Help with identifying what something is on one of my Tanto’s

[Jon]

Hi one of my tantos has what looks like a polishing effect but I cannot track down what it’s called, why it’s used ect..basically it’s a number of strips running along the mune from the kissaki for around 3 cms.

 

I have included a picture…it’s not so obvious in the picture but it hits you when you have the blade in hand.

 

 

[Ray Singer]

https://www.google.c...sclient=gws-wiz-serp

[Bruce Pennington]

Interesting.  Can't say I've seen (or noticed) nagashi in that location.

[Ray Singer]

It is very common to see the presence of nagashi in both locations on the same sword.

[Jon]

Thankyou Ray for the links, that was very helpful, Interestingly this one does not have Nagashi in the area covered by the Habaki just on the mune. 

[Ray Singer]

For hirazukuri blades, the nagashi wouid appear only on the mune. For blades with a shinogi, they would appear on both locations. 

[george trotter]

On 10/2/2023 at 11:23 AM, Bruce Pennington said:

Interesting.  Can't say I've seen (or noticed) nagashi in that location.

Yes Bruce, common in both locations, even into the WWII period (don't know about post-war swords as I don't collect them)..

I have 3 WWII blades with nagashi lines in both locations.

Two are by Yamagami Munetoshi of Niigata and both have 7 nagashi lines under the habaki with 6 lines on the tip (one is private order Type 98 dated 1941 and the other is RS mounted with RJT star, dated 1943).

My third one is private order RS by Tsukamoto Masakazu of Fukushima dated 1942 with 6 lines under the habaki and 6 on the tip.

 

My other 6 WWII military gendaito don't have them.

Hope this helps.

 

Edit to add...in case some members have not seen these marks, the description 7 lines under the habaki means seven on each side...and 6 on the tip means 3 on each side of the ridge...just to be clear.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks George!  Now I'll keep an eye out for them.

[David E]

I have a mumei wakisashi with polish marks under the habaki and the kissaki, the polish is beautiful, next time I get it out I’ll be sure to count them up