Tanto Assistance

[KH195]

Hello all, still very much a novice collector here and I very much appreciate the expertise on this board.  Recently acquired this little tanto in shirasaya and was wondering what information the more experienced here could provide as far as age, style, etc.  Seller didn’t have much information to go on so I don’t know much about it.  Blade is mumei, nagasa is just over 19cm.  My collecting budget is tight and this piece didn’t cost me very much so I’m not expecting a national treasure, just curious to know what others think.

 

Thank you!

Kris H.

[Rivkin]

Hard to be certain, and knowing kasane might help but I would say its Muromachi, not the most common sugata, i.e. wide and straight with some tapering towards the tip (overpolish, don't know), but I think this can be as early as 1450 to as late as 1520, and I favor the earlier date, i.e. pre 1510. Looks too thick for Nambokucho though.

For the school - hazy suguha hamon, profound wavy nagare, coarse jigane. Naminohira or something alike. Sometimes you see this with Fuyuhiro, Kaifu etc.etc.. Characteristic nakago shape which by memory I don't remember which school it would match, i.e. with such aggressive taper you almost want to say Hasebe... and there are very coarse Hasebe with suguha, so theoretically Oei+ generation might be a match, but I don't think so.

[KH195]

Thank you very much Rivkin, extremely helpful information!

[ROKUJURO]

Kris,

the photos are not very informative, but just looking at the steel structure, at HAMACHI, MUNEMACHI and the drilled MEKUGI-ANA, I think this blade is not very old, but perhaps MEIJI era.

It would help us attributing the blade if you would post photos in the correct orientation
 

-  NAKAGO photos with tip (KISSAKI) pointing upwards

-- no hardware on the blade

-  photos taken directly from above

-  with light from the side

-  well focused

-  against a dark background to get a good contrast

-  preferably presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the item

[KH195]

Thank you Jean, I will re-do photos in correct format.  Thank you both so far for your comments!

[KH195]

Second attempt at photos.  Appreciate the comments.

[KH195]

[ROKUJURO]

Kris,

these photos are much better! Now I have to revise my earlier assessment and I think Kirill was correct. It is probably an older blade as far as the pictures allow to see. Unfortunately, the HAMON is not really visible, the HADORI hides a lot.

It would be a good idea to show the blade to an expert. Perhaps you have a NMB member near you, or you go to a sword show and ask some dealers for their opinion.

[KH195]

Thank you both very much!  Sincerely appreciate your time and knowledge.