Birdhunter1220 Posted August 26, 2014 Report Posted August 26, 2014 Gentelmen, I have aquired this knife and know nothing about it. Really I know nothing about any Japanese swords or knifes. Anything you can tell me would be great. Quote
Widowmaker Posted August 26, 2014 Report Posted August 26, 2014 Could you post more pictures of the edge? I mean, zoom in on the edge so that we could see if there is any presence of Hamon. At the moment, I would say that it is not a traditionnal made tanto, the shape is very odd. The mei may be Gimei(false signature). I cannot see any presence of hamon, so I would say that it is some fake reproduction of Japanese tanto. Please wait for other people's opinion. They may correct me. Quote
Birdhunter1220 Posted August 26, 2014 Author Report Posted August 26, 2014 Widowmaker said: Could you post more pictures of the edge? I mean, zoom in on the edge so that we could see if there is any presence of Hamon. At the moment, I would say that it is not a traditionnal made tanto, the shape is very odd. The mei may be Gimei(false signature). I cannot see any presence of hamon, so I would say that it is some fake reproduction of Japanese tanto. Please wait for other people's opinion. They may correct me. I will do my best to get a close up of edge. Thanks for your information. I actually found this in the woods. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted August 26, 2014 Report Posted August 26, 2014 Birdhunter, Please: NEVER touch a blade with your bare hands Sign all messages with a real first name and an initial as per the forum's rules. The blade is a Japanese TANTO. Unfortunately, someone without any knowledge has polished the blade and possibly ruined it. The shape has been altered and it might be very difficult and expensive to restore it, if at all possible. I suggest you look for a knowledgeable NMB member near your place to ask for further advice, you go to a Japanese sword show, or you look for a NIHONTO club in your neighbourhood. Best of luck! Quote
Cornerst0ne Posted August 27, 2014 Report Posted August 27, 2014 ROFL, I track animals as a hobby. And it really looks as if a dog, or some canine chewed up and ran that blade into the woods where you found it. serious teeth marks in that tsuka... Hank Quote
Birdhunter1220 Posted August 27, 2014 Author Report Posted August 27, 2014 ROKUJURO said: Birdhunter, Please: NEVER touch a blade with your bare hands Sign all messages with a real first name and an initial as per the forum's rules. The blade is a Japanese TANTO. Unfortunately, someone without any knowledge has polished the blade and possibly ruined it. The shape has been altered and it might be very difficult and expensive to restore it, if at all possible. I suggest you look for a knowledgeable NMB member near your place to ask for further advice, you go to a Japanese sword show, or you look for a NIHONTO club in your neighbourhood. Very sorry to break any rules. My name is Bill. I will look for a show but I live in a small area. I would like to get into the hands of a lover of these blades. I do love history and would be nice to know something about the blade and is maker. Thanks so much for your imput. Bill Quote
Birdhunter1220 Posted August 27, 2014 Author Report Posted August 27, 2014 Cornerst0ne said: ROFL, I track animals as a hobby. And it really looks as if a dog, or some canine chewed up and ran that blade into the woods where you found it. serious teeth marks in that tsuka... Hank Thanks Hank and I think you may be right. Lots of coyotes in this area so who knows. I would love to get a new handle for it. Bill Quote
Brian Posted August 27, 2014 Report Posted August 27, 2014 It's real and old. Shape was changed either by amateur grinding because it was rusted, or from repeated polishing over the years. Probably the former. Probably still has a hamon under that over buffed surface. I would say a dog got hold of it. One like this was discussed years ago here, someone found it outdoors somewhere. Wonder if it could be the same one with a new owner. Anyways, sell it to someone who wants to take a chance. But with so much of the edge removed through grinding, it has lost most of its value. Brian Quote
Birdhunter1220 Posted August 28, 2014 Author Report Posted August 28, 2014 Brian said: It's real and old. Shape was changed either by amateur grinding because it was rusted, or from repeated polishing over the years. Probably the former.Probably still has a hamon under that over buffed surface. I would say a dog got hold of it. One like this was discussed years ago here, someone found it outdoors somewhere. Wonder if it could be the same one with a new owner. Anyways, sell it to someone who wants to take a chance. But with so much of the edge removed through grinding, it has lost most of its value. Brian I would like to see it go to someone who would enjoy it. Not sure how to sell or what a fair price is. Any help would be appericated. Bill Quote
Mark S. Posted August 28, 2014 Report Posted August 28, 2014 I ususally don't translate out of fear of embarrassement ... but is the first part of the smith's name "Yasu" 康 ? Quote
Mark S. Posted August 28, 2014 Report Posted August 28, 2014 O.K. I'll try again... Yasutaka康隆 or Yoshitaka慶隆 ? But also seeing "Nori" as first character as well...? Quote
Birdhunter1220 Posted August 29, 2014 Author Report Posted August 29, 2014 Mark S. said: O.K. I'll try again... Yasutaka康隆 or Yoshitaka慶隆 ? But also seeing "Nori" as first character as well...? [attachment=0]Tanto Kanji.jpg[/attachment] Thank you for your help even if I have no idea what it mean. Quote
David McDonald Posted August 29, 2014 Report Posted August 29, 2014 Dear Hank It might be the smith Keiryu 慶隆 a smith that worked in Yamashiro around 1681 Good luck later david Quote
Birdhunter1220 Posted August 29, 2014 Author Report Posted August 29, 2014 David McDonald said: Dear Hank It might be the smith Keiryu 慶隆 a smith that worked in Yamashiro around 1681 Good luck later david It could not be that old, could it? Quote
Stephen Posted August 29, 2014 Report Posted August 29, 2014 Looks like its been on the buffer wheel, if so its most likely lost its temper whats left, yes could be that old. Quote
MarkB Posted August 29, 2014 Report Posted August 29, 2014 To me, it looks like a genuine olde tanto which has had its' edge near the handle ground down over time due to polishing. This is a not uncommon feature of older swords (as far as I know). The buffing and therefore the obscuration of features like hamon and hada is also regrettably not uncommon in my experience. Hank, I think it best to take your sword to someone who knows what they are looking at and get an in-hand opinion. Someone at sword shows or Japanese sword clubs would be able to offer a better opinion as it is difficult to make a definitive assessment from photos. Quote
David McDonald Posted August 31, 2014 Report Posted August 31, 2014 Dear Hank As Stephen said, yes it might be that old. The first kanji can be Kei or Yoshi and the second can be ryu or taka And I found 1. Yoshitaka 1673-1681 most likely one I stated before but listed under the Yoshitaka reading 2. Yoshitaka 1854-1860 worked in Settsu province and might have been the son of Okuda Masayoshi To find out more you will need to get your sword in-front of an collector/dealer that can help. There might be hope for this sword yet. good luck david Quote
Brian Posted August 31, 2014 Report Posted August 31, 2014 The big problem with this one is the metal ground away just in front of the machi. That cannot be fixed. To bring the edge back would remove the machi and part of the nakago. So it will always have that ugly dip in the edge. And whilst that is accepted on old Koto due to repeated polishing, it is not forgivable on a younger blade like this. Therefore I think this one has a value of $100 or $200 at best for someone who is curious. Just my own opinion. Brian Quote
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