Kantei of Tanto

[DTM72]

I am looking for help on determining what I actually have. Rather than post my guesses and ideas, I'll just post facts that may help in determination of what school and age.

 

Nagasa : 285mm (11 1/4")

Nakago : 89mm (3 1/2")

Motohaba : 29.7mm (1 3/16")

Motokasane : 7.6mm (5/16")

 

[BjornLundin]

Repurposed broken koto Blade. Not Bizen or mino 🧐

[DTM72]

3 minutes ago, BjornLundin said:

Repurposed broken koto Blade. Not Bizen or mino 🧐

I agree that is was repurposed. The hamon clearly goes far into the nakago.

[Grey Doffin]

How about Shinshinto or later? There appears to be a mix of different steels showing on the omote (what I can see of the ura looks tired), something I wouldn't expect on an earlier blade.

Grey

[DTM72]

On 11/3/2020 at 3:02 PM, BjornLundin said:

Repurposed broken koto Blade. Not Bizen or mino 🧐

I had someone message me that it appears to be Mino style. I am really lost on this one.

[Shugyosha]

Hi Dan,

This is what I can see on my phone: for a Mino blade I’d expect to see some masame (straightish) grain which I can’t. Also Boshi isn’t quite jizo but more pointed which might lead away from Mino. Jigane is quite dark which might point to Mino but the look of the burl grain with chikei suggests Mihara to me. 

 

It’s late in the UK right now but I’ll post some pictures of my Mihara tanto in the morning for a comparison. 

 

Anyhow, for me a Koto blade based on jigane and tang patina. 
 

Ultimately the best opinions will be got from a shinsa panel so short of those take everything else (including my view) with a pinch of salt. 

[paulb]

Dan,

I think you are going to struggle to obtain as precise attribution as you are looking for. The shape suggests it is koto personally I would place it mid to late Muromachi but without greet conviction. 

The hamon is what I think is leading people to Mino which is certainly a possibility. 

As John suggests the hada is rather a-typical for Mino but not out of the question. However during this period and later Mino smiths travelled throughout the country teaching their techniques. As a result numerous rural schools starting making Mino lookalike blades (some extremely good ones others less so) I think this is likely to be one such blade.

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Hamon extending into nakago could be yakidashi, which would indicate Shinto.

[Shugyosha]

Hi Ken,

I think it has just had a rough suriage without heating the blade to remove the hamon through the tang.

 

I'm not as convinced as I was last night of the Mihara attribution though there are some similarities between my blade in terms of the boshi with the pointed look and long turn back. I think the jigane is different in terms of colour and Dan's blade has more of a "zanguri", standing up look to it. Here are the pictures:

 

[paulb]

Hi John,

If you also look closely at the hamon Dan's is much more contrived gunome which I think points to a later Mino influence.

[Shugyosha]

Hi Paul,

You are indeed correct.  I think my eye was grabbed by the hada which corresponded to the image in my mind of my own blade. I'll own up to having had my beer goggles on having had a pre-lockdown drink with some friends so that didn't help. 🙂

 

The zanguri/ hadatachi feature of the hada also points back to Mino, so there's probably enough elements pointing in that direction to make the call.

 

Thanks for your insight Paul and to Dan for posting the blade.

[Jacques]

It seems this tanto has no sori, Am i right ?

[DTM72]

7 hours ago, Jacques D. said:

It seems this tanto has no sori, Am i right ?

Correct, no sori at all. The mune is perfectly straight until it is near the kissaki.

 

[DTM72]

8 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

Hi Paul,

You are indeed correct.  I think my eye was grabbed by the hada which corresponded to the image in my mind of my own blade. I'll own up to having had my beer goggles on having had a pre-lockdown drink with some friends so that didn't help. 🙂

 

The zanguri/ hadatachi feature of the hada also points back to Mino, so there's probably enough elements pointing in that direction to make the call.

 

Thanks for your insight Paul and to Dan for posting the blade.

John, I see alot of similarities in the hada of both of our blades. Your hamon appears more of a soft velvet. My hamon is more of a dull mist. To me, the shape and the gentle gunome hamon point to Mino. Compared to 98% of others on here, my knowledge is lacking. I come here seeking knowledge and more expert advice. Your thoughts and inputs are greatly appreciated!

[lonely panet]

the posted tanto looks like its had a acid polish to me, which imho would make kantei difficult at best. but could be the bright light..  LED?
 

the hada looks hard and unatural, theres a womping big patch of core steel showing too. but the vidoe quality isnt super good.

 

mino, echizen maybe??

[DTM72]

Static Pics

[Jacques]

13 hours ago, DTM72 said:

Correct, no sori at all. The mune is perfectly straight until it is near the kissaki.

 

 

According measurements it could be early muromachi, but it's just a guess. 

[DTM72]

5 hours ago, Jacques D. said:

 

According measurements it could be early muromachi, but it's just a guess. 

I appreciate your guess. Thank you!