Arms and Armor

Arms and Armor

Wednesday, September 2, 2020  |  10:00 AM Eastern
Auction closed.
Arms and Armor

Arms and Armor

Wednesday, September 2, 2020  |  10:00 AM Eastern
Auction closed.
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Description

Cowan's Arms and Armor Department is pleased to offer one of the finest selections of Arms and Armor assembled for sale in recent memory. Featuring the remarkable collection of Lore and Dave Squier (Lots 1-171), this auction promises to be the most important sale of fine Japanese Arms and Armor since the Dr. Walter Compton Collection in 1992. While nearly every lot in this collection would be a fine addition to any collection, Cowan's is pleased to offer two very rare Somen mempo (Lots 134, 135), a partial set of Edo period armor (Lot 144), and a Shinshinto tachi featuring over 100 characters (lot 142). The Squier's collection spans over 500 years of Japanese history and not only features the deadly aesthetics of the blade itself, but the skillful execution and design of the fittings which accompany them for which their makers are so justly celebrated.

Also offered will be an impressive collection of contemporary custom-made knives by famous knife-maker Lloyd Hale (Lots 172-199, 202-211). Hale produced these works for a notable American client, and showcase his...
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Pg : 1 of 17

Japanese Matchlock Long Gun (Tanegashima) of Sakai Variety

Lot # 1 (Sale Order: 1 of 410)      

40" barrel with onion muzzle, silver inlay at breech of grass above a stream.  Typical Sakai gun with samurai barrel band.  Red oak full stock with inlay of a silver rabbit.  Escutcheons in silver.  Barrel has patina with losses to silver inlay. Handsome Sakai gun suitable for any Japanese collector.

Condition: Stock in good condition with only expected minor damage. Lock functions properly.  

EST 1000 - 1500...more

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Extremely Rare Hirata Mounted Tanto

Lot # 2 (Sale Order: 2 of 410)      

11.25" blade with all details obscured by poor polish.  Appears to have suguha hamon.  Nakago with two mekugi-ana.  Signed with seven-character signature and dated Bunkwa 5 (1808).  Tang is one hole and signed and dated.  Fittings comprised of Hirata style tsuba with flowers.  Floral mon.  Hirata enameled throat and tip on scabbard.  This style of fittings is extremely rare and this is the only such example in the Squier Collection. 

EST 1000 - 1500...more

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Japanese Samurai Sword (Tanto) with Fine Mounts

Lot # 3 (Sale Order: 3 of 410)      

10.875" shira-zukuri blade with suguha hamonAyasugi hada characteristic of the Gassan school.  One side with old rain dragon horimonoUbu nakago with two mekugi-ana, one very old and plugged with lead. Gold foil habaki with engraved with foliage. Tsuba with gold rope design.  Gold colored fuchi-kashira with kata-kiri style engraving.  Fine menuki with gold pine cones.  Excellent shakudo nanako kozuka with gold dragon.  Black lacquer saya with gold kojiri en suite with fuchi-kashira.  Very attractive tanto accompanied with NTHK origami for its fine fittings.

Condition: Blade is almost in polish with some rust staining, but with hada very visible.

EST 1200 - 1800...more

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Massive Japanese Samurai Sword (Wakizashi) by Motonaga, Signed and Dated

Lot # 4 (Sale Order: 4 of 410)      

16.75" hira-zukuri blade with complex suguha hamon and masame hada. Beautiful ubu nakago with one mekugi-ana, along with full eight-character signature and date Bunkwa 6 (1809).  Yusuri yasurime.  Beautiful iron tsuba with gamboling tiger amidst peony flowers.  Iron fuchikashira en suite with tsuba.  Peony menuki en suite.  Interesting two-color lacquer scabbard missing kojiri.  An incredible massive and heavy wakizashi by a well-known maker in excellent condition with particularly attractive en suite mounts.

Includes NTHK Origami for mounts dated Heisei 5 (1993).

Condition: Blade is in good condition with some minor rust staining and scratching.  Could use a fine hand with nagui powder.  Nakago with perfect rust. Tsukamaki unraveling, needs attention.  

