I just joined the NKBKHK and im glad to now be a member. This is my first Post. Im looking forward to our correspondence.
I recently acquired a Tosei Gusoku and found what i believe could be a makers mark on the haidate. The problem is that some parts of the urushi have been lost due to deterioration.
Here is a picture for you:
Maybe somebody here has an idea which katchushi or what maker school could be represented here.
Another idea i had is that it could be a numbering system in the context of a storage of munition grade armor.
Greetings,
Brandon
These users thanked the author Brandon Shope for the post:
Luc Taelman wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 12:02 pm
Hi Brandon, welcome in the Jas! What we see here is the number 27.
Thank you very much! What could the purpose of the numbering on the haidate be? And where on the armor should i look out for makers marks. The inside of the dou maybe?
Firstly, a warm welcome to our forum! Please feel free to ask questions and share thoughts - we're all here to learn!
Regarding your haidate, as Luc stated (and you yourself have mentioned), the characters shown are likely an inventory number for munitions-grade or "shared" armour. Such armour - also called ashigaru was armour that was kept for use by any of the retainers in the clan and would not have had a specific owner.
Outside of the kabuto, menpo, dou (occasionally), kote (less occasionally) and suneate (even less occasionally), the other parts were very rarely signed. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing a set of signed haidate.
Hope this helps.
John
These users thanked the author John Wee Tom for the post (total 2):
I can agree with the above said.
What was left can be read as “二十七” or “三十七”. In both cases a number….probably for proper assembling/ storage…
Such numbers can frequently found on okashi-gusoku parts. Sometimes the dō can also bear a red inscription of the craftsman/ assembler.
These users thanked the author Uwe Sacklowski for the post (total 2):
John Wee Tom wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 2:20 pm
Hi Brandon,
Firstly, a warm welcome to our forum! Please feel free to ask questions and share thoughts - we're all here to learn!
Regarding your haidate, as Luc stated (and you yourself have mentioned), the characters shown are likely an inventory number for munitions-grade or "shared" armour. Such armour - also called ashigaru was armour that was kept for use by any of the retainers in the clan and would not have had a specific owner.
Outside of the kabuto, menpo, dou (occasionally), kote (less occasionally) and suneate (even less occasionally), the other parts were very rarely signed. In fact, I don't recall ever seeing a set of signed haidate.
Hope this helps.
John
Thanks for your very warm welcome John! Im so glad to have found the NKBKHK. And Jo just gave me access to the Member Threads... there is so much to discover!
Coincidentally this is not the first signed haidate i have stumbled across... if you are interested i can probably still procure the picture of the other signed haidate i have in mind.
Uwe Sacklowski wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 4:07 pm
Hi and welcome Brandon
I can agree with the above said.
What was left can be read as “二十七” or “三十七”. In both cases a number….probably for proper assembling/ storage…
Such numbers can frequently found on okashi-gusoku parts. Sometimes the dō can also bear a red inscription of the craftsman/ assembler.
Hallo Uwe,
Thanks for your welcome and insight! Ill be on the lookout for more red marks i might discover.
Grüße aus dem eisigen Berlin,
Brandon
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Please do share, Brandon! However, as already established the mark on this set can not really be called a signature, but is more an inventory number (which I have seen before).
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John Wee Tom wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 11:05 am
Please do share, Brandon! However, as already established the mark on this set can not really be called a signature, but is more an inventory number (which I have seen before).
You are of course right! Here we see a number again
Unbenannt.PNG (473.47 KiB) Viewed 24035 times
The Kanji should stand vor Lending/Giving/Gifting from what i can tell.
