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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
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I have just bought this from E**y, where it was advertised as an African spear head, probably late 19th early 20th C. I have my own ideas about its origin, what do you guys think? Until it arrives this is the only photo' I have.
Last edited by David R; 12th April 2012 at 01:05 PM. Reason: spelling. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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Well it looks signed above the peg hole I think it will grade up very well when polished....African hey.....
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#3 | |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
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It has just arrived, my hands shook so much with excitement I could barely open the parcel. Absolute classic triangular section, and even traces of red laquer in the groove along the wide face. Even now sharp as a carving knife down the cutting edges. And yes, signed above the peg hole, but illegible so no copy to post. Overall length 245 ml. max width 23 ml. tang length 130 ml. I am not going to do anything to it 'till Ian or one of the other conservators has seen it. It might still be a repro, though I don't think so. See what the expert think, and more pics posted when I have them. Last edited by David R; 12th April 2012 at 02:27 PM. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 403
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If "African" hadn't been mentioned I would have been thinking East Asian. Japan, China, Siam, somewhere like that.
Regards Richard |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
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Actually there is no doubt that it is a Japanese style Yari, or lance head. The vendor had no idea what it was, and guessed at African. The only questions really are is it old and Japanese made or is it a reproduction from elsewhere.
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#6 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Is there a n inscription on the tang? The other way to tell if it is a repro is have the it polished there should be a hamon running along the edge if it does than you have the real deal.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
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Hi, it does have an inscription on the tang, but not clear enough for me to copy it out. I am reluctant to do any work on it till I have had it looked at by a knowledgable person in the field . In this area of collecting it is all to easy to get it wrong when cleaning or polishing a piece. I do know that they are very fussy indeed about the tangs of original Japanese blades, and 5 minutes with a wire brush or wire wool can knock a lot of the value off. It is I believe a modest piece, but as possibly a genuine Nihonto, one I am going to be carefull with.
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 131
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Nice genuine piece David, good find
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
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Took it into the Armouries, and had it looked at by Mr. Bottomly.....genuine, horseman's yari, signed by a swordsmith called Kanahissi, who was working in the 1680s. Probably had the tang cut down to make it into a yari tanto. Wahoo.....!
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