Need help with tanto Id

[cannonball155]

Hello, I'm new to this board and new to Japanese swords. I have been Trying to educate myself on Nihonto anatomy and terminology as I have great resect for the sword and maker alike. I aquired this tanto from my late grandfather. I never knew he had this tanto and only found it after he passed. I know there is much knowledge on this board, any info shared would be greatly appreciated.

[Jean]

Hi Cannonball (don't forget to sign your post - My fathers forbade me to talk to strangers :lol: ).

 

Almost impossible to say a lot of things on this tanto but I have 3 observations :

 

- The nakago rust seems not very old

- The kissaki is strange, it looks like the blade could have had a yokote ==> shinogi zukuri construction

- The most important thing is that there is no Ha machi...

[Mark]

Maybe a wakizashi or katana that was shortened to a tanto?

[Stephen]

a jail house shank

[cannonball155]

Thanks for the replies and info, dispite my amature photography attempts.

 

Jean, you said the important part was that it had no Ha machi, I understand that this means there is no notch at the cutting edge. but what is the importatnce of not having this?

 

As far as being a shank, I'm pretty sure gandpa was never in the slammer :lol:

[Jean]

Hi Dean,

 

Habaki is blocked on both Ha/Mune machi, if one is missing it could get the owner into trouble when he gets into action.

 

All blades have been forged with H/M machi.

 

The absence of H machi could indicate as noticed by Mark a greatly shortened Wak/Katana.

[Tim]

My thoughts were that it is a shortened katana/wak as well, most likely done in the field during battle (assuming WW2), as the wrapping on the handle would point to a field customization.

 

Tim