Brian Wolfe

Hello Erich, Now you are making me think this morning. The markings are Hindi and are probably accountability, or serial numbers. I know that the first three are 164 and I "think" the last symbol stands for the same as "th" in English. If my memory serves me correctly on this then the markings would say 164th. I was hesitant to translate the symbol as "th" as I could be wrong, if however, if this is correct then it would make one think the number could be the regimental number. I hope someone with a better grasp of Hindi will add their comments. Very nice sword. Regards Brian

Hello Mervyn, Even though I am well entrenched in the "fossil corner" I do see such advances as email, Facebook etc. as a positive thing but mainly for one reason. Families are no longer able to remain in the same general are as their parents and brothers and sisters. This distance, years ago, meant that you would only see your children and grandchildren on High Holidays. Now with better commuications, stories and photos can be shared quickly and with Skype you can even speak with your children and grandchildren almost any time. Then there are friends living in South Africa, Australia, the UK and India (Punjab) who are only a key board away, what a great invention this email and other communications options have turned out to be. Now if we could teleport from Canada to your shop in S.A. we could really do business. Ha ha Other than than, and this forum of course, emails and such are more trouble than they are worth for the most part. Regards for the fossil world Brianasorus.

Hi Larry, Congratulations on yet another great find. Regards Brian

Hi Chris, A few years ago I obtained my pyrotechniques license so this is especially interesting to me. I like making things go "Boom" but unlike the fellows in the Engineer Corps I can produce a great colour show as well...still... there's the "Boom". A very nice find indeed. Regards Brian

I know there are several members who would be very interested in following the progress, thank you for offering to do this. Good luck on your project. Regards Brian

Military Police seemed logical but as soon as you try to apply logic to Pakistani medals all kinds of things can go wrong. I knew Ed would have the correct answer. So, we know this fellow was in the Military Police in 1947 and I would bet he served with them throughout the war...oops, there I go applying logic. Regards Brian

Thanks once again Dave. The holes you noted are quite noticable once I took a closer look. I am liking this pistol more and more. Perhaps a "died in the wool" firearms collector might find a conversion less desirable, I don't know for sure, however I really like the fact that this had two lives. One as a flintlock and a second as a percussion cap firearm. Regards Brian

Hello DAve, I just noticed that you may have made a typo on the date as percussion caps were not introduced untli around 1840. I think you meant to type "mid to late 1800s". Regards Brian

Thanks again for your assistance Dave. I'll let you know what I find out at the gun show, though I think they will only verify what you have already said. Regards Brian

I took the barrel off and all that was stamped under it was the number 8 preceeded or followed by a dot, depending upon which way you look at it. It is not a "period" as it is centered to the "8". Looks like the search for the identification is still ongoing. I'm attending a local gun show this coming Sunday and perhaps one of the collector/dealers in attendance will shed some light on the mystery. Regards Brian

Thanks Dave, I knew I should not check the forum from work this morning, now I have all day to wait to check this out. I'll post what I find out later today. Thanks again. Regards Brian

This is a disgrace and if they get a move on there is still time to set it right before the unveiling. Let us hope they do so. Regards Brian

I have thirty different professions, regiments and titles on the Independence Medals in my collect but CPMP is a new one on me. I'm sure someone at Sagongsa will be able to help. Regards Brian

True, but you are a hard guy to get along with Larry. Before the new members start to duck it should be noted that Larry and I get along quite well, the only irritating thing about him is that he almost always beats me to the really good groups. I do consider Ed a good friend, however, he has a very short fuse and I too have felt his wrath over the years. Still there is a lot to be learned over at Sagongs. Good luck in your research Des. Next time we are at Tim's I'll buy the coffee Larry. Regards Brian

Hello Fellows, I have not been in contact with Ed for a while but when we last communicated he informed me that he was beginning work on a book covering Pakistan medals and decorations. His work on the Medals and Decorations of Independent India took years to complete and considering his need to be accurate I expect it will not be published for and equally long time. Hello Des, Welcome to the GMIC Your group has everything collectors of Pakistani groups like to see and in the condition that is most desirable. There can be no doubt that this is an original group simply from the ribbons alone. Along with the 1939-45 Star and Medal we can see he served in Burma, has the India war Service Medal and then, of course, the Pakistan Independence Medal. It shows an important era of history not only for India and pakistan but for the world itself. As you can tell these are my favourite type of groups. Well done. As has been said, research is nearly impossible and probably will be for loger than I like to think about. What is impressed on the edge of the Independence meal? Regards Brian

Interesting as I always thought the Shinto period was 1597 - 1780, though I would have put it in the Early Edo Perion of c.1650. I would think that 1650, seeing that Nihonta puts the Shinto Period as 1600 - 1700, would be a safe quess. Without a signiture the exact age is hard to determine. To me this time frame was the Golden Period of sword making and you should be quite happy to have a blade from that time and being fairly safe in thinking that it is of the Shimanzo clan. Some research in the Shimanzo clad may be interesting, but where to start I cannot say. Regards Brian

