Roland Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Dear NMB fellows, this time I would like to present you something which seems rarely to be seen in nihonto – a moroha tantō with a 7 inches nagasa. I must admit that I took some risk in acquiring this artefact. But finally the high quality of the blade with its blueish glimmer and the extremely fine and detailed engravings of the koshirae did entrap me. Plus a nakago with deep black rust of the wet look which for me seems to be typical for a very old steel. Because I have learned to judge a nihonto not by its mei but by its sugata and the feeling the workmanship creates in my amateurish mind I tried to ignore the mei on the dagger's blade. It reads: KO-KAJI MUNECHIKA SAKU On the opposite side of the blade there is a dragon horimono, likewise executed in a highly sophisticated way. So now it is up to you much more experienced nihonto-addicts to comment. Or to critisize my quite emotional new acquisition – by the way from a militia-dealer and -collector... Quote
Brian Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 I almost took that one away from you on eBay last night :lol: (There are eyes everywhere) I was not too sure about the completeness of the hamon, and not convinced exactly what it is though. I don't think that is classic moroha zukuri either. Without that nakago, I would have assumed some kind of yari. Too pointed to be a ken either. Lots of questions, no answers as yet Brian Quote
Gabriel L Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Hi, Isn't this just an umabari (horse needle)? Not that I wouldn't like to own a nice one myself, I love the design of this one. -GLL EDIT: oh, apparently it's properly called a "bashin," according to our good friend Nobody (in an older thread). Look at this beauty: http://www.kanshoan.com/special/dtls_00 ... tsune.html Someone on that older thread (running out the door, not going to fetch the link right now) said these were only on Higo koshirae, interesting... Quote
Roland Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Posted September 20, 2007 So You have been this bidder, Brian!! Wow, then I'm even more happy that I didn't got too tired to stay awake so late at night (9 hours difference to PST!)... Nevertheless I don't think it is a horse needle. It is a little bit to large and has a shinogi and a diamond shaped nagasa. The umabari I know are smaller, simpler, don't have a tanto-like mounting etc. Have a look at this one: http://www.arco-iris.com/George/images/umabari_01.jpg At the moment this nihonto artifact is a really interesting riddle to solve. I like that ) You have noticed the traditional symbols of good fortune on the koshirae? The komori (bat), the hoo (phoenix), and the exceptional version of the Pauwlonia imperialis kiri mon? Edit: Possibly it is a Kankyuto gata shuriken according to this page: http://www.secrets-of-shuriken.com.au/schools.htm But even these had no tanto-like mountings... Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Hi Roland. Nice one. I think you're correct in stating Bashin/Umabari hasn't such a mounting (and Horimono I would dare to add...). Again, the diamond section shouldn't fit on a Kodogu that should require a flat surfae on one side. On the other hand Gabriel's point of view is sustained by the fact that's hard to find a Shuriken with such elaborated engravings and Hamon, more common on Kodogu. Possibly it is a Shuriken-Naoshi Kogatana in Tanto mounting (therms acrobatic exercise in danger of a bad mistake... :lol: ) with later (but still ancient) engravings ? More research needed, as a mounted Shuriken should appear something like this, with no Tsuba or Habaki : (Should be Izu Ryu Hokogata Shuriken, not Uchine. Already discussed here: http://www.intk-token.it/forum/index.ph ... l=shuriken) Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 this time I would like to present you something which seems rarely to be seen in nihonto – a moroha tantō with a 7 inches nagasa. I must admit that I took some risk in acquiring this artefact. It looks to me to be a Meiji period tourist piece. Quote
Roland Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Posted September 20, 2007 Everything is possible, Peter. Even a well executed Meji period piece for Gaijin... especially the dragon horimono looks very, hm... arty. Though I haven't yet seen such a pretty aged nakago at a Meji dagger or tanto. So whoever forged the thingy was quite good in what he was doing. Quote
pcfarrar Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 You can tell from the style, the piece is aimed at the western market. It has all the characteristics, fantasy mei, horimono, no mekugi-ana. It's definitely better than some that I've seen, does it have a temper? Quote
