I took a gamble on a Tanto
 

Normally I avoid Nihonto because they're expensive and it seems like it takes quite a bit of expertise if you want to buy one with any confidence that it's legit. But this one was so cheap I decided to take a gamble. It appears to be in a shirasaya, which I understand is a plain sheath for long term storage of the blade.

The item will be here in a few days and I imagine it'll be apparent quickly if it's the real deal or not, but these are the pics from the auction. What do you think? Real tanto or Chinese letter opener? The only reason I think it might be "real" is that there wouldn't be any point in putting a factory made blade in a shirasaya, and if it was made for tourists you'd expect it to be in a nicer mounting.

Makes me wonder if it isn't a WWII officer's tanto.....The polish looks a little off to me. Better pictures are needed......

I know little of Nihonto, but I know blades. Looks like the blade was polished on a buffer, and the "hamon" looks sand blasted, or etched. Hope I'm wrong.
Steve

Apparently that's not a hamon, it's a hadori. It's a pattern polished into the blade to "enhance" the actual hamon (assuming there is one)
http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/togi.html#HADORI

Unfortunately not a real nihonto. You can tell, among other things, by the shape of kissaki.

I'm with Ferguson on this one

Good buy
 

I would call that a good buy, even if it is not very old. I love a "plain" Japanese tanto. I bought one a few years ago that has a Damascus steel blade and a white oak handle and sheath. It is very similar to yours except it does not have the flat "sides". I am certain that mine was made recently. It remains one of my favorites. Yours does look older. I hope it is what you are looking for and that you get to enjoy it as much as I have mine.

Best regards,
Harry

That's why I said that at best it may be WWII and over polished at best. At worst it is a recent repo........

The thing hasn't arrived yet, I'll be sure to report if there are any surprises

I don't think it's WW2. I may be wrong, but it looks quite modern to me. Sorry.