A confusing Tanto blade!

[CurtisR]

I recently picked up this blade for 'next to nothing' - which is probably going to be a good thing :D . I'm very confused/intrigued by it's form, as it seems to have been re-shaped and has two fatal flaws in the forging, mid-length of the blade.

I'm ALSO very confused as to why a smith would sign it, then drill a mekugiana through part of the signature (obviously meaning that the signature came first)? No visible hamon, but the steel seems to be of decent quality. I'm still working on the mei (slowly but surely) so I apologize for the lack of attribution as yet. Of all the blades I've seen here and in person, this one is a puzzler to me. I considered that perhaps during the re-shaping (an assumption on my part of course), the flaws were exposed - I'm betting that those here (Mr. Bowen, Jean, and others) with much more experience have seen this before but perhaps I'm bringing something new to the board .

 

Looking forward to the verdict(s)!

 

Curtis R.

[Lance]

Having the mekugi ana cut into the mei isn't that uncommon, I believe this can also be used sometimes as a way to help judge signatures of certain smiths that would usually place the mekugi ana into a certain spot in their signature. I've noticed this when researching some swords in the past, below is an article/example that touches on this somewhat from the NMB Archive:

 

http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/mei_exercise.html

 

and a sword from Nihonto.com with the ana going through the mei as well. (this example does have 2 ana but both go thru the signature , I think the lower one is the original)

 

http://www.nihonto.com/12.1.09.html

 

Mei looks to read Tamba Yoshimichi

 

 

Regards,

Lance

[sanjuro]

My instincts say this is a fake.

Nakago wrong. Usually the nakago is thicker at the habaki moto than the blade. This one is the other way around. This reminds me of something that was made out of a jeep spring and gently shaped with a nine inch grinder. Lots of folding flaws (if they are folding flaws) Lets just call them imperfections in the steel, even in the mune. 'reshaped' I think is something of an understatement.

[CurtisR]

Thanks Keith - I, with my limited but growing knowledge, tend to agree. Never thought of a leaf-spring :D !

And believe me, it was just next to nothing $-wise, in a group of blades @ a gun show. Figured "meh, what the heck" lol.

 

Curtis R.

[Lance]

Condition-wise I agree everything Keith wrote, but I don't think it's a fake. At least in the sense that it was made in Japan originally with a gimei signature (mei looks like it was cut by someone familiar with a chisel, just not Yoshimichi) that's been damaged/altered beyond repair. killing the blade.........the murder weapon being...........the grinder in the library!

(anyone remember the board game Clue?)

Regards,

Lance

[David Flynn]

Let it rest in peace.

[Geraint]

Shouldn't that be, "Rust in peace"?

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

Piece of scrap metal, nothing else.

[cabowen]

An excellent example of what not to buy.

[Brian]

If it really cost next to nothing (under $100?) then maybe give it to a custom knife maker and have a luxury custom knife made? Would probably take a nice edge and even good kitchen knives cost more.

 

Brian

[CurtisR]

Thanks folks!

 

And wayyyyy under $100 so don't feel bad at all. It was just to unusual to pass up lol. I like the idea of having a knife made from it as well!

AND I'm proud that I spotted it as gimei before I bought it based on....the grinder, in the library

 

Curtis R.