Tanto from estate sale, Nihonto?

[kawika]

Picked this up last week at an estate sale for 80 bucks. No info was available on were it came from or age, just sold as is. The Nakago seems off to me but didn't stop me from buying it.

Could it be Nihonto made and how should I store it, light oil and newspaper Saya? Any help appreciated.

David

[Mark S.]

With a nagasa of roughly 35cm and the sori, it  really falls in the wakizashi / ko-wakizashi category.  Probably old and ‘real’, but seen a rough life.

[Mark S.]

If you haven’t seen it, here is a newspaper saya tutorial.  

 

 

Safest is to oil blade and leave as is, however in this condition, some clean-up with high quality uchiko is not out of question.  

[kawika]

Thank you Mark!