Opinion sought on Tanto

[Kmad]

Hi All

I have just purchased a job lot of knives, 40 in total so lots to study, mostly hunting knives but some ethnic.

In the job lot we have this Tanto

I will reveal what I have purchased after I receive the items but can anyone start me off with what style of Tanto this is.

No description from the auction house on what I have purchased and there is scabbard damage

Its a gamble but that's how all part of the 

opinions welcome but I have accepted it might be a bust of a purchase .

Regards

Ken 

[Geraint]

Dear Ken.

 

Looks interesting but as you surmise we can't tell a great deal from these photographs.  So far I think it is genuine and I would be looking aroundf ebi koshirae, though as so often with tanto mounts there is a great degree of freedom of expression and it does not conform to ebi koshirae entirely.  It does seem to be missing a decorative kurikata which might have been a ring mounting for the sageo.

 

Look forward to seeing more when you get it.

 

All the best.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Ainu theme Koshirae?

[Scogg]

I can't tell if that's damage or ware on the saya, or the depiction of a Native American arrowhead? 

I think my eyes are playing tricks on me

Carry on,

-Sam

[Matsunoki]

Never seen a saya with anything vaguely like those raised round “cabochon” type inlays. They do not look Japanese to me. The tsuka looks more a bit more plausible. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst!

[Kmad]

  On 8/14/2023 at 2:08 PM, Matsunoki said:

 Hope for the best, prepare for the worst!

Expand  

v v  true Colin, I will have in a day or so but I am off climbing for 5 days on Thursday so I might not get a chance to take some pictures.

I have been lucky in my purchases before so fingers crossed, if it is junk It cos me around 25 euro a knife so i will take the hit  

Regards

Ken 

 

[Geraint]

I'd have to agree with Colin regarding the cabochons, easier to judge when you have it in hand.  The' American Indian arrowhead'  would have been something like the one here, https://nihontoart.c...gh-quality-koshirae/ though probably not of that quality.  Overall this looks interesting and, post climbing expedition, I'll look forward to seeing some more.

 

All the best.

[Kmad]

ok a few very hasty pictures more to come 

any ideas?

Regards

Ken 

[Kmad]

[Kmad]

Well thats images for now ask if more need to be provided

 

The habaki seems to be of 2 parts one silver and one blued there is some damage to the Saya and the metal is filthy 

The white “cabochon” seem to be stone of some sort

Blade is 25 cm and handle another 11  cm

looks to have been over cleaned, 

sepa are not moving from the tsuba

Rushing on the photos so sorry about this

I like the Tanto so any ideas or opinions welcome,  cost a pittance so dont mind giving me the bad news.

 

overall theme of hearts on the decoration and metal work 

Regards,

Ken 

[Geraint]

Well I'm liking it more and more, still not sure about the pearls but we'll wait and see.  The blade will repay some careful study, see here for starters, http://www.nihontocr...a_Nihon_no_Toko.html  (Scroll down to Uda.)

 

The plate near the kogai slot would no doubt have echoed the one on the kozuka slot but would have included the kurikata, perhaps a ring form like the example I linked to.  A very nice koshirae and a blade with some potential, what's not to like?

 

All in all a very nice thing to have found!

 

All the best.

[Matsunoki]

I don’t think it’s bad news.

If we just ignore the weird cabochons on the saya it looks like you’ve got an eccentrically mounted old Tanto …..quite an interesting item.  The overall form does resemble some Ainu knives as mentioned by John and I think I have seen a cabochon on one once somewhere sometime. But the somewhat tired fittings are definitely of Japanese origin and appear to be well made…..so maybe John is spot on…..Ainu themed but a true Japanese Tanto. I’d be very pleased to find such an unusual looking item. 
Better pics will tell more when you have time. Climb well, climb safely!

Best. Colin

 

[Kmad]

Thanks all for the super fast response

Got it with all these, this was the only picture to go on for the auction

 

with this description

A LARGE COLLECTION OF KNIVES together with a 19th Century Chinese sword in sheath, etc.

so I took the gamble.

 

There is a very nice Rondell dagger for me to discover more about  circled in red but off topic for this forum 

[Geraint]

Dear Ken.

 

The rondel dagger is a Royal Navy Midshipman's dirk, you really scored with this lot, oh and the sort of Japanese paper knife that was my first!

 

Enjoy your expedition.

 

All the best.

[Kmad]

Thanks Geraint,

Few others in the lot I like also but The Dirk and the Tanto were the special ones to me, I have a friend who collects bowie knives so he will have  a few additions coming to his collection also .

Can you let me know what is the writing on the blade of the Tanto means/signifies?

Regards

Ken 

[Geraint]

From what you have shown so far the reading is, 'Uda Kuni....'   The horimono on the blade will be a bonji which I can't yet identify.  Of course gimei is a possibility but regardless the koshirae is very nice and worth taking some care with.

 

All the best.

[DoTanuki yokai]

Can we also see the last Kanji of the signature ? 
What I see is 宇多國 but there is only the first strokes of the last Kanji on your picture. 
Nice find so far but I can’t add anything on the Koshirae.

 

Edit: Geraint was faster while I was also unable to find a match for the Bonji 

[Kmad]

some additional Kanji images

Thanks all.

Regards

Ken 

[mywei]

Uda Kunihisa

 

Multiple generations from Oei to Muromachi period I believe

 

Some references examples for comparison (differing generations)

https://www.touken-s...uda_kunihisa-01.html

 

https://www.toukenko...i&katanaA060121.html

 

 

https://www.nipponto...swords7/KY333285.htm

[Kmad]

Hi All

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with me, a happy addition to my Japanese collection. I will have to renew my Gold membership again as pay back to this fantastic resourse.

Keep well.

Ken 

 

[Winchester]

It’s really hard for me to tell with one small group photo and magnifying…but you may also have 1-2 WW2 theatre knives and some sort of Scandinavian knife. Shocked this was all $25.00! Heck, even that old hunter knife is $60.00.

[Kmad]

Hi Brian

No unfortunately it was 25 per knife in the picture, however I have managed to move on 30 or so of the knives already leaving me with 11 knives I like and am keeping 

In the end I think the Tanto will stand me at around 30 euro which I think is OK  , I could probably double my money if i wanted to sell

Regards

Ken