Wakizashi or Tanto?

[Jon Fury]

The following was posted on a modern made sword forum in the U.K. approx 6 months ago where nobody really knows enough about Nihonto,including myself,to pass comment on this blade so I thought I'd post it here.

I asked the OP about the presence of boshi to try to help establish if this is indeed a broken blade with a reworked tip but I had no reply as the forum was hacked soon after.

It's not for sale,it's just aroused my curiosity and now that the forum is up and running again I thought it'd be nice to refer the OP here for any comments that members may have.

 

 

Here's a little something to look at - Not 100% sure of it's history, but it came into our family sometime in the mid-1920's. Currently, my Dad is in possession of this interesting blade, and I stand to inherit it when he regretfully passes away.

 

From what we have been able to gather, originally the blade was mounted differently, so chances are this little Wak came from a broken blade and was cut down to size.

 

*Note* All of the below piccies are clickable thumbnails, opening up a subsequent image of about 640x480 ishly. Please excuse the crap quality of the photos - they're the 1982 originals I've scanned, as this little gem is securely tucked away for safekeeping.

 

First off - the letter we got from the Victoria & Albert Museum back in 1982.

 

Couple of overview shots with a ruler for size comparison, including the Kogutana.

 

According to the V&A, this little figure is Kan'u - A chinese-origin War deity.

 

The repair job / remounting hole on the tang, and associated inscription.

 

 

From what I've been able to make out from the photos (I didn't take 'em - my dad did - I would have been like 8 years old when these were done), this is a pair of images showing the flat plate of the Fuchi, looking down into the Tsuka - and would normally be pressed flat against the Tsuba. From what we've been able to make out, This is the creator's mark of the current incarnation of the blade; the craftsman who basically re-engineered what was probably a broken blade into a Wakizashi.

 

Front-side and Back-side overview photos.

 

The Kozuka (Grip) of the Kogutana.

 

... and finally ...

 

A closer, clearer view of Kan'u.

 

If you look closely at piccie no. 3, you'll manage to spot a silver triangle... (I've blown up the pic here for your perusal)

This is purported to be a representation of Mount Fuji.

 

Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated

I'm summising that the comments regarding the signature on the "fuchi" should read koiguchi but I'm probably wrong...again.

[sencho]

Mei on the nakano looks like NORIMITSU to me....

 

則光

 

Suke would be 助 or　介 characters... I could be worng though as I am fairly new with this..

 

I would have thought that the mei on the fuchi was the maker of the fuchi, not the person who re-engineered the sword.

 

You talk about a repair job... what do you mean by that?

 

cheers

[sencho]

Fuchi mei looks like these characters, but I am unsure of pronounciation.... also a little suspect of second character...

 

金　玖　知　常

 

KANE KU TOMO TSUNE (this 2nd char' pronounciation is probably wrong)

 

I don't think that the second character is SUGI like they say in the evaluation sheet.

 

Is the 5th character a KAO? I feel like I have seen that before....

 

Cheers!

[Jon Fury]

You talk about a repair job... what do you mean by that?

 

cheers

 

I'm guessing that he's referring to the 'filled' mekugi ana in this pic as a repair. :?

 

[sencho]

Still not convinced about that second character.... not convinced about my own idea for it either!!!

 

Moriyama san??? over to you.....

 

Cheers!

[Nobody]

Hi,

 

The mei on the Fuchi seems to be 金杦知常. I do not know the correct reading for the first two kanji, but it may read "Kanasugi Tomotsune" as the evaluation sheet already mentioned.

 

杦(Sugi) is a variation of 杉(Sugi).

 

As for the mei on the nakago, I am with Sencho san. It looks Norimitsu (則光) to me.

[Grey Doffin]

And I see no reason to suspect that it is part of a broken sword. Looks to be a perfectly good O-tanto or Ko-wakizashi.

Grey

[roninjje]

I concur with Grey, also why not look up Clive Sinclair's group, he is one of the most knowledgeable guys in the UK?

[Jon Fury]

Thank you for your comments gentlemen.

If and when the OP reappears,I shall point him in this direction.

Jon

[Jean]

Hi Jon,

 

It indeed seems ubu and a Norimitsu signature,

 

The filled mekugi ana seems to indicate that the blade has not been shortened.

 

What bothers me is that some of the tosogu seem to have been thoroughly cleaned ........

[Jon Fury]

Hi Jean,

Sorry for the late reply.

I can't comment on the signatures as I'm a complete beginner but I agree with you about the tosogu and I've never understood why it was believed that the blade is not original. :?

Thank you.

Jon.