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AN UNUSUAL AND DEADLY INKWELL
This is a large and very unusual yatate (inkwell) that proves, once again, that the pen is mightier than the…
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A VERY “PUNNY” TANTÔ
This little tantô brings with it good fortune for a Samurai. Anyone familiar with Japanese food knows that dashi (fish…
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MINI TSUBA MENUKI
Two of the greatest tsuba artists of all time are Nobuiye and Kaneiye. Both did outstanding work in iron tsuba…
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TINY ABUMI FOR A TINY SAMURAI
One of the latest additions to my collection of unusual things (mezurashii mono) are these two tiny stirrups (abumi). They…
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I “SAW” THIS SOMEWHERE…
This is a very unusual 0-kozuka. It was made by the sword smith, Shigenobu of Tamba. Shigenobu worked around the…
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MOON OVER MY FANNY
I am calling this newest addition to my mezurashii mono collection of unusual things, moon over my fanny (apologies to…
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HAND CANNON NETSUKE
This is a cute item that I just acquired in Japan. It is a netsuke made in the form of…
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TWO SHIBUICHI Ô-KOZUKA 四分一大小柄
Below are two shibuichi (四分一)ô-kozuka. Shibuichi is a composite metal made of three parts copper to one part silver. The…
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THREE SHAKUDO Ô-KOZUKA 赤銅大小柄
Below are three shakudo (赤銅)ô-kozuka. The top ô-kozuka is from the kinko school. It is a deep and rich shakudo…
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TWO COPPER Ô-KOZUKA 素銅大小柄
Below are two suaka 素銅 (copper) ô-kozuka. The top one is copper with a large shakudo river boat floating amid…
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SAMURAI “BOY SCOUT” KOZUKA
The Samurai who carried this kozuka believed in the Boy Scout motto of “Be Prepared”. No matter where he roamed,…
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UNUSUAL FUTOKOROMONO 珍しいの二所物
This is a set of kozuka and kogai (futokoromono) that once belonged to the main Tokugawa family. Both pieces are…
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GUN FOR A PENPAL
This is a pistol that cannot shoot you but it can cause heartache. It is not suitable for firing, only…
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TANTÔ FOR THE SAMURAI ON THE GO
What can we say that hasn’t already been said? Those Japanese koshirae makers had all kinds of talent. Here we…
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TANTÔ FOR THE YOSHIWARA
This is a tantô for the Samurai of modest means. Hidden in the bottom of the saya is a removable…
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TANTÔ FOR JAMES BOND-SAN
Samurai spy? Who else would carry an item such as this? On the outside a non-assuming tantô.
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SMOKE UM IF YOU GOT UM
Got a light? Here we have a simple 19th century pipe case and tobacco pouch. OOPS…. ? What have we…
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TOOLS FOR THE POETIC SAMURAI
This item is just soooo darn cute. Because the blade is so small, I would hesitate to call it a…
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TANTÔ or PURSE
Here is a tantô that will keep you from going broke. It’s not really a tantô, its a surreptitious way…
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A TANTÔ FOR THE PREPARED SAMURAI
Since Samurai were known to live life on the edge, they never knew when they might meet their demise and…
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THIS TANTÔ IS EASY ON THE EYES
This items quite unbelievable. On the outside, just a normal tantô. When hidden panels are opened on either end, its…
