cfm15 Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 My dad found this in a thrift store in AZ a few years ago and I was wondering if anyone could tell me more about it. I took the best pics I could,the hamon goes all the way to the tip but is very thin for the last 10 mm or so and there looks like a grain opening close to the hamon towards the last third of the blade that I tried to show in the close ups. Also there seems to be one very near the tip on both sides.Is this a real nihonto? Quote
cabowen Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 Appears to be a real nihon-to but better pictures of the nakago would be helpful. Quote
cfm15 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Posted April 13, 2015 Gunto I was thinking that also, did they make some of those in the traditional way , soft core outer hard layer? The grain openings are like i've seen on blades that I know were nihonto. Quote
cabowen Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 Tanto are made from one piece in general, and no doubt a tourist piece, which I agree this appears to be, would most certainly be one-piece construction. Quote
cfm15 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Posted April 14, 2015 How do you explain the grain openings? Quote
cfm15 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Posted April 14, 2015 I've forged a lot of blades and it doesn't look like it ,especially the ones on the tip where the hamon almost disappears. Quote
cabowen Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 Then how do you explain the openings? Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 cfm15, please sign all your posts with at least your first name, per Brian's rules. Ken Quote
cfm15 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Posted April 14, 2015 Looks like core steel showing through to me? Chris Quote
cabowen Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 Post some better photos....But why would a smith go through the hassle of putting core steel in a souvenir piece, especially a tanto? This is not the normal way smiths made regular tanto, never mind souvenir items. Quote
Jamie Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 Crude nakago. Even one piece construction can have grain openings. Quote
Jean Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 CFM 15 (aka Chris), Please edit your profile and fill in the blank, mainly your name, it is one the three mandatory rules of thumb of this board :-) Quote
cfm15 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Posted April 14, 2015 Was it at least made in Japan ? If so about what time? Quote
Jean Posted April 14, 2015 Report Posted April 14, 2015 Made in Japan, probably end of 19th century beginning of 20th century. Quote
cfm15 Posted April 17, 2015 Author Report Posted April 17, 2015 Thanks Jean Is it worth anything? Quote
Brian Posted April 18, 2015 Report Posted April 18, 2015 Depends on your idea of value I guess. But even in that state, I guess you would get between $300 and $500 on eBay? Brian Quote
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