Tanto with this style kabuto-gane?

Minseito1941 · June 21

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

Brian · June 21

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 · June 21

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 · June 21

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 · June 22

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

Minseito1941 · June 22

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 · June 22

Looks like something banged together for tourists after the war.

Minseito1941 · June 22

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 · June 22

Be good to see the bare blade showing nakago clearly.

Brian · June 22

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

Alex A · June 22

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 · June 27

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 · June 27

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

Minseito1941 · June 27

And the habaki looks to be silver (?)

Alex A · June 28

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 · June 29

That is not a World War II kabutogane.

Minseito1941 · June 29

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

Minseito1941 · June 29

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 · June 29

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

Minseito1941 · June 29

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

Minseito1941 · June 29

Minseito1941 · June 29

Mekugi-ana also looks to be punched

Minseito1941 · June 29

Minseito1941 · June 30

Any hints on a potential timeframe the blade was forged?

Jord505 · June 30

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 · June 30

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 · June 30

Please ignore the large amount of oil on the blade :laughing:

PNSSHOGUN · June 30

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

Minseito1941 · June 30

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

Geraint · June 30

Dear Don.

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

Enjoy the journey.

All the best.

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