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[Timo Nieminen]

Originally Posted by David R

These have just arrived. To be frank, when I bid on them I neither expected nor particularly wanted to get them. It was an experiment to see what would be accepted as a bid from the UK, ...and I won,... and they are here. So what have I got? Coming from China........they are slightly different from the posted vendors photo, one of them has a tang 27 cm 10.5 ins long but otherwise just as described and shown, width from barb to barb 5 cm on one and just under that on the other.

Modern, and an attempt at a replica of bronze Chinese arrowheads, Shang, Zhou, through to Warring States style. Most Chinese heads had relatively short tangs, but long tangs were used too. Also socketed heads, especially in Qin and Han. After that, iron/steel heads rather than bronze.

"Attempt" I say, since these are huge compared to the usual long-tanged Chinese bronze arrowheads. And very fat, too. The long 25cm or so ones are usually thinner, with much smaller blades. So, these look like the maker got the size very wrong. Perhaps these should be about 10-12 cm long?

I don't recognise what particular heads these are meant to be copies of, so can't check what the original size was.

These are usually brass, rather than bronze like the originals. The quality of the modern copies (not just of arrowheads, but spears, axes, swords, ge) varies a lot. Some are quite nice.

[David R]

I am Not disappointed, as I did not expect them to be genuine, and the price was silly low, with free shipping an' all. In fact I don't see how they made anything on the deal. I am now torn between keeping them as a curiosity, or selling them at the next "Steampunk" fair with an outragous and tongue in cheek "backstory", (while making it clear they are modern).
They served their purpose as a test, I now know I can buy spear and arrow heads internationaly via ebay. Pity is I am put off buying anything from China, even passing up on a WW2 militia spearhead at a decent price, because of the likelyhood it was a more recent fake.
On another note, I just won these off ebay from Japan. Shabby, and so not desirable to the higher end collector, but interesting to me. And will go nicely with the yari.

[Stan S.]

Hey David, are those leggings or sleeves?

[David R]

They are a sleeve,Kote, I think for the lower arm, ie back of the hand to the elbow, of a type called Han-gote or possibly Tekoh. (6)
The Edo period was generaly peacefull, with feuds, policing and piracy rather than war, so real combat armour tended to be light raiders stuff. Full armours were made but as ceremonial stuff not functional. I am hopefull these are examples of the lightweight gear. And if not, heh, no matter. Shipping is costing more than the bid, the total about what I pay for second hand Kimono.

[David R]

The above photo and drawing from this very usefull site http://www.iz2.or.jp/english/index.htm My ambition is to put the above gear, or something like it together using as much genuine stuff as possible.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by David R

They are a sleeve,Kote, I think for the lower arm, ie back of the hand to the elbow, of a type called Han-gote or possibly Tekoh. (6)

David, your kote appear to be ashigaru kote, basic armored sleeves for the ashigaru foot soldier. They would cover the arm from the shoulder to the wrist. Here is a pair to show how yours originally looked.

[David R]

Originally Posted by estcrh

David, your kote appear to be ashigaru kote, basic armored sleeves for the ashigaru foot soldier. They would cover the arm from the shoulder to the wrist. Here is a pair to show how yours originally looked.

Hi estcrh I can confirm your ID, they were looked at by Mr Ian B at the RA and he said the same thing. I have given them a steam to relax the hemp backing, and now have to consider whether to go any further with them....they are still shabby but now more identifiable.
Since getting these I have had a few more bits in, and will post them soon. Sorry to be so late with an response, I managed to miss your posting till today.

[David R]

I did another arms fair over the weekend, and bought two new items. The Keris is posted over in the appropriate forum, a battered example but I am content with it at the price. The other is a small dha which I had seen the previous fair in a western scabbard. This time the dealer had it in the right one, albeit damaged...so I bought it, and filled a gap in my collection. The end of the sheath is damaged and lacking an end cap, so I will have to get one made for it.
The inlay is yellow metal and let in properly in cut cells as opposed to koftgari, in fact to me the blade looks a bit well made for the quality of the hilt and scabbard.