Opinions?

[Surfson]

I just bought this tanto on ebay.  To me it looks like a genuine Yokoyama Sukekane, probably second generation (I found a nearly identical mei in the shinshinto taikan, but not in Fujishiro).  The sayagaki looks like it is done by Kanzan Sato.  I am not a shinshinto/gendaito expert, so would value the thoughts of those who are.  Cheers, Bob

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Sword-Signed-Hirazukuri-Wakizashi-in-Shirasaya-Sayagaki-/131654292171?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=1%252Ba9CrDilLZQhpY1rfNfHSysM3U%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[Stephen]

Bobby 

 

i was watching it on ebay as well, if i had the dollars id been a contender, ill leave it up to the experts on shoshin or not. Nice win!

[mdiddy]

Looks like a very well-made blade. Nice find. 

[SwordGuyJoe]

Looks good! Nice pick up.

[Surfson]

Thanks Guys.  Joe, you are a real gendai expert, but I don't know if you follow this school (which I haven't up to now).  Do you think that it is shoshin?   Cheers, Bob

[SwordGuyJoe]

This is February, Bunkyu 2 (2/1862), so somewhat out of my area of study.  I checked Markus' shinshinto meikan and I'll say it may be shoshin.  The saku is pretty far off from the examples listed, but the Yokoyama Sukekane looks pretty close - but don't take my word for it.  I didn't pull out any of the other references, since I'd hate to spoil your fun!

 

...And I'm lazy.

[Surfson]

Thanks Joe.  

[SwordGuyJoe]

  On 11/23/2015 at 8:08 PM, Surfson said:

...you are a real gendai expert...

 

I just caught this.  You may be exaggerating a bit.  Most days I can't tell the difference between a kissaki and a nakago - that's the pointy part isn't it?

[Surfson]

Made me laugh out loud Joe.  I'm feeling pretty good about this purchase.  Turns out the habaki is solid gold most likely.  Can anybody attest to the sayagaki and whether they think it is Kanzan Sato?  It looks quite like his writing and signatures that I have found online.  I hope to receive it either tomorrow or after Turkey day, so I'm looking forward to holding it in hand.   It came out of a collection where it has been held for "several decades", so it's definitely not something that somebody dumped on the market.  Cheers, bob

[Shugyosha]

Hi Robert,

 

There's a sayagaki by Kanzan Sato here:

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/2015/15808-3.jpg

 

Sorry, my IT skills aren't up to doing a side by side shot, I'm struggling with flicking back and forth between pictures but at first glance it certainly looks like you might have a winner. 

 

Nice sword!

 

Best,

John

[Surfson]

 

Thanks John.  I am putting the photo you found side by side with one from this tanto.  Looks like the real deal.  I'm also posting a photo of the mune of the habaki, showing it to look like it is solid gold, based on the deep carvings.   Can't wait to receive it on monday!  Cheers, Surf

[tokashikibob]

Me likey likey!  Christmas came early for you Bob!

[Surfson]

Indeed.  Will not be carving our turkey with it, that's for sure!  

[SwordGuyJoe]

Nice habaki

[Heringsdorf]

Very nice Tanto and you got if for a very good price.

The whole package is great.

[Greg F]

Hello Robert, i looked too late and the ads removed from ebay so i didnt get to see your new tanto. Would love to see some pics if possible.

Thanks.

 

Greg

[Stephen]

 

 

[Greg F]

Thank you Stephen. Thats a good tanto. Cheers.

 

Greg

[Surfson]

Thanks Stephen for posting those, and thanks for all the comments.  The seller, BguardJ, who often lists on eBay, posted a link to a website with more photos.   The link is:  http://s1007.photobucket.com/user/bguardj/library/Sukekane and the password is sukekane.  I hope it arrives today - if not, then probably monday.  Cheers, Bob

[Surfson]

It finally arrived.  Thanks to the USPS, we had two weeks of nail biting.  Absolutely fabulous.  I'm thrilled.  The habaki is really quite special work.