EST 1200 - 1800...more

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A Finely Mounted Koto Japanese Samurai Sword (Chisa Katana)

Lot # 5 (Sale Order: 5 of 410)      

22.25" chisa katana with choji-midare hamon.  Koto period nakago with two mekugi-ana.  Blade cut with original bo-hiKatana is very finely mounted with exquisite nanako mounts with gold mums.  Lacquer mum mounts on scabbard.  Missing kurikata on scabbard.  Mounts of the sword are of exceptional quality.

Condition: Blade condition with staining with all details visible.  No flaws.  Mounts in excellent condition.    

EST 1200-1800...more

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Full Silver Mounted Koto Japanese Samurai Sword (Aikuchi Tanto)

Lot # 6 (Sale Order: 6 of 410)      

8.5" hira-zukuri blade with fine suguha hamon.  Gold foil cat-scratched habaki with details of nakago unavailable.  Plain silver tsuba with fuchi of omori wave-style.  Kashira en suite.  Silver wave kozuka with some marks to reverse.  Silver kurikata with ring.  Large silver kojiri with omori style waves.  Gold lacquer saya and tsuka with horn koiguchi.  An extremity handsome aikuchi for the advanced collector.

Includes NTHK origami for mounts dated Heisei 9 (1997).

EST 1200 - 1800...more

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A Very Unusual Japanese Samurai Helmet (Kabuto) Formed in One Piece of Steel

Lot # 7 (Sale Order: 7 of 410)      

Most unusual Edo period kabuto with skull of one piece and extremely well formed.  Embossed eye brows with attached iron mabizashi and fine 5-piece shikoro

Condition: Very good condition. Untouched rusted iron patina.  Lining intact with one fukigaeshi missing.

EST 1200 - 1800...more

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Fine Japanese Wall Cannon (Tanegashima) Ca. 1840

Lot # 8 (Sale Order: 8 of 410)      

27.25" barrel length, 14.4 lbs in weight, of characteristic form.  Remarkable condition with original brown. Silver inlaid family kamon and beautifully fluted muzzle.  Iron sights.  Red oak stock in great condition throughout. Hand-covered fence are original and in good condition.  Serpentine hammer.  

Condition: Mechanically functional with a good bore.  Replaced ramrod.  Far better than average wall cannon in remarkable condition.

1200 - 1800...more

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Beautiful Mounted Japanese Sword (Katana) with Gold Attribution

Lot # 9 (Sale Order: 9 of 410)      

27" blade with magnificent choji midare hamon with tobiyaki spot.  Nakago with four mekugi-ana, one plugged, as well as a gold attribution, possibly a tameshigiri result.  Gold foil habaki.  Solid silver signed tsuba decorated with waves and lotus flowers.  Silver fuchi with floral menuki highlighted in gold.  Pine needle lacquer scabbard with silver kurikata and long silver sayajiri.

Condition: Blade with a lot of activity within the hamon.  Some chips to scabbard. 

EST 1500 - 3000...more

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Long Japanese Samurai Sword in Tachi Mounts by Sadamichi

Lot # 10 (Sale Order: 10 of 410)      

28.25" blade with wild hamon. Tang with 2 holes and full signature.  Ji is tight with no flaws.  Pierced iron tsubaTachi mounts.  Kojiri en suite.

Condition: Blade mostly in bright of polish with areas of staining and a number micro-chips with several larger chips in the ha.  With a fresh polish this blade will be spectacular.  

EST 800 - 1200...more

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Japanese Samurai Sword (Aikuchi Tanto)

Lot # 11 (Sale Order: 11 of 410)      

11.375" hira-zukuri blade with masame hadaUbu mumei nagako with one mekugi-ana.  Elegant aikuchi mounting with polished buffalo horn fuchi-kashira. Koto-style menuki with gilt highlights. Polished black lacquer saya with kurikata. In pristine condition. An elegant aikuchi.

Condition: Blade is in almost full polish with staining at habaki. Some minor shigane throughout. 

