" Kamikaze" Tanto By Kanemitsu

[Michael 67]

 Hello,

 

I bought the Tanto in case some time ago on Ebay. The blade I was very surprised .The condition is very good. There is much activity in the Hamon visible. Now want to know is that a souvenir / Tourist  Tanto or a real "Tanto like Kamikaze?
Many thanks for your help.

 

 

 

 

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Tanto-old-/252180660162?cp=1&euid=c845059665704767a4ef76ac1db62b10&nma=true&si=%252BRIDXm7N2lRjVCq64BuZZBRrisY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

 

[Stephen]

Tanto  or a real "Tanto like Kamikaze"

 

Yes its real ...Kamikaze....no that western romantic dream

[Michael 67]

 

Mans thanks Stephen

[ggil]

Definitely not tourist souvenir, as these are thin (yours is about a cm thick- see eBay photo 3). However, something screams deception. Here: the tang patina looks ancient but ha-machi says few polishes. The nakago shape is awful. The question is why would the tang age so horribly, when the blade held up impeccably well? Looks like falsely aged nakago, to me. Please take my opinion with a grain of salt, as I am not too knowledgeable. I'm betting that more knowledge persons will chime in and verify my guess though. Also, why would a 500 year old tanto be left in such a dilapidated shirisaya, unless to add to the illusion of age. The shirisaya doesn't look to be made for this blade( see the slop under Habaki). Hamon needs close inspection, but I bet showato, oil tempered, maru construction, non-traditional metal. Does the steel have hada? If so, I'm probably wrong. Does hamon have nioi? If so Im probably wrong. I would get a professional opinion(s) before assuming old.

 

-grant

It didn't cost "an arm and a leg" though in any event!

[Brian]

"Kamikaze" tanto were mass produced cheap and oil quenched. So you should hope it isn't one of those.

But from what I can see, I agree with Stephen. It's a real and old tanto. Nakago is in bad shape, but the price was good and it looks like an ok little piece

[Michael 67]

 

Unfortunately my photos are not good to see the ko nie crystals .. I try to make better photos

[Michael 67]

Unfortunately my photos are not good to see the ko nie crystals .. I try to make better photos

See picutres 2

[Stephen]

Take that Grant post with a big grain of salt...its OK!!

[ggil]

just a straight up opinion of a self declared novice. A rebuke of any points I made would be appreciated, although not necessary, as I am happy to own my ignorance, if it is such. Maybe more will comment and I will learn my errors.

 

-grant

[Michael 67]

 

I'm a beginner, i am interested only in the last 2 years for Japanese edged weapons. I am pleased with the help and opinions of you. I can learn a lot here and find the discussion very interesting.

[ggil]

Same here: only 2 years for me too, so I don't know much at all. Please don't be discouraged by my OPINION. Hopefully others will engage in healthy debate and we will learn more.-grant

[Stephen]

Well it is possible it was polished, most likely a woman's tanto in the armor piercing construction, the nakago on those were never very big, you know i could be   wrong and your right, just see a lot of jumping on items here with whats wrong not right...FWIW

[Michael 67]

 

What is FWIW ?

[Stephen]

For what its worth

[Michael 67]

 

please excuse my questions. If the blade is not in the Showa period has been made? Therefore, the very rusty Nakago?

[ggil]

will you please rephrase your question? I think we don't know what you are asking. You can try typing (in your native language) to google translate and then cut and paste the English translation. -grant

[Michael 67]

 

my question was,is the blade older than Showa?

[ggil]

Kunitaro San is a polisher who belongs to nihonto message board. Although it seems a bit of an imposition, you could PM him and humbly request his opinion, after taking better photos (as requested below) Bear in mind, English isn't his first language so you should try and make sure your English grammar is OK, so it isn't hard for him to read. If it was me, I would be more inclined to ask his fee for such services, not and outright answer. He would probably want you to send him the sword first, who knows? Any true polishers near you, that way you could get them the blade in hand? It seems expensive to send blades to Japan.

 

Anyhow, more folks are chiming in that your blade is old. You may not want or need such concrete determination, as more people give agreeing opinions. Best of luck with your collection and enjoyment thereof. A very interesting and lovely piece you have, - Grant

[SteveM]

Hello Michael,

 

None of us can say for sure. It looks to me like it is older than Showa. It looks like it is of the kanmuri-otoshi type of construction. The signature on the tang of your blade appears to be 兼元 (Kanemoto), or possibly 兼光 (Kanemitsu), but I am leaning towards 兼元.  I cannot tell if it is an authentic signature or not. An interesting feature on your blade is the groove on one side. Actually it appears to have a double-groove, but the smaller bottom groove looks like it has been almost completely polished out. It is just visible above the habaki (the copper-ish collar).

 

If you have been studying Japanese swords for a couple of years you probably know that there is a huge quantity of counterfeit swords and reproductions, particularly on the auction sites. So I am always suspicious of auction sites. I don't think your sword is Showa. The hamon appears to be genuine (from looking at the photos on ebay). I think the groove on one side is curious, but it doesn't strike me as being fake. The tang certainly looks very old. 

[Greg F]

Hi guys, is the tsuka a tight fit? If not maybe moisture has got in and aged the nakago more than expected? In regards to the blade are you able to put some more blade pics up with some hd close ups of hamon and blade surface? Cheers.

 

Greg

[ggil]

I gave a negative opinion of a likely true nihonto, and I feel pretty bad about it. I don't think I'll post for a while. Sorry everyone. I would hate to be part of any devaluation of nihonto.

 

- Grant

[Brian]

Kunitaro san is not a polisher, he is an agent for a polisher in Japan. Just to clarify.

[Dave R]

To me this looks like a decent old blade, brought back from a very dilapidated condition by a serious polishing job. I have seen a few such over the last few years, sometimes blades I have turned down because I thought they were beyond redemption have turned out really well. This would explain the state of the nakago.

[Michael 67]

Here more pictures. I think the signature is Kanemitsu

[Dave R]

Aha, Orikaeshi-Mei, extreme shortening of the tang with the signature preserved.....  http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/suriage.html

[Dave R]

 Retained signature on an o-suriage blade.

[Stephen]

not folded over but cut and added...good eye, gaku mei tho

[Michael 67]

 

Wow, I am impressed. Thanks Dave for the explanation.