Viper6924

I think You are pretty right in your analys of the o-tanto/sunnobi tanto/ko waki/waki-problem. I´m def. agreeing on your "Conflicting Terminology" But again. This it what makes the study of nihonto so fun. Perhaps we can agree to not agree? Start to sound like an old grumpy man, but how about the age? I also think nanbokocho is a bit to old for this blade. Perhaps not impossible, but a bit of a stretch. But an early to mid muromachi, can work based on the tang that have been shortend and the overall shape. It´s a bit hard to show in the picture, but the tang has that nice old patina that you look for in an older blade. If later period, please let me know why. I´m in this game to learn. Looking forward to all Your answers. /Jan

Let´s make it the third generation, and I buy my friend three beers. Sounds fair Thanks Guido! /Jan

Thanks for your quick answer, Guido!!! This Nobuie seems to be an intresting name. Can this be a orignal tsuba from this artist. Sounds to crazy!!! Perhaps I need to buy my friend 1 or perhaps 2 beers for it /Jan

Hi! I got this tsuba for free from a friend who knows I´m into Japanese weapons. Not the most beautiful tsuba. Flower motif with a two kanji mei. I translate it to Nobu-Naga? Correct? Any other info is an added bonus. Thanks a lot! Jan

I had a feeling that the length of this sunnobi-tanto/ko-waki would be the talk of the town. To me it really doesn´t matter to much as long as the blade gives me some satisfaction. A funny point of information is that this sword formely belonged to a old Japanese artist who collected nihonto. He had most of his collection app. And a old sticker was still attached to the blade when I got it. It said in both english and Japanese "long tanto". Thats it. But the main question stands. What about the age? I´m I on the right track thinking this sunnobi-tanto/ko waki is of an older period. Thanks for all Your input! Jan

Hi! This is a sunnobi-tanto I got awhile ago. Comes with a really nice akuchi koshirae. Mumei Nagasa: 33,7 cm Sori: 7 mm Hamon: chu-suguha, nioi deki Hi: Bo-bi with soe-bi Yasurime: Kiri Wow, I hope I got those names right After I made some research in my books and on the internet, I start to think it´s a bit older than I first guessed. Perhaps late Nanbokucho or early Muromachi. I base this on the narrow suguha, the hi and the sori. Its been cut down, at least a couple of centimeters, perhaps more. Please look at the pics and see if You based on this can help. Be gentle... Thanks! Jan

Thanks guys! Now I can do some more research about the artist. Thanks a lot! Jan

Sorry Brian! Will not happen again. /Jan

Well, here is a bunch of new pictures. Looking forward to Your comments about which Hidemoto it could be. Thanks in advance! Jan

Thanks for all the input. I will post some more pictures after work. All the best! Jan

Thanks Grey for Your superquick answer. Do You know more about this artist? Period when he worked and so on? Again, Thank You!!! Jan

Hi! On my Shinto waki with the mei "Noushou seki no jou Kanetaka" have a very beautiful dragon fittings. I hope someone can help me with the artist name on the fuchi. Big thanks in advance! Jan

You are right about the price, Mark. If I take it to the auction it will judged by their expert on Japanese weapons. But it´s always good to have as much info as possible. Thanks again for Your input! /Jan

Hi Mark! I acctually saw Your post about the yari. It helped very much. And yes, it´s a very nice yari. The mei is very similar exept the "cleanup" on Yours. I´m thinking of putting this yari up for sale later this winter on a weaponsauction. Do You have any clue of the value of this smith? All the best! Jan

Arigato Moriyama-san When I looked at the last kanji, yari in hand, it sure looks like You are right. I also did some more reserach on the web that backs Your suggestion. Again, thank You! /Jan

Hi again! Chris, you are correct. There is a last secret kanji. I haven´t seen it during the years I had it i my collection. Its´almost completely gone. It doesn´t look lika a Sada-kanji anyway. The friday quiz: Please try to find the missing kanji Look at the picture. /Jan

Thanks Chris! I will check the yari as soon as I come home. Another rookiemistake... Perhaps it will be yet another classic Suke sada Whats the translation for heian jo ju? Ishido Suke+something I guess is the name. Thanks again! Jan

Hi! Have a nice little yari. Had it for a couple of years now. Haven´t been able to figure out the mei on this one. Grateful for any help. /Jan

And just now a Hasebe Kunishige tanto went on sale on ebay for 12000 dollar. A guy from Toronto. The tang looks older than on my. But it was pretty bad pictures. Funny! Jan

I hear You, Guido I guess thats the charm with this hobby. And it´s not getting any easier if it´s a famous name on the mei. But this is why this message board is so fantastic for a beginner like myself. /Jan

Ahh! I thought Kuni+shige was the two last kanjis. And that George based on that gave me his first name to. So the full mei reads HA+SE+BE+KUNI+SHIGE. That means I nailed the two last kanjis and missed the three first ones. Better than nothing I guess Based on this I wonder what timeperiod we are talking about. The guy I bought this tanto from told me it had been dated to Tenmon. Well, again a big THANK YOU to all who helped me so far. Jan

Thanks Toryu for the kanji. Do You know the exact translation of 長谷部国重 ? Or some one else, for that matters? Thansk again! Jan

Thats a great start George. I really happy to get all the info I can. I´m also happy I managed to read the mei some what correct Can You translate the whole mei? Any more info would be great. I included two more pictures. Perhaps it can help. And again George, thanks! Jan

Hi! I have a tanto that I would need some assistance with. I´ve tried myself. Have patience with a beginner ten + mon + ? + kuni + shige The cuttingedge is about 29,5 centimeter All help would be greatly app. All the best! Jan

Thanks a lot. Big help. With a name I can do some more research. All the best! Jan