Early 1940S Blade And Tang Translation

[m115e]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to look this over. 

Purchased by or gifted to a family friend while he was in the US Air force flying supplies to China in the early '40s. 

 

We have no history on this blade so anything you folks know would be great.

 

I do not think we are interest in selling it. However is it worth having insured? 

 

 

http://s465.photobucket.com/user/m115e/library/Dagger

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Mike,

Earlier than 1940's; sometime in the 19th century.  Signed Bizen no Kuni Osafune no JU Sukekane.  Dated something 3 year a day in some month (we need a better picture of that side).  Has to be worth at minimum $1,000, I would think.

Here's a link to a care & etiquette website; make sure you read it carefully.

http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm

Grey

[Stephen]

Looks like the date is Tenwa san or 1684

[Ray Singer]

Looks like February, 1683 (Tenna 天和 san nen ni gatsu hi). I don't know of a Sukekane working at that time. 天保 Tenpō would make more sense for Yokoyama Sukekane.

 

Best regards,

Ray

 

Sorry Stephen, our postings crossed.

[Stephen]

No worries Rayrae

 

i forgot to take a year off, agreed looks like 1800s item

[m115e]

Thank you and I am surprised. I have upload a few more hopefully more clear pics. 

I will follow the care and maintenance instructions. Are we in agreement on the maker or should I retake those also?

 

Do you think that is the original handle and such? I don't even know what it would have been used for. 

 

Thank you again. 

[Stephen]

yes we have the maker right, im thinking now it is from late 1600s

 

 

may have been carried by a lady, you should google what they were used for.

[m115e]

I will do some maintenance on it and google tonight. Would it be a Aikuchi tanto? Also, in what condition is it in? With a quick google all I see are swords that look better.

[Bazza]

I see the blade is very thick.  Such a tanto with iron fittings and that blade shape would I think be called a yoroi doshi - an armour piercer.

 

BaZZa.

[Stephen]

i may be wrong

 

• Kaiken tantō: The kuaiken (also kwaiken or futokoro-gatana) is a generally short tantō that is commonly carried in aikuchi or shirasaya mounts. It was useful for self-defense indoors where the long katana and intermediate wakizashi were inconvenient. Women carried them in the obi for self-defense and rarely for jigai (ritual suicide). A woman received a kaiken as part of her wedding gifts.

[m115e]

Thank you Bazza and Stephen. 

 

Now I am not sure on the maker. It was brought to my attention that the Yokohama Sukekane tang signature may not match other known signatures . The third kanji to be specific.

 

Thoughts? 

 

http://s1164.photobucket.com/user/Kenhash8/media/Japan%20Knives/K-sukekane-01_15_zpsa9oxka6r.jpg.html

 

http://s465.photobucket.com/albums/rr19/m115e/Dagger/IMG_0022_zpsrbxhu0ie.jpg

[Ray Singer]

As I mentioned earlier, Sukekane is a shinshinto smith (ie. the smith does not match the date). I do not know if any Bizen Sukekane working at the time this sword is dated. Hopefully someone will chime in if I am wrong in this point.

 

Best regards,

Ray