Tanto by Kanemoto...?

[Walter]

I have this tanto for some time.

Been told the mei says Kanemoto.

Have checked the refference about the smith and found 10 Kanemoto - all from Mino Province.

is it possible to determinate which one has made this blade?

Since I prepare it for sale I'd like to give the potential buyer some more info.

Thanks in advance.

 

Here some photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[glr1]

Walter-

 

I have a very similar tanto/aikuchi with a very similar signature. It appears to be Muromachi period, but Kanemoto was used by a group of smiths. Photo of signature attached.

[John A Stuart]

I haven't seen a sudare pattern in Kanemoto ryu before. John

[glr1]

John-

 

Here are some pictures of my tanto. I am not very skilled at taking these pictures as yet, and the blade needs work, but is this more what you would expect?

 

Thanks

 

Greg

[John A Stuart]

One of the characteristics of Kanemoto and subsequently his successors is a sanbonsuji pattern. Very regulated with Magaroku Kanemoto, becoming less so with later generations. Many other patterns were produced as well. I include a pic of some (excuse the quality please). Greg, yours could fit into what was produced (rather hard to make out) by Kanemoto school. Has it been to any shinsa? John

[glr1]

John-

 

No, not been to any shinsa. I will try to take some better pictures. It looks closest to the next to the bottom one of yours.

 

Thanks

Greg

[Marius]

I haven't seen a sudare pattern in Kanemoto ryu before. John

 

John,

 

isn't this hamon rather a hako midare? Like in the Kanewaka school?

[John A Stuart]

Hi Mariusz, Well, certainly boxlike (hako) but, I am tempted to call it sudareba, because of the sunagashi that is really apparent parallel to the ha. Also it is fairly regular and based on a sugu line. Hako midare isn't necessarily straight edged and shows irregularity (I hope that word can be used without referance to bran flakes). IMO anyway. John

[Marius]

Hi Mariusz, Well, certainly boxlike (hako) but, I am tempted to call it sudareba, because of the sunagashi that is really apparent parallel to the ha. Also it is fairly regular and based on a sugu line. Hako midare isn't necessarily straight edged and shows irregularity (I hope that word can be used without referance to bran flakes). IMO anyway. John

 

Here is a thread I have once started, with nice pics of my Kanewaka school (as I believe now) tanto:

 

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2453&hilit=kunisuke+tanto

 

it wuld be nice to see details of your tanto, the sunagashi pattern in particular....

[John A Stuart]

Hi Mariusz, I remember that thread. Not too long ago either. I think your right. Hako midareba describes it. The sunagashi made me think of those bamboo blinds. I should have remembered hako midareba has that feature and fits Mino work. I wonder what it is that gives me a mental block on this pattern. Thanks for the kick in the pants. John

[nagamaki - Franco]

I have this tanto for some time.

Been told the mei says Kanemoto.

Have checked the refference about the smith and found 10 Kanemoto - all from Mino Province.

 

Walter, to this point everything you state above is truthful and basically accurate, stick with this approach in your sale and you should be fine. If you must know, then send the sword to shinsa.

[Jean]

Hi Walter,

 

I shall say kodai (later generation), the jitetsu seems very good (for Mino) - my guess is Aizuchi Momoyama.