Group of Samurai by the Sphinx in 1864

[laEspadaAncha]

I don't think they were made for the tourist market, and in fact am certain they are/were indeed 'users.' Ian Bottomley, the aforementioned curator and author of Arms and Armour of the Samurai, suggests they were possibly the weapon of common rank and file footsoldiers.

However, this itself would preclude the inclusion of any katana, which were reserved for the Samurai class, though to be honest, I can't tell with any certainty from the above photo whether it is a katana or a wakizashi.

Oh, and Gene, I failed to mention the photo of a bunch of samurai by the Sphinx in the OP freaking rocks... Thanks for posting that mate...

Cheers,

Chris

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

Ian Bottomley suggests they were possibly the weapon of common rank and file footsoldiers. However, this itself would preclude the inclusion of any katana, which were reserved for the Samurai class,

Ashigaru (foot soldiers) in certain domains and in certain time periods were considered to be samurai and would not have been prohibited from wearing a katana and wakizashi.

[Maskell]

Concerning the image in this thread, the native American holding the Japanese samurai sword. I received a copy of the same photo from a friend in MI, in 1975, said he discovered the original in a museum in Canada while doing some research. Just to keep the information with it the notation says "PHOTO OF DOG CHILD, A BLACKFOOT INDIAN WHO SERVED AS A NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE SCOUT" The photo was taken in the Northwest territories about 1885.

The saya (scabbard) in the photo is a tachi mounting. Pretty much like the WWII pattern of 1938 Shin Gunto army officers sword which was designed after it. A slung sword rather than the katana which was intended to be edge up. Strange photo and wonder how or why Dog Child received it?

Best,
Maskell
Jerry