Unusual tanto in the shape of a dragon

Henk · 23rd January 2015, 08:46 PM

Hello all,

Thank you for your input.

I followed the advise Spiral gave me and i sent a mail to Aoi Art. I hope they will take the time to give me an answer.

Estcrh,
If there was a description of the seller i would gladly post it, but there is none. I bought it at an auction and i was struck by it for sentimental reasons.

I certainly may hope a grinder wasn't used

When i recieve it i'm probably able to tell you more.
For me the value goes beyond the money, although the price i paid wasn't a price bringing up big expectations of a superb blade.

Henk · 24th January 2015, 08:24 PM

This is the answer i became today from Aoi Art.

This unusual engraving was made after the war time.
After the war ended a lot of occupation troops stayed Japan, and Japanese dealers sold as souvenir.
Many soldier bought as a memory of the victory of the war.
So ,you saw the item as same as yours

Nathaniel · 24th January 2015, 11:10 PM

Interesting information. Thanks for sharing, Henk. Touristy or not, I definitely appreciate the wood carving by hand..., today it would be done with power tools and probably plastic.

VANDOO · 25th January 2015, 03:32 AM

HERE ARE 3 EXAMPLES OF UNUSUAL JAPANESE KNIVES THAT FALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY AS YOUR EXAMPLE. #1 HAS A YARI SPEAR BLADE AND IS CARVED LIKE A HOKADO FISH #2. JAPANESE SHRIMP OR LOBSTER KNIFE.
#3. SAID TO BE A JAPANESE TEMPLE KNIFE. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO BETTER INFO. BUT THEY FALL IN THE TANTO SIZE RANGE RATHER THAN THE SHORT SWORD SIZE.

Henk · 25th January 2015, 12:13 PM

Thanks Vandoo for sharing your examples. I really like them.
It is just as Nathaniel said. It is absolutely well carved and your temple knife is done with real ivory and horn.

Rich · 25th January 2015, 12:54 PM

While the koshirae may be "tourista" the yari blade is definitely not. Occasionally some good blades are found in these type mounts.
Rich S

spiral · 28th January 2015, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henk

.
I followed the advise Spiral gave me and i sent a mail to Aoi Art. I hope they will take the time to give me an answer.
:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henk

This is the answer i became today from Aoi Art.

This unusual engraving was made after the war time.
After the war ended a lot of occupation troops stayed Japan, and Japanese dealers sold as souvenir.
Many soldier bought as a memory of the victory of the war.
So ,you saw the item as same as yours

Glad it helped.

25th January 2015, 03:32 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE ARE 3 EXAMPLES OF UNUSUAL JAPANESE KNIVES THAT FALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY AS YOUR EXAMPLE. #1 HAS A YARI SPEAR BLADE AND IS CARVED LIKE A HOKADO FISH #2. JAPANESE SHRIMP OR LOBSTER KNIFE. #3. SAID TO BE A JAPANESE TEMPLE KNIFE. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO BETTER INFO. BUT THEY FALL IN THE TANTO SIZE RANGE RATHER THAN THE SHORT SWORD SIZE. Attached Images

23rd January 2015, 08:46 PM	#1
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Hello all, Thank you for your input. I followed the advise Spiral gave me and i sent a mail to Aoi Art. I hope they will take the time to give me an answer. Estcrh, If there was a description of the seller i would gladly post it, but there is none. I bought it at an auction and i was struck by it for sentimental reasons. I certainly may hope a grinder wasn't used When i recieve it i'm probably able to tell you more. For me the value goes beyond the money, although the price i paid wasn't a price bringing up big expectations of a superb blade.

24th January 2015, 08:24 PM	#2
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Answer from Aoi Art This is the answer i became today from Aoi Art. This unusual engraving was made after the war time. After the war ended a lot of occupation troops stayed Japan, and Japanese dealers sold as souvenir. Many soldier bought as a memory of the victory of the war. So ,you saw the item as same as yours

24th January 2015, 11:10 PM	#3
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Interesting information. Thanks for sharing, Henk. Touristy or not, I definitely appreciate the wood carving by hand..., today it would be done with power tools and probably plastic.

25th January 2015, 12:13 PM	#5
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Thanks Vandoo for sharing your examples. I really like them. It is just as Nathaniel said. It is absolutely well carved and your temple knife is done with real ivory and horn.

25th January 2015, 12:54 PM	#6
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	While the koshirae may be "tourista" the yari blade is definitely not. Occasionally some good blades are found in these type mounts. Rich S