EST 800 - 1000...more

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Koto Japanese Samurai Sword (Tanto) Signed Kanetsugu

Lot # 12 (Sale Order: 12 of 410)      

11.75" hira-zukuri blade with mitsu mune.  Long double grooves with good Mino midare hamonUbu nakago with two mekugi-ana and niji mei "Kanetsugu" signature. Aikuchi mounts of dark shakudo, fuchi depicting Mount Fuji.  Kashira with ox lightened in gold.  Kozuka shakudo on ishimei ground with birds in flight. Shibuichi kurikata with pine trees.  Lacquered wood saya with shakudo birds in flight with gold feet.  Shakudo ko-jiri.  Silver habaki with cat-scratch decoration.

Condition: Blade is in fair state of polish with no significant health issues.  Missing menuki and wrap; formerly bayleen. 

EST 800 - 1000...more

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Shinto Japanese Samurai Sword (Katana) in Shin-Gunto Mounts

Lot # 13 (Sale Order: 13 of 410)      

26.5" (2 shaku 2 sun 2 bu) shinogi-zukuri blade with active gunome hamon, itame hada, and o-kissaki.  Gilt copper habaki. Nakago with two mekugi-ana. The whole in good quality military mounts with gilt tsuba and highlights. Kabuto-gane fitted with kiri-mon.

Condition: Blade is in a good state of polish with some minor microchips in blade with some additional light scratches.  An attractive blade in good quality officer's mounts.

EST 800 - 1000...more

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Japanese Samurai Sword (Katana) Attributed to Echizen Kanetane

Lot # 14 (Sale Order: 14 of 410)      

28" blade with attractive choji hamon.  Masame hada.  Cut with bo-hi.  Silver wrapped habaki. Black lacquer scabbard split at end.  Would make an excellent Iaito.  Unsigned.  

Includes NTHK origami.

Condition: Blade is in almost full polish with two very minor sumigomori.  Series of micro chips in the ha.  Minor areas of loose grain but no serious flaws.

EST $ 800 - 1000...more

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Japanese Samurai Sword (Nagamaki-Naoshi)

Lot # 15 (Sale Order: 15 of 410)      

17.75" heavy uno-kubi zukuri style nagamaki blade with midare hamon and masame hada. O-suriage nagako with three mekugi-ana.  Excellent double-god habaki of gold and silver foil.  Fine Sukashi-style iron tsuba  Excellent signed shakudo ishimei fuchi-kashira with gold shakudo copper animals, mostly rats.  Ho-oh bird shakudo and gilt menuki.  Beautiful green lacquer on black saya with kojiri en suite with gold rats and other creatures.  A potentially important blade that deserves a review by shinsa. The whole in extremely attractive mounts.  

Condition: Blade is in bright polish with spider rust, staining along ha and minor chipping at kissaki. Nakago with beautiful patina, hi extending into nakago, one polished away. Saya split.

EST $800 - 1200...more

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A Shinto Japanese Samurai Sword (Katana) Spuriously Signed Tadahiro

Lot # 16 (Sale Order: 16 of 410)      

28" long blade with suguha hamonNakago with clipped jiri and eight-character signature "Omi Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro" likely spurious. Nakago with shinto patina.  Iron tsuba with water buffalo in gilt highlights.  String wrapped handle with matching fuchi-kashira of priests.  Pine needle lacquer scabbard.  A very attractive katana.

Condition: Stained throughout with details of hamon obscured. Some minor pitting visible.  

EST $800 - 1200...more

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Shinto Japanese Samurai Sword (Wakizashi) Signed Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi in Gunto Mounts

Lot # 17 (Sale Order: 17 of 410)      

21.25" (1 shaku 7 sun 8 bushinogi-zukuri with chu kissaki (medium point) and ihori-mune (ridged back).  Steel grain is unclear with visible distinctive sudare-ba hamon.  5.5" kurijiri nakago (tang) with two mekugi-ana (peg holes), katte agari yasurime (file marks), and five-character signature reading: "Tamba (no) Kami Yoshimichi".  Mounts are of a typical gunto style.

Condition: Blade appears to be in half polish with some nioi visible in hamon.  Blade has some minor spots of oxidation and light spider rust.  Tang has a dark moist patina.  A good example of a piece by this desirable and popular smith from the Mishina School.

EST $800 - 1200...more

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Massive Japanese Samurai Sword (Katana)

Lot # 18 (Sale Order: 18 of 410)      

28.25" blade with 3.5" suriage Mu Mei nekago with two mekugi-ana. Midare hamon with o-kissaki. Silver cat-scratched habaki.  No tsuba.  Lacquered leather wrapped handle. High quality menuki missing kashira.  Red lacquer scabbard with damage throughout. Very wide and heavy blade.