Congratulations Kelly and well done on the research as well. As to the sword being an 1875 pattern, the more accurate description would be that the hilt is that pattern but the blade would be pre-1866 which should be even better news. Please keep us posted on your progress with the blade. Regards Brian

Hello DJT, Good comeback. I can understand a dealer having one of a particular collectable and not wanting to let it go too cheaply and putting a high price on it out of ignorance. Some deals, however, only sell certain items and when they inflate the price at least four times market I makes my blood boil. Thanks again for your comment, I shall remember and use this one. Regards Brian

Hello John, Before I saw your photographic research results I too would have said it was a water bottle and Moorish in design. I'm used to seeing more modern powder flasks with a powder measure either as a separate piece or as a double closer that allows only so much powder to enter the end of the flask tube then this measure is allowed out and into the barrel. Older ones didn't have this measure and relied on the gunner to know the correct amount to be deposited into the barrel. Nice find and really good research work. Regards Brian

Vent away fellows, it's good for the soul. In my past profession it was very important to be able to read people and know what to say and what not to say. The other important thing was not too over react, which is what I did. I forgot that what passes as an insult in one region means nothing in another. To be fair to the dealer he was not from the same part of the country as I so I really should have cut him some slack and let it pass. The day was hot I was tired and things happed, and perhaps the term "######" will no longer be in the dealer's vocabulary. Ha ha All's well that ends well. Regards Brian

Hi Kelly, You are correct, the hole that was plugged had been there to accept the pre 1866 sword. It is common to also see "extra" holes for the same reason. I would suggest that you might use a light oil on the blade and then buff it by hand with a soft cloth to see if you can bring up the hamon enough to tell if this is an original wakizashi or a shortened katana. I don't think it as been mentioned that this blade would have been part of a set "back in the day" along with a katana. The katana would have been used for serious fighting and the wakizashi for a bit more utilitarian purposes. Though in tight places where the length of the katana would not allow its use the wakizashi would be put to the task. I have read that when serving in a castle, especially while on night guard duty within the castle itself that it was only the wakizashi that was allowed to be worn. Remember that this is a generalization as throughout the long history of pre-1866 Japan trends changed as time went on. However during the Edo period I beileve that only the wakizashi was worn within the castle while on night guard duty. Only the samuri were allowed to wear the two swords so there are probably many more katanas than wakizashis to have survived into modern times. Regards Brian

Hello Kelly, It makes me very happy to hear that anyone values an artifact more for its historic rather than monitary value. With the resent flood of unrealistic T.V. programs like Pawn Stars, who are using questionable "experts" and the long running Antiques Road Show it seems that most people want the dollars and cents of an artifact and the Devil take the historic value. Ok, you didn't need to hear my rant but it was free, though I suppose you get what you pay for in that respect. The symbol on the back strap has me wondering as well. I will go through my reference material later today and see what I can come up with. I seem to remember seeing this in one of the books I have but that could just be wishful thinking. Let me check and I'll get back to you on that matter. The blade, I agree, looks like someone was wacking away at brush, though even corn stocks will leave those marks. I would say that considering the age of the blade and the condition that it is a good candidate for retoration by an expert. These can be very valuable blades. Is the "tang" signed? The handle will come off easily to check. Warning, DO NOT remove any rust that may be found on the tang whether it is signed or not. Removal of the rust devaluates the blade both in dollars and cents as well as being an historic artifact. Die-hard collectors would no longer want the blade if you were to remove the rust, unless it was a very rare or desirable sword smith's name. Unsigned blades are not uncommon but that is not a completely bad thing either. Check to see if you can make out the Hamon (temper line) and see if it follows the edge all the way around to the very tip. Many of these shorter blades were made from damaged longer swords. If it has been shortened then the temper line will follow the edge until it gets to the tip and then keep going straight right out through the curve of the tip rather than following the edge right up to the back of the blade. Again this is not the end of the road for the blade as many were made from shortened blades and became treasured family blades handed down from generation to generations. The handle tells us it was carried during the Russo-Japanese War period. As far as modern Japan (post 1866) the Russo-Japanese War period is, in my opinion, the most interesting of the 20th century Japanese history. I hope to hear more from you in the near future. Do keep the members informed as to what you plan to do with the sword and the finished restoration, if you decide to go in that direction. Regards Brian

Hello Kelly, I would indeed like to see more photos of your sword. I'm not sure what "circle with the cross" is unless it is the cherry blossom symbol found on the metal back piece on the handle which has two "taps" that extend onto the grip. As to having it professionally restored it can be a very costly process and not just anyone who says that can do this can actually do the work correctly. Not all blade damage is considered "fatal" but if the damage is really bad then it is not really worth the cost and money to send it to Japan for restoration. I've been told there are those in the US who can restore these blades but I don't know who they are, again, be very careful who you let do this. I'll rrespond to your PM a bit later. Regards Brian

