My first tanto...

[Walter]

Have received yesterday my first tanto - Here's the seller description:

 

The blade is signed "Kanonori with Kao 兼則", o-suriage shobu-zukuri shape tanto, Muromachi period Ca.1550 made.

The blade is in old polish, no scratch on surface and in good condition.

The temperline are wavy gunome temper pattern throughout the blade and has deep temper at the point.

The forging grain is itame-hada mix with masa-me hada and no loose grain.

 

Will appreciate your opinions about this piece - Here some pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nagamaki - Franco]

Nice first sword, congrats. Plenty to study and learn from, shape, jigane, jitetsu, hamon, nakago, mei. In time, should you decide to keep it, you might consider a Takeo Seki (BC Canada) polish.

[Guest reinhard]

The mei is somewhat unusual. It reads:

 

Hon-saku KANENORI

 

This could be translated as: originally made by KANENORI, meaning: the blade was shortened or otherwise changed by somebody else, who left his mark as Kao and the original mei is lost.

 

reinhard

[bluboxer]

This one was on ebay,really nice blade.I was in the running for a little while but ran out of breath!IMHO I think you did well,congrats.

Alan M

[Joseph P.]

Beautiful blade, I can imagine the nice balance it must have!

 

By the way, does anyone else think this smiley is creepy?

[Jean]

Kiritsuke mei: 切付銘 A mei which replaces the mei when the nakago is osuriage, and in effect, the person who signs as having done the shortening is certifying that it was the original mei.

[Walter]

Thank you very much for your comments! Much appreciate!

Reassuming, the blade (or tang) was shortened by someone who left this mei and kao certifying that this blade originally was made by Kanenori?

Is it safe to agree with the rest of description saying that it's indeed o-suriage shobu-zukuri shape tanto, Muromachi period?

Have browsed some books but can't find any reference ...

Yes, it's from eBay - As and unexperienced (read: totally novice) collector I'd rather avoid the eBay deals but ... just couldn't resist.

About polishing - Mr. Nagamaki, do you know how to contact Takeo Seki (BC Canada) or any other polisher in Canada?

I tried the Google without success.

 

BTW - the paper attached to shirasaya ... what could it be? I guess it could be some permit for shipping out of Japan...?

[Stephen]

It is a registration paper, all swords are registered in Japan, don't think id send this to Canada for polish, more likely Bob Benson in Hawaii, http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/swordpolish.htm

 

or Big Mo. http://www.nihontoantiques.com/sword_re ... 20page.htm

[John A Stuart]

Hi Stephen, Being as how the sword is in Canada......I have heard favourable things about Seki san, he trained in Japan. Sorry, but his contact number is by request not to be published publicly. Walter e-mail me and I will give it to you under the same conditions. John

[Stephen]

Hi John

 

Sorry I was not putting Seki-sama down...I must have been out to lunch the day that he was talked about and his accomplishments. I would like to learn more if anyone wants to post a bio. Very envious of your trip and getting to work in a forge...host one for me. Btw your book should be waiting for you when you get home, or maybe not if i remember how long the last package took. Have fun.

[John A Stuart]

Never entered my mind. Thanks for the book. John

[Guest Nanshoku-Samurai]

In Canada you can user Martin White. He has over 20 years of expirience and many satisfied customers. However DO NOT send it to Don Myra in BC or likely you will never receive it back nor your money.

 

In the USA Bob Benson can sure give you a cheap and honest oppinion first. He is a top notch polisher.

 

You will have to consider the polishing cost versus the final value. If it is a Shinto or later piece you may wish to keep it the way it is.

 

However Bob sure could tell you what to do with it.

 

Max

[Guido]

BTW - the paper attached to shirasaya ... what could it be? I guess it could be some permit for shipping out of Japan...?

Just the opposite: it prooves that the sword left Japan ilegally. The Torukusho, registration, has to be handed in to the agency for cultural affairs when applying for an export license.

[Darcy]

I think the piece was originally a full daito from the Muromachi period.

 

Might have broken at some point, and then was shortened.

 

I don't think it was shobu zukuri. The fukura is very curved in the kissaki and I think does not represent the sugata of shobu zukuri correctly. My own opinion here is that a polisher removed the yokote and partially reshaped it along the ha to to make it look like shobu zukuri. Otherwise, at tanto length with a yokote the piece would look very awkward.

 

Just my gut feeling for what it is worth, and not 100% certain.

[sencho]

Darcy,

 

Am extremely novice question here, sumimasen....

 

If the blade was shortened, would it automatically be re tempered...? I would have thought so, otherwise there would be no boshi to speak of, right????

 

Regards

Nigel

[Bungo]

Darcy,

 

Am extremely novice question here, sumimasen....

 

If the blade was shortened, would it automatically be re tempered...? I would have thought so, otherwise there would be no boshi to speak of, right????

 

Regards

Nigel

 

arhhhh, they lop off from the other end, Kapitan, unlike what Henry VIII did to his ladies........

 

milt

[John A Stuart]

Hi Stephen,You asked for some background on Seki Takeo san.

 

"I must have been out to lunch the day that he was talked about and his accomplishments. I would like to learn more if anyone wants to post a bio."

 

Today I was visiting Sasaki Takushi san (mukansa togishi) and Seki san came up in the conversation. Apparently he completed his apprenticeship with Sasaki san. John

[sencho]

arhhhh, they lop off from the other end, Kapitan, unlike what Henry VIII did to his ladies........

 

 

roger that Milt.... thanks..... I should have thought about this a little more!

 

Cheers!

[Mark]

The blade would be shortened from the tang end...... so you still have the original blade from tip to where it was shortened

[sencho]

Thanks Mark....

 

I think I had a brain fart when I was thinking about this!! Or was it the Shochu????

 

Cheers!

[Mark Green]

Hi Gang,

I'm with Darcy. This is the good end of an old sword. Likely reshaped to look more tanto.

Very nice though! Congrats.

Mark G

[Walter]

Being the shortened/reshaped is it possible for this piece to receive the shinsa paper?

I also wonder how would be considered this signature - as atomei, gakumei, gimei or simply mumei???

[Jean]

I also wonder how would be considered this signature - as atomei, gakumei, gimei or simply mumei???

 

As stated above :

 

Kiritsuke mei: 切付銘 A mei which replaces the mei when the nakago is osuriage, and in effect, the person who signs as having done the shortening is certifying that it was the original mei.

 

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/katana/07223.html

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

You must be aware kiritsuke mei can be a way to increase the value of a sword.

[Jean]

Jacques wrote :

 

"You must be aware kiritsuke mei can be a way to increase the value of a sword."

 

Taking into account the number of Kanenori and their rating, I'll be surprised if it was the case :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

You're always right Jean

 

 

 

 

Author: Honma Junji

[Mark]

I had a katana with an inscription that it was shortened, it had Hozon papers, so they can get papered

[John A Stuart]

You are right Mark, the sky is the limit a good sword is a good sword. Think of all the o-suriage swords that have Juyo and above. This would be a nice piece to research, the kao may be recorded somewhere. John

[Jean]

Jacques wrote :

 

You're always right Jean :laughabove:

 

 

As always, biaised and:offtopic: :lol: :lol:

 

Topic being : Kiritsuke mei - we are anxious to see a sue koto Ô Ô suriage Kanenori blade being enhanced to Juyo status thanks to Kiritsuke mei

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

Taking into account the number of Kanenori and their rating, I'll be surprised if it was the case

 

Not off topic, just an answer....., All Kanenori are not low ranked, and a kiritsuke mei to increase one sword value could be possible. That does not mean it is presently the case.