Greetings! Looking for information on a blade.

[analog addict]

Hello to everyone from a first time poster. I have a short blade I recently inherited that I would like to try and identify in any way. Here are the pictures. Hopefully this is the right forum for this post.

 

 

 

[Veli]

Hi!

 

Please sign your post by your real name as per NMB rules...

 

Your tanto is a genuine one, probably from the late Edo period (first half of the 19th c.). It is signed Taikei Naotane (kao). Taikei Naotane was one of the big names of the late Edo period. The signatures of the big names were often forged, so this may be a gimei, e.g. signed by someone else than Naotane. However, I'll leave that judgement to better experts than myself.

 

Also, more pictures of the tsuba and kozuka would be nice to see.

 

Veli

[runagmc]

You have a traditionally made Japanese sword in pretty decent mounts. The signature of Taikei Naotane (& kao) would probably need to be looked at in hand by a professional. With a smith this famous, it's a good idea too keep in mind that there's a high possibility it is gimei. In that case, it would be a real antique blade, with a false signature (and could still be valuble).

 

I can't say if it's gimei or shoshin (genuine). This smith had a lot of variation in his signatures from what I've seen, and since it's out of polish, we can't judge the workmanship, other than that of the nakago (which looks to be well done). If it is gimei, I'd say the work of the nakago is a pretty good copy of Naotane. I assume there is no "writing" on the other side of the nakago? It may help to post a picture of the other side anyway.

 

Mabey someone else who knows more about Naotane can give you their opinion...

[analog addict]

Some additional pix....

 

Temper line

 

 

Tsuba

 

 

 

Other hardware

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An additional mark on the tang

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also have a katana given to me by my father for achieving my Shodan

 

Unfortunately the exterior has started to suffer some wear over the years. I have also started to suspect the outer covering is made from an American Flag. I believe the blade is older than the WWII external hardware. The Tsuba is also not original, having been added by my parents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allan

[NihontoEurope]

Hello,

 

Here are all possible examples and deviations of the KAO of NAOTANE:

 

[attachment=0]KAO_NAOTANE.JPG[/attachment]

 

I am sorry to say that there is no match.

 

/Martin

[runagmc]

Yeah, after seeing the additional pics, I would guess it's gimei. The nakago doesn't look as good as I originally thought. It still wouldn't hurt to try to have a professional view the blade in person at some point. Like I said, if it is in fact gimei, that doesn't mean it's worthless.

[Bruno]

I think the gunto is signed NO SHU SEKI....KANE......KAZUNORI SAKU

[Bruno]

Maybe NO SHU SEKI JU KANE......KAZUNORI SAKU

[george trotter]

Yes, Bruno is right...Noshu Seki Ju Kanematsu Kazunori Saku.

Kanematsu Kazuichi was one of the many Seki Gunto kaji who made showato in WWII. Registered at Seki as Kazunori 1939.

Regards,

[analog addict]

Thank you all. The information provided has been very insightful.

 

Can I safely assume the gunto is nothing special?

 

My mother also has a half dozen silver and gold inlaid and signed tsuba, and my brother a shorter blade than the gunto. I will see If I can get some pictures....

 

 

Allan

[Markus]

Hi Allan,

 

FYI: The entry on Kazunori from my soon-to-be released book "Index of Japanese Swordsmiths":

 

 

Kazunori (一則), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – „Kazunori“ (一則), civilian name „Kanematsu Kazuichi“ (兼松一市), born June 10th 1894, he worked as guntō smith and died December 9th 1944, posthumous Buddhist name „Zendō Myōtoku“ (善導妙徳)

[Geraint]

Hi Allan and welcome!

 

Regardless of the p[rospect of the little tanto being gimei or not it is still a nice little sword in what would usually be described as Higo style mounts. I would suggest that you carefully remove the sticky tape and the label from the saya, sometimes tape adhesive can leave a mark.

 

I'm sure we would all enjoy seeing pictures of your other family treasures.

 

Cheers

[Bruno]

Can I safely assume the gunto is nothing special?

 

Yes nothing special except maybe if cutting edge is several cm longer than 66 cm, in that case it could be a kind of special order for a tall officer.

 

Otherwise no, value of it is around 700 to 1000 USD I would say.

[analog addict]

A couple of other things....

 

 

[runagmc]

The mei on the kogatana looks like Musashi no kami Kunitsugu... he was a smith in Osaka around the 1660's. Probably not actually made by him though... probably more of a tribute...

[Surfson]

I believe the tsuba to be signed Bushu ju Masakata. From the ito school. http://zincavage.org/SaddleandAoi.html