Micro Tanto

[Tcat]

Just for fun, here is a micro tanto. I havn't yet seen one so detailed and wonder about its origins.

 

[Stephen]

Wow I didn't realize the scale until I seen it in your hand that's really well done

[Brian]

Wow...that's stunning.

[Tcat]

4 minutes ago, Stephen said:

your hand

 

Not my hand and I'm not the owner, I know nothing about it other than the photos. They were shared with no text on a WeChat blades magazine channel I'm subscribed to.

[Matsunoki]

Looks like a  £10k+ late Edo/Meiji aikuchi ….until the last image. Never seen anything like it. It’s not a photoshop jobbie is it? ie faked to look smaller. 

[Lewis B]

Reminds me of an apprentice piece. Super cute and looks well made. 

[Matsunoki]

Never seen an apprentice piece of that astounding quality. Actually never seen an apprentice Koshirae at all. That’s serious metalwork…… difficult to believe a beginner made that. 

[Michaelr]

Beautiful  

 MikeR 

[Lewis B]

Even the horimono is exquisite. Far better than some full size carvings. A complete tour de force. I would love to know the story and why such a minute piece was created, mimicking its normal sized siblings in every detail and construction. I've certainly not seen another. 

[Tcat]

6 hours ago, Matsunoki said:

It’s not a photoshop jobbie is it?

 

It’s real. Thought it was worth the share. Trying to find out some more info.

[Rivkin]

This one is Meiji so the purpose might be unclear (decorative), but I've seen quality netsuke which were miniature and semi-functional swords.

Sometimes dolls also have neat swords.

[Bruce Pennington]

Even an 8 petal Kiku mon on the habaki!

[The Forest Ninja]

Was thinking about forging a tiny Sword someday and that looks cool. 

[uwe]

22 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Even an 8 petal Kiku mon on the habaki!

Not Kiku, Bruce, but “Kyū-Mon” (or hoshi ). Can’t tell if Hosokawa-kyū, Kokumochi-kyū or Maru ni kyū, though…

 

Very cool Tanto, indeed 👍

[Bruce Pennington]

1 hour ago, uwe said:

Kyū-Mon” (or hoshi

Forgive my ignorance, but all I know about "Kyu" is it means "old" as in Kyu-gunto vs Shin (new)-gunto.  

Does this mean something else?

[uwe]

You are not ignorant, Bruce…it wasn’t meant that way 🙇🏻‍♂️
In the contrary, your question is legitimate! This Mon is made up of “stars” (星 - hoshi), but mentioned in some references (simplified) as kyū = 9 (九), because it is made up of nine of such stars. Other sources name it as “九曜” = nine suns… You see, it can become complicated…

[Bruce Pennington]

5 hours ago, uwe said:

You are not ignorant, Bruce…it wasn’t meant that way 🙇🏻‍♂️
In the contrary, your question is legitimate! This Mon is made up of “stars” (星 - hoshi), but mentioned in some references (simplified) as kyū = 9 (九), because it is made up of nine of such stars. Other sources name it as “九曜” = nine suns… You see, it can become complicated…

Excellent, thanks!  

BTW, I use the term in the most academic sense - that I am totally uneducated about so-and-so - ignorant of needed knowledge.  

 

 

[uwe]

There is so much to learn out there. I’m afraid one life is not enough…

Trying to understand and learn about “Mon” since many years…but seems I merely scratched surface 🫤

[Tcat]

I have ascertained the micro tanto's origins and have discovered that there are others like it...

The work was done in a studio located in China.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Very impressive, even if not Japanese they would be a pleasant novelty to own.

[Brian]

Since this isn't meant to be functional, just decorative...still like it a lot. Would display it anyday.
Like those Chen display boards showing miniatire katana through the forging process.