Possible O-Tanto?

[ChrisW]

Hey guys,

 

I have an interesting blade here. I believe it could be classed as an o-tanto for two factors:

 

• Lacks a shinogi (I think that's a factor for it, I could be very wrong and probably am)
• has a nagasa length of just under 14"

I'll just let the pictures speak for itself, its hamon is hard to see in the pictures but it does go all the way up the nagasa and boshi, coming back on the mune some as well. I attempted to take one picture and trace the hamon, its probably inaccurate to some degree.

 

I'd love to hear opinions on it, its apparent age, school, and even a maker if possible.

[Ganko]

It appears to me like a decent Muromachi period (1500's) hirazukuri wakizashi, which has had its machi moved up about one inch. Looks quite restorable to me unless it has a blister or crack in it. Hard to say on the school when out of polish.

 

  TomC

[ChrisW]

Couldn't find any ware, fukure, or hagire. It might be worth restoring, I'll see what the consensus is here.

[ChrisW]

10th picture has my poor attempt at tracing the hamon.

[Surfson]

I  wouldn't invest in restoration on a mumei hirazukuri muromachi piece like this.  Since it's healthy, if it had a fabulous hamon/hada or a genuine signature of a reasonably important smith, it would be another story.  It will cost you $2000 plus to restore it and probably not be worth what you have in it by the end.   Having said that, if you like the hamon and hada in it and suspect that it may be made by an important school, you could probably submit it for shinsa in its current condition and get an attribution.  

[ChrisW]

Honestly, I've no idea on the school. I'd like to hear what anyone might think on that. If its worthy of shinsa, I may.. but without having a rough idea of the school, that's taking a blind leap of faith.

[Alex A]

A few clues there Chris.

 

The hamon pattern, the long turn back, and think I see an original file pattern on the nakago, the mune shape.

 

Cant make out the hada.

 

How thick is the blade?

[ChrisW]

6.92mm at the machi, 5.8mm down halfway between the kissaki and machi, 7.25mm at the thickest part of the nakago.

 

27.85mm from edge of hamon to mune at the habaki. Its a fairly stout, healthy blade, possibly on first/second polish?

[ROKUJURO]

....or (more likely) a younger blade, if you consider the drilled MEKUGI-ANA and the SORI. 

[ChrisW]

How uncommon is a hira-zukuri style wakizashi? What school do you guys think?

 

 

As for the age, what about the sori dates it? And I I am not sure if the mekugi-ana are drilled, they appear to be drifted in, but I am not an expert.

[Surfson]

Not uncommon at all.   Would just have to guess about school though.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Ana look drilled, not chiseled.

[Ganko]

Can't really say if it's punched or drilled since the other side is not shown. The hole does look pretty symmetrical though. It should be larger on one side than the other if punched. If it has no mounts, the cost of restoration would most likely not be justifiable unless it has sentimental value or you are enamored with it.

 

  TomC

[ChrisW]

Alright, thanks guys! And the mounts are in poor shape, likely beyond saving since someone ripped the kashira clean off and I do not currently possess it. I thought the mounts unworthy of being shown.

 

 

As for the mekugi ana, one is definitely drilled (I can see whir-like marks) but the further back one appears punched as it is indeed irregular on the way through and one side is larger than the other by a little. One side is 5.23mm and the other is 4.89mm.

[Bugyotsuji]

I have heard of　寸延び短刀 Sun-nobi Tanto before, but not heard the description O-tanto(?) outside role-paying games. Am I missing something?

[Guido]

I don’t know anything about role-playing (except when it comes to kinky sex practices), but yes, you’re right, there is no such thing. Maybe this term originates in O-klahoma?

[Surfson]

I have heard O-tanto used, but believe the accepted term is Ko-wakizashi.  O-tanto is not in Markus' encyclopedia FWIW.   Maybe, like O'Bama, it refers to some Irish genealogy?  

[ChrisW]

I've heard it mentioned here before, but its probably one of those "seller terms" like landing sword. I'll consider it improper and not use it anymore. Thanks guys!

[Surfson]

Just playing with you Chris.  I've used it on occasion myself, as Big Tanto sounds better than Little Wakizashi!