Oppinions on a Tanto

[TheGermanBastard]

Has Hosho Suguha.

 

Mei is ... worn? Illegable? Removed? Gimei?

 

Nambokucho?

 

 

[16k]

Isn’t there too much sori for Nambokucho?

[TheGermanBastard]

  On 2/7/2021 at 7:49 PM, 16k said:

Isn’t there too much sori for Nambokucho?

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Yes jean Pierre, could well be. But you can find Sori in late Nambokucho era while it would often put a blade into Muromachi.

[TheGermanBastard]

No cheap oppinions?

[Shugyosha]

Hi Luis, 

The tang has a bit of a Sengo look to it, but it doesn’t look quite right and might have been modified to make the blade more attractive. 

 

Daikokuten would be ato hori if nambokucho. He became popular with samurai in the muromachi period. I think that’s him but it’s quite worn down. 
 

I didn’t realise that Hosho tanto had a distinctive sugata. Is it pure masame hada? If not, I’d say you can discount that as an option. 
 

Sorry Luis but the condition makes it hard to say more. I’d date it as koto but not earlier than muromachi but I’m guessing. 

[TheGermanBastard]

Hello John,

 

I can see why you think of Sengo. I had a Sengo vibe, too - where an illegable (later added) Mei may refer to Muramasa? My impression is that the Nakago shape is unaltered but the Mei has been tempered with.

 

The Hamon looks like Hosho Suguha. But it would need to be polished to be able to tell more.

 

For now I was hoping somethone could give some thoughts based on what is visible while I thik that the Nakago shape is teh most distinctive visible feature.

[Shugyosha]

Luis,

please don’t take this amiss, are you referring to hoso suguba? Hoso in this context meaning, thin or narrow. 
 

I think the Daikokuten horimono is a strong clue as to age but not conclusive...it could be younger, but it would tie in with the Sengo thing - early 1500s. But I think Sengo is a long shot. 

[TheGermanBastard]

It has thin / narrow Suguha.

[Shugyosha]

Ah so hoso, not Hosho - being one of the 5 Yamato schools. That was why I asked about masame earlier.