Condition: Blade is stained and scratched with some details visible.  One chip just where boshi begins.  Would be very good when polished.

EST $1000 - 1500...more

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Sold for: USD 2,300.00

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Shinto Japanese Sword (Katana) Signed Morimitsu

Lot # 19 (Sale Order: 19 of 410)      

28.75" blade with choji-midare hamonNakago with six character Morimitsu signature.  Black leather tsuba, silver foil habaki, two gilt sagarifuji mon.  Fine red lacquer with brushed highlights.  A handsome signed katana.

Condition: Blade is in fair state of old polish with no chips.  Some very minor pitting.

EST $1000 - 1500...more

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A Shinshinto Japanese Sword (Katana) Signed Norihira

Lot # 20 (Sale Order: 20 of 410)      

28" blade with suguha hamonnakago with one mekugi-ana.  Signed with five-character signature "abe norihira saku".  Iron tsbua and fuchi-kashira.  Military style wrapped scabbard. Would make a good quality iaito

Condition: Blade is stained with one area of shintetsu on the right side just above the hamon.

EST $800 - 1200...more

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Japanese Seki Arsenal Gendaito in Shin-Gunto Mounts

Lot # 21 (Sale Order: 21 of 410)      

26.25" blade with midare hamon.  Nakago with one mekugi-ana and four-character arsenal signature with stamp.  The whole in military shin-gunto mounts.

Condition: Blade is in a good state of polish with no major kizu.  Some minor spider rust.

EST $800 - 1000...more

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Good Japanese Samurai Sword (Naginata) Signed Kozuka (no) Kami Fujiwara Munemichi

Lot # 22 (Sale Order: 22 of 410)      

17.875" naginata blade of classic form with attractive notare midare hamon and masame hada.  One mekugi-ana with 7-character signature "Kozuka (no) Kami Fujiwara Munemichi". Modern wood shirasaya.

Condition: Blade in full modern polish with all details visible. Some minor wear above the hamon. Virtually flawless with modern silver habaki.

EST $800 - 1200...more

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Sold for: USD 900.00

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Koto Bizen Japanese Samurai Sword (Wakizashi) Signed Kiyomitsu ca.1550

Lot # 23 (Sale Order: 23 of 410)      

22.75" blade with fine suguha hamon.  May have "ghost" temper line, but is difficult to make out clearly.  Signed with six-character signature "Bishu Osafune Kiyomitsu" along with date. Russo-Japanese kyu-gunto mounts with D-guard.  

Condition: Blade is almost full polish with good nakago. Scabbard is rusted throughout. 

EST $700 - 900...more

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Gendai Japanese Samurai Sword (Katana) Signed Mutsu (no) Kami Kaneyasu in Shin-Gunto Mounts

Lot # 24 (Sale Order: 24 of 410)      

27" blade with attractive suguha hamon and itame hada. Nakago with two mekugi-ana and five-character signature "Mutsu (no) Kami Kaneyasu", possibly gimei.  The whole mounted in shin-gunto military mounts with adventurine lacquer scabbard.

Condition: Blade is in a medium polish with hamon visible, with nakago showing a dry brown patina.  Some oxidation to blade with no obvious kizu.  Some wear and light chipping to scabbard.

EST $700 - 1000...more

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Japanese Samurai Sword (Katana) Signed Sukesada

Lot # 25 (Sale Order: 25 of 410)      

27.5" blade length, Sukesada-style kani-no-tsume "crab-claw" style hamon with fine bo-hi. Tang with katanamei appearing to read bishu osafune junin, with reverse appearing to read "Yokoyama Kozuke Daijo Fujiwara Sukesada". Double gilt habaki. Good iron tsuba.  Soten-style fuchi-kashira with samurai. Good gilt menuki.

Condition: Blade is stained and scratched but with no significant flaws.  Some rust.  1/64th of an inch missing from boshi.  Ribbed saya badly damaged. 

EST $700 - 900...more

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Pg : 1 of 17

1.178.0.754.b409b2a.10.250