Is this a Tanto?

[Andy Stevens]

Hello all,
I got this today from an collectors market, I only actually wanted the Katar (see thread " info on Katar") but the dealer offered me a deal that I couldn't refuse!

I have very little knowledge on Japanese weapons, mainly because they are always beyond my budget. I didn't pay big money for the pair, so any painful comments will be taken without too many tears.
The dagger is very sharp, all the handle binding is firm. The blade is 23cm long, the handle 14 cm.

Is this the real thing? Or have I purchased a nice paint stiring gadget!

Photo's are a bit naff as the batteries lost the will to live.

[fernando]

Hy Andy
The experts will tell you more, but in principle this is the real thing.
The only Japanese piece i have has the same type of handle, a pattern known to be from the so called Tatsuma rebellion ( 1877 ).
Fernando.

[Andy Stevens]

Hi Fernando,
Thanks for the info, the dagger is very interesting, and has prompted me to look through my one and only book on the subject. Are these weapons common? Were they mass produced at all? Thanks Andy

[spiral]

Unfortuanatly the fact that the blade sticks out of the bottom of the habiki means at best its a composite.

The fact that the blade under the Habaki is also sharp means at best it probably apiece from a broken blade.[the tip if your lucky.}

The wrap looks like it was done by a total amauter.

Such features are normaly enough to set alarm bells going, about authenticity.

Spiral

[katana]

Andy,
I've played around with contrast/brightness on your first picture to get a better image. Perhaps this will help.
I am no expert but have to agree with Spiral .... looks to be a 'bitsa', but is it made to deceive or honestly put together ? I have no idea.


Regards David

.

[fernando]

Don't despair Andy, specially if you didn't pay much for it .
You will end up learning something out of this; the world of Japanese swords is a vast universe, including superb examples that sell for many thousands of dollars, but that is not necessarily the issue here.
I notice that the peg ( mekugi ) that holds the handle to the tang hole is missing; check if there is a real tang with such hole ( not the continuation of an adapted broken blade ) and if it has the signature ( mark ) of the maker.
The handle is real ... a modest one, with the ray skin wraped by canvas strips and iron washers in between, instead of the traditional ornaments (menuki); such is a typical economic version, made in a hurry to equip the Tatsuma rebels, but still a legitimate one (see my example picture attached).
I also bought this in a junk condition, but the money i paid for it versus the opportunity to learn about this area, was well worth it.
If you are interested in developing your knowledge in these things, you may start by consulting Richard Stein's comprehensive web site, with a mirror in this Forum resource site
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm
Fernando