An Abused Tanto

[Gasam]

Heyas

 

I had decided against buying this around 30 cm tanto, but had it thrown after me in the end with another purchase.

 

It was (is) in a sorry state. No features visible, 100% out of polish, lots of dark surface oxidation but no red rust.  In particular, the mune seems to have been beaten with hammer or similar. Presumeably to cleave something with it.

 

One big hakobore, some smaller ones. Many many microscratches..

 

But what annoys the most: look at the grind mark close to the hamachi....who does this? Looks like the marks from one of those horrid electric kitchen knife "sharpeners" they sell.

 

Oh, the humanity!

 

On the brighter side, as I uchiko away (sorry Darcy :-) ), the hamon and some features comes through. In particular, what I thought to be oxydation specks now shines markedly in the ha. They were dark, now they shine a little. So it must be feature of hamon. Maybe aranie?

 

At any rate, this blade will be oiled and kept as is. (is the plan at least).

 

Maybe not so much purpose to this post, but seeing the grinding marks just ...arghhhh, had to share. Better to get it out :-)

 

Cheers,

 

 

[hxv]

What happened to the nakago?

 

Hoanh

[Gasam]

Hey.

 

That also is a question I had. It is a miniature version of a nakago, not at all what I expected to see as tsuka was removed.

As long as you would ecpect but thinner, like can be glippsed in photo. Well formed as such, but looks more like sword nakago than a tanto one., habaki and tsuka clearlymade for it, but strange. I think maybe Meiji.

 

At any rate, blade is signed on the blade itself, one side flat, the other has ridge line. So kaifu-school? Could be tourist thing.

 

Will post some more pics laters.

 

Cheers,

[Dave R]

 I wonder if it spent part of it's life as a Naval dirk?

[Brian]

Does sound like Kaifu.

[Gasam]

Heyas again,

 

Some pictures as promised. Sorry for delay, much going on in weekend :-)

 

So basically does not look like tanto nakago I have seen before. Is it a Kaifu trait maybe that sometimes they did this? I have not seen it in other Kaifu though.

 

Perhaps it has been a naval dirk as mentioned?

 

Could have been altered I guess. Habaki snug fit, absolutely made for the blade I believe.

 

At any rate, ucikoed, oiled and kept as is :-)

 

 

 

Cheers,

[Brian]

Look at the habaki. I think think this once had a normal nakago and was drastically altered in width, and the original habaki modified/plugged up.

[Grey Doffin]

I think this was made exactly the way it is today.  The short habaki, poorly shaped nakago, and mei on the blade are all typical of a piece made no earlier than Meiji and possibly as late as 1950, and made to sell to a western tourist.  Looks like dock work to me.

Grey

[Gasam]

I think this was made exactly the way it is today.  The short habaki, poorly shaped nakago, and mei on the blade are all typical of a piece made no earlier than Meiji and possibly as late as 1950, and made to sell to a western tourist.  Looks like dock work to me.

Grey

 

I think you might very well be right :-)

 

Would such item be hardened usually? This piece has a hamon, but I Guess compared to work of hammering it out, doing a half baked yaki-ire is not much work just for getting the hamon in.

 

Cheers,

[Grey Doffin]

I would expect a hamon but nothing special.

Grey

[Gasam]

Thanks guys as usual,

 

And Grey you are indeed correct, a hamon but nothing special (at leat nothing special I can see :-)

 

Thanks again and Cheers