Tanto with this style kabuto-gane?

[Minseito1941]

Has anyone else ever encountered an aiguchi tanto with this type of kabuto-gane? 

[Brian]

That's an odd one. First thought is that someone took a Gunto koshirae, cut down the tsuka and tip of the saya, and mounted the blade in it. But with the awkward shinogi-zukuri shape, maybe it's the tip of a katana converted anyways. Otherwise it may be a fantasy piece/fake. Other than those 2 choices, I don't have any other possibilities, as it certainly isn't official.

[Minseito1941]

That is what I was thinking until I saw the horimono. The hormone has distinct carving marks too so it looks genuine but I've just never seen a blade like this one.

[Matsunoki]

Where is the horimono?

To me it looks like a “bitsa” ie bits of this and bits of that assembled to look like an aikuchi.

[Minseito1941]

Sorry I didn't see this until now, Here is the horimono attached

[Minseito1941]

I got it for under $50 so when it comes in I will be sure to keep this updated with any potential info on the tang.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Looks like something banged together for tourists after the war.

[Minseito1941]

I somewhat agree but I feel it is too much effort for a tourist piece but I will withhold judgement until I can get my hands on it and inspect it.

[Alex A]

Be good to see the bare blade showing nakago clearly.

[Brian]

Very poor horimono. Amost certainly put together for resale. Likely Japanese though

[Alex A]

Just curious about the nakago.

 

Know Tanto in that form are rare, but seen a few in recent years. One on Aoi about a year ago by a well known smith that had me curious. From memory it was described as a gift tanto. 

 

Agree that the tanto above is likely put together from the tip of a longer sword but still a little curious about the nakago.

 

Chances are its rough.

[Minseito1941]

It was from an estate sale, I should get it in by saturday and I will upload photos of the nakago. Here is the link https://ctbids.com/e...ge-Sword-Asian-Knife

[Minseito1941]

Interesting part is that the tsuka has brocade silk instead of the usual same

[Minseito1941]

And the habaki looks to be silver (?)

[Alex A]

That's the most unusual auction combo i ever did see,

 

Appears a Conan the Barbarian type sword in the mix too.

 

Ps, Cant say for sure with the habaki, maybe it is. Kind of hoping its not the tip of a longer sword, also hope the habaki is silver for you. 

 

In fact, the best im hoping for is that its ubu and was once in shirasaya but someone cobbled the rest of it together at some point. 

 

Do see dodgy looking horimono on some ww2 tanto. Reminded of a tanto at an arms fair, it was at every arms fair for about 3 years. Signed but not the best horimono of a dragon. Sure that was Shinogi-zukuri.

[Bruce Pennington]

That is not a World War II kabutogane.  

[Minseito1941]

The tanto is in my hands, any tips on how to remove the stuck tsuka? Thanks

[Minseito1941]

Nevermind I got it off, It seems to be mumei but is definitely very old. The brown is not rust but from a tape

[Minseito1941]

No clue what purpose the tape had for the last ownerThis image was taken without flash on 

[Minseito1941]

I’m assuming the tape was to hold the blade in the tsuka since the mekugi has been lost to time

[Minseito1941]

[Minseito1941]

Mekugi-ana also looks to be punched 

[Minseito1941]

[Minseito1941]

Any hints on a potential timeframe the blade was forged? 

[Jord505]

To be honest Don, i'm not even sure this tanto is authentic. i could be mislead by poor pictures, but the hamon looks completely fake and the koshirae looks pieced together hap-hazard.

 

to me this is a tourist souvenir and i would stay away.

[Minseito1941]

The hamon looking fake is my picture being bad sorry. I can try to take better pictures tomorrow under the sun but the hamon is genuine and not acid etched. The tsuka has a 六 kanji under the fuchi as well so I am thinking it was remounted in new fittings

[Minseito1941]

Please ignore the large amount of oil on the blade 

[PNSSHOGUN]

This looks very much like one of the low quality tourist pieces made during the Meiji/Taisho/Showa periods.

[Minseito1941]

Tourist piece possible but low quality would be a disservice I feel

[Geraint]

Dear Don.

 

If you feel that then start having a look at horimono to compare with this one.

 

Enjoy the journey.

 

All the best.