Are you kidding, no really are you kidding? Last Saturday one of the largest, if not the largest, outdoor antiques fairs was held near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It has been a few years since we were able to attend and most of the dealers have been the same for many years so it was like a family reunion with some that we’ve dealt with over the years. One of the first things an antiques dealer will tell you is not to refinish antiques as their value is lost once you do this. You will hear this mantra chanted over and over especially when they are looking to purchase the furniture dear old Aunt Betsy left you. Of course you “cave in” and let the dealer take the refinished ruined junk off your hands for a pittance and letting you feel that they have done you a big favour. Well pilgrim you’ve just been shafted. A walk around any antiques fair will prove me out as you pass display after display of finished and what I would call over finished antique furniture. At the show you will hear these same dealers preaching that it is better to refinish the antique so that you can live with it and use it the way to was supposed to be used. Two definite schools of thought I will admit. However I recognized a couple of these fellows and they talk out of both sides of their faces more easily than could the Roman God Janus. Thinking of ancient Rome I am all for S.P.Q.R. in business, which in this case stands for “Small Profit Quick Return” however some seem to think “buy low sell high” is always an honourable act, no matter what bovine excrement they are required to spread in order to close a deal. Contrary to what I seem to be saying, most of the dealers are honest folk but you know what they say about a rotten apple in the barrel. This is not really the theme of my article it was just an observation. The theme is all of the fakery that seems to be going on and sold by so-called reputable dealers under the excuse that they are not knowledgeable in this or that field when “called” on the authenticity of an item. This self same dealer will be waxing prophetic to a prospective client one second and then crying that they are as innocent as a new born lamp with the very next breath when trying to explain a fake being passed off as authentic. To be sure this is not the show to attend if you are looking for military collectables though there is always bit to choose from. The prices are usually well above market for medals, weapons etc. so this is a show to attend for other collectables. However, having said that, I found it interesting that so many dealers managed to be displaying fakes and replicas of mostly WWII German medals mixed in with some over prices genuine articles. It is almost as if they are pricing the authentic items in order to hold onto them and low balling the fakes. Low balling the price if it were genuine that is. I looked at a pair of Figure Of Eight handcuffs that the dealer said he picked up in Georgia last week (it is always “last week” with these guys) and he’d let it go for $200.00. I was polite and passed on the cuffs, however, if I had wanted such a pair I could pick them up for around $35.00 on eBay from the same fellow who makes them...in Georgia. The quality was not really bad though nowhere near that of Hiatt but the poor quality key is always a dead giveaway. I will post mine to show the difference someday (he said in embarrassment) along with a genuine key and you will see a world of difference. Another booth proudly offered a Police Helmet from the Metropolitan Police sporting a ball top for only $200.00. I think the other police collectors will support my claim that the Met has never used a ball top. Amazingly, though I suppose it should not have come as a surprise, the dealer claimed he had purchased it directly from the officer himself while on a trip to the UK. The officer must have really stood out among the rest of the police all wearing the familiar Metropolitan Cox Comb Style helmet. I wonder if his name was Benny Hill. Back in the early 1970s there was a flood of Indian swords offered for a pittance; these were over cleaned for the most part but they were authentic. Just after this Tsunami of Tulwars another “after shock wave” hit with thousands of newly made copies being offered in every flea market stall from Chicoutimi to Bella Coola (you’ll have to look those up yourself). Meanwhile back at the antiques fair. A fellow was looking at a curved sword that had been ground down as if sharpened before every battle ever fought with sword. The handle was wooden and the knuckle guard was an open style basket and quite well done. To enhance this treasure someone (I wonder who) had recently painted it gloss black. This was obviously one of those replica Indian swords that had the design on the blade removed, over-ground to change the curve a bit and then painted black. The grip showed no wear which should have made the perspective buyer wonder how the blade had seen so much wear while the grip was pristine as was the hand guard. I suppose it could have been a one of those miracles preformed by the Giant Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The dealer played right along and mused as to how many battles the sword had been in and just how many men it had killed. Easy answer...NONE! The customer started to dicker on the price which had started at $300.00 and I couldn’t take any more and walked away muttering “Caveat emptor”. If I was overheard I’m sure the dealer told the customer that was the name of the style of sword. Most of the time I am pretty good at controlling my indignation and keeping my self-righteous rage in check. However I will admit that the reason I have not been to this show for a while is that I was banned from going for at least a year by my dear wife. We were at the show with some friends, formally from the UK. My friend Graham and I were looking at a drawer unit that I was interested in and I was seeing if the drawers were all in working order. The dealer said “It looks like we have a couple of yankers here” and I thought he said “s”. There was a bit of confusion as to whether I actually grabbed the fellow by the front of his shirt or not...just to make a point mind you. Graham, a quick thinking East Ender, was between us before anything else could happen, but I think I made my point. So now I keep my distance and regarding the over- priced fakes and I just think, “Are you kidding, no really are you kidding!” Let’s hear from the rest of the membership regarding their collecting experiences over the summer. Regards Brian

Hello Phil, An excellent post with very useful information. Your use of the English language is very good and quite easy to understand. Than you for posting this valuable information. Regards Brian Peter, If only rejuvenation were possible through the application of grease I would fill a swimming pool with it and plunge in. Regards from the "shelf-life expired", Brian