 1980s and it was there that I first discovered flea-markets. I still have most of the fleas I attracted, or rather, that attracted me.

Having the obvious huge advantage of seeing this yari up close, instead of in a few poorly-lit photographs, I am pretty sure that the engraved plane of the blade has lost at least 2 mm from the original surface, if not more, and therefore about two-thirds to three-quarters of the engraved design. So what we are seeing now are only the remains of the deepest extent of now largely perished horimono. The engravings once ran three-fourths of the blade length and very faint traces of an engraved ken handle remain. I have a very tired tanto with a similarly largely lost ken sword engraving in the same style that a shinsa deemed mid-Muromachi, and this is where I got that impression.

The engravings are a detraction now, but I suspect they must have given a better impression before all of the lightly and moderately deep detail was ground away. The other two blade faces must have lost a similar depth of material, narrowing the engraved face of the blade by as much as 5 mm, so that the engraved remains of characters now appear too wide. Perhaps edge nicks would have demanded this degree of material loss? So, the nihonto collector ahead of me at the flea market was entirely correct in pronouncing this a very tired blade. When new, it must have been incredibly robust. The current weight with pole but not the scabbard is 1.8 kg.

VANDOO · 11th July 2009, 11:47 PM

CONGRADULATIONS LEE

SUCH FINDS ARE WHAT KEEPS THE COLLECTING PASSION HOT
I LIKE IT A LOT AND ITS FOR SURE IT IS AN OLD WARHORSE THAT COULD TELL MANY INTERESTING STORIES

M ELEY · 12th July 2009, 02:53 AM

You mention that it is a "tired specimen", Lee, so I will gladly put it to bed in my collection if you wish -

I think that by definition, many of the weapons of Japan are tired because they were recycled and handed down over many generations. As such, I would never see this as a deterrant. Due to financial constraints several years ago, I sold off some of my Japanese pieces including a very tired wak with darkened/scratched blade, stained/worn wrap and ed scabbard. Many Japanese collectors would have turned away disapprovingly, but this piece really had character. It was koto, pre-1590, and that said something to me. Thanks for posting your find.
Mark

Gavin Nugent · 12th July 2009, 08:47 AM

Congrats Lee,

As everyone has noted it is a rare and lovely piece and complete to boot!

Arms of this nature are seldom spoken of in these forums and as I am not a student of Japanese arms I will certainly enjoy what comes to light on the subject.
I have however been given a great honour here in OZ to view and handle the remainder of a famous collection of Japanese items (the arms long since gone). The individual who founded the collection was a guest of the Meiji emperor over many years and by decent the remainder of the collection is now close to me, some pieces have also been given to me to place amongst my own collections.
Through the course of this discussion, if anyone well versed in the arts and markings of Japanese items could PM me or someone could point me in the direction of an expert it would be appreciated.
I sit and wait to enjoy what may be revealed here Lee, I always enjoy the relevence of images found in both art and weapons.

Regards

Gav

Rich · 12th July 2009, 11:40 AM

Gav -

Check out the Nihonto Message Board at:

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/index.php

Several well versed Aussies on the board and a lot of
good, knowledgeable folks.

Rich S

The Japanese Sword Index
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

Jeff Pringle · 13th July 2009, 11:48 AM

Nice score, Lee!

That is in much better shape than the similar “big spear with two lives” I ran across a while back…

stekemest · 13th July 2009, 12:15 PM

Gav, if you need help concerning japanese swords, you might show up at the "Sydney Token Kai", an Australian sword study group:

http://www.sydneytokenkai.com/

Swords are best appraised when seen in person.

12th July 2009, 08:47 AM	#4
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Congrats Lee Congrats Lee, As everyone has noted it is a rare and lovely piece and complete to boot! Arms of this nature are seldom spoken of in these forums and as I am not a student of Japanese arms I will certainly enjoy what comes to light on the subject. I have however been given a great honour here in OZ to view and handle the remainder of a famous collection of Japanese items (the arms long since gone). The individual who founded the collection was a guest of the Meiji emperor over many years and by decent the remainder of the collection is now close to me, some pieces have also been given to me to place amongst my own collections. Through the course of this discussion, if anyone well versed in the arts and markings of Japanese items could PM me or someone could point me in the direction of an expert it would be appreciated. I sit and wait to enjoy what may be revealed here Lee, I always enjoy the relevence of images found in both art and weapons. Regards Gav

11th July 2009, 11:49 AM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 940	Thank you, Stekemest, for your kind comments. I was very fortunate to live in Stuttgart for several years in the mid 1980s and it was there that I first discovered flea-markets. I still have most of the fleas I attracted, or rather, that attracted me. Having the obvious huge advantage of seeing this yari up close, instead of in a few poorly-lit photographs, I am pretty sure that the engraved plane of the blade has lost at least 2 mm from the original surface, if not more, and therefore about two-thirds to three-quarters of the engraved design. So what we are seeing now are only the remains of the deepest extent of now largely perished horimono. The engravings once ran three-fourths of the blade length and very faint traces of an engraved ken handle remain. I have a very tired tanto with a similarly largely lost ken sword engraving in the same style that a shinsa deemed mid-Muromachi, and this is where I got that impression. The engravings are a detraction now, but I suspect they must have given a better impression before all of the lightly and moderately deep detail was ground away. The other two blade faces must have lost a similar depth of material, narrowing the engraved face of the blade by as much as 5 mm, so that the engraved remains of characters now appear too wide. Perhaps edge nicks would have demanded this degree of material loss? So, the nihonto collector ahead of me at the flea market was entirely correct in pronouncing this a very tired blade. When new, it must have been incredibly robust. The current weight with pole but not the scabbard is 1.8 kg.

11th July 2009, 11:47 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS LEE SUCH FINDS ARE WHAT KEEPS THE COLLECTING PASSION HOT I LIKE IT A LOT AND ITS FOR SURE IT IS AN OLD WARHORSE THAT COULD TELL MANY INTERESTING STORIES

12th July 2009, 02:53 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,184	You mention that it is a "tired specimen", Lee, so I will gladly put it to bed in my collection if you wish - I think that by definition, many of the weapons of Japan are tired because they were recycled and handed down over many generations. As such, I would never see this as a deterrant. Due to financial constraints several years ago, I sold off some of my Japanese pieces including a very tired wak with darkened/scratched blade, stained/worn wrap and ed scabbard. Many Japanese collectors would have turned away disapprovingly, but this piece really had character. It was koto, pre-1590, and that said something to me. Thanks for posting your find. Mark

12th July 2009, 11:40 AM	#5
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	Gav - Check out the Nihonto Message Board at: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/index.php Several well versed Aussies on the board and a lot of good, knowledgeable folks. Rich S The Japanese Sword Index http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm

13th July 2009, 11:48 AM	#6
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	Nice score, Lee! That is in much better shape than the similar “big spear with two lives” I ran across a while back…

13th July 2009, 12:15 PM	#7
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 183	Gav, if you need help concerning japanese swords, you might show up at the "Sydney Token Kai", an Australian sword study group: http://www.sydneytokenkai.com/ Swords are best appraised when seen in person.