Gabriel L Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Interesting piece; I should read more carefully, didn't notice the length. Quote
mike yeon Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 I'm more inclined to lean towards peter's assesment. The horimono looks poorly done and the lines in general look a bit sloppy. The rust on the nakago looks artificial. The yasurime is too defined to have endured natural corrosion that would lead to rust of that color. That's my thoughts from what I can see in the pictures. I attached a picture of a dragon horimono you see often on blades that is well done. mike Quote
Roland Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Posted September 20, 2007 Yes Peter, it has a hamon... Some better close-up photos with better lighting and a Macro-Elmarit-R will show more details when I'm back from Piedmont. The horimono is indeed that what makes me sceptical about the authenticity too... Quote
mike yeon Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 munechika is also the name of a very important yamashiro den smith from the heian period. wild guess but maybe there's somthing in that IE how some hachiwara are signed "masamune" due to the beliefe he invented them. I still think it's a tourist piece. but if you like it, then that's all that matters. mike Quote
Brian Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Roland, I don't think we have to questions the authenticity. From what we see, it is a) Japanese b) Tempered with hamon c) Has a horimono and mei that might not be expert work, but done by someone Japanese d) Might just be forged, and although some age might be added, probably has a 100 years or more on it. So whether it is 400 years old or 100, it still appears to be a genuine Japanese piece, we are just not sure yet exactly what it is I didn't put in a bid though. I considered it for a while, but didn't get an answer from the seller to my questions before I went to bed, and it went for far more than I would have put in. Btw..forget about staying up all night. All the eBay regulars here just set a snipe bid and go to bed :lol: http://www.justsnipe.com Brian Quote
Roland Posted September 20, 2007 Author Report Posted September 20, 2007 No problem at all, Brian, I'm just loving the hunt Even if I "shoot" something (for some bucks more than I had in mind). From each and every of these experiences I will learn something. As I do from your knowledge, considerations and assessments. When I hold this piece in my hands and are able to inspect it closer I again will learn from this process. If it is a "tourist piece" or not, I'm just curious what's the story behind... Quote
Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini Posted September 20, 2007 Report Posted September 20, 2007 Yes Peter, it has a hamon... Some better close-up photos with better lighting and a Macro-Elmarit-R will show more details when I'm back from Piedmont. The horimono is indeed that what makes me sceptical about the authenticity too... Piedmont ? I live at 15 km west of Novara... If it's an habit we could meet at Armeria Reale in Turin one day... Quote
Roland Posted September 30, 2007 Author Report Posted September 30, 2007 Back from Piedmont I received the Meiji or whatsoever dagger/dirk/tanto thing. I'll make some new and better photos for the board within the next few days. The quality of workmanship for a mere meiji tourist piece is really astonishing. It indeed has a hamon. narrow ko-midare, very soft hamon-line,... so: stay tuned! Quote
Roland Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Posted October 1, 2007 The Meiji or whatever dirk has a hamon, milky white with some nioi, the shinogi-ji (does a dagger or dirk or kaiken have one???) seems to show a fine or just dense masame... Further photos follow later. Quote
Roland Posted October 7, 2007 Author Report Posted October 7, 2007 The saya of the dagger (?) seems to be made from nickelsilver or brass, with very fine and precise engravings. There seem to be some rests of old lacquer in gold and red? Against that the simple plain wooden grip was pobably added later. With a mekugi-ana in the nakago, the usual pin and an adequate tsuka I could have taken it for a kind of ceremonial mounted 19th century shinto Ken like one which I have noticed at an Eldred's Auction some time ago... The Hamon is clearly visible. Though possibly a Meiji piece the workmanship is astonishing – at least in my amateurish eyes. Quote
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