Unusual tanto in the shape of a dragon

Henk · 21st January 2015, 08:29 PM

When my grandfather past away 45 years ago one of his possesions was a tanto in the shape of a dragon. I had never seen something like that and never saw something like that again. One of his grandsons inherited the tanto. I hope he still have the piece in his posesion.

Today i was able to buy a similar one. To be honest, i feel very lucky. Can anyone of the knowledgeable forummembers tell me more about it?
I don't have it yet but here are some pictures of the seller.

Sajen · 21st January 2015, 09:15 PM

Hello Henk,

I know next to nothing about tantos but I like your one and I am curious to read what knowledge members will tell you.

Regards,
Detlef

VANDOO · 21st January 2015, 10:59 PM

THE JAPANESE SWORDS I HAVE SEEN WITH THE SCABBARD AND HANDLES CARVED LIKE THIS ONES ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN CARRIED BY PHYSICIANS / DOCTORS. I HAVE ONE CARVED LIKE A TYPE OF FISH FOUND IN THE WATERS SURROUNDING HOKKAIDO THE NORTH MOST JAPANESE ISLAND. THEY ARE USUALLY THE LENGTH OF THE SHORTER WAZZIKAI SWORDS NOT THE FULL SIZE KATANA . I AM NOT SURE IF A TANTO (DAGGER SIZE) WOULD BE A DOCTORS SWORD. I AM SURE THOSE WHO COLLECT JAPANESE WEAPONS CAN GIVE YOU BETTER INFORMATION. IT LOOKS LIKE A NICE ONE CONGRATULATIONS.

spiral · 22nd January 2015, 12:06 AM

Unusual & interesting item!

Ive never seen anything like it. {Not that means anything..}

But if you ask the dealers at Aoi Art by email at info@aoijapan.jp They should know.

There the true horses mouth for all true Japanese knife & sword art, in my experience.

spiral

estcrh · 23rd January 2015, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henk

Can anyone of the knowledgeable forummembers tell me more about it? I don't have it yet but here are some pictures of the seller.

Would you mind posting the description of the seller. A traditionally made Japanese blade (nihonto) would have a way to remove the blade from the hilt (tsuka). This may be a Meiji Period (post samurai) creation.

trenchwarfare · 23rd January 2015, 04:00 PM

I agree. I think late Victorian "tourista" piece, made for the Europeans who were ravenous for anything Oriental, Egyptian, or Medieval. I've seen two identical daggers on ebay. Pretty good blade shape though.

ronpakis · 23rd January 2015, 04:08 PM

Hello Henk,

I think the scabbard is indeed, as stated, created for economic purposes instead as for the traditional Japanese market. The blade does not look very wel imho but the pictures are bad. It looks like it has a dent in the cutting edge, not a sharp dent but more like a wave. Perhaps somebody used a grinder? Doe it have a hamon and hada? (When you receive it we will know)

Greetings Ronpakis

Henk · 23rd January 2015, 07:46 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, 07:24 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

21st January 2015, 08:29 PM	#1
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Unusual tanto in the shape of a dragon When my grandfather past away 45 years ago one of his possesions was a tanto in the shape of a dragon. I had never seen something like that and never saw something like that again. One of his grandsons inherited the tanto. I hope he still have the piece in his posesion. Today i was able to buy a similar one. To be honest, i feel very lucky. Can anyone of the knowledgeable forummembers tell me more about it? I don't have it yet but here are some pictures of the seller. Attached Images

23rd January 2015, 04:08 PM	#7
ronpakis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: netherlands Posts: 75	Dragon tanto Hello Henk, I think the scabbard is indeed, as stated, created for economic purposes instead as for the traditional Japanese market. The blade does not look very wel imho but the pictures are bad. It looks like it has a dent in the cutting edge, not a sharp dent but more like a wave. Perhaps somebody used a grinder? Doe it have a hamon and hada? (When you receive it we will know) Greetings Ronpakis

24th January 2015, 07:24 PM	#9
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

21st January 2015, 09:15 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,763	Hello Henk, I know next to nothing about tantos but I like your one and I am curious to read what knowledge members will tell you. Regards, Detlef

21st January 2015, 10:59 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE JAPANESE SWORDS I HAVE SEEN WITH THE SCABBARD AND HANDLES CARVED LIKE THIS ONES ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN CARRIED BY PHYSICIANS / DOCTORS. I HAVE ONE CARVED LIKE A TYPE OF FISH FOUND IN THE WATERS SURROUNDING HOKKAIDO THE NORTH MOST JAPANESE ISLAND. THEY ARE USUALLY THE LENGTH OF THE SHORTER WAZZIKAI SWORDS NOT THE FULL SIZE KATANA . I AM NOT SURE IF A TANTO (DAGGER SIZE) WOULD BE A DOCTORS SWORD. I AM SURE THOSE WHO COLLECT JAPANESE WEAPONS CAN GIVE YOU BETTER INFORMATION. IT LOOKS LIKE A NICE ONE CONGRATULATIONS.

22nd January 2015, 12:06 AM	#4
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Unusual & interesting item! Ive never seen anything like it. {Not that means anything..} But if you ask the dealers at Aoi Art by email at info@aoijapan.jp They should know. There the true horses mouth for all true Japanese knife & sword art, in my experience. spiral

23rd January 2015, 04:00 PM	#6
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	I agree. I think late Victorian "tourista" piece, made for the Europeans who were ravenous for anything Oriental, Egyptian, or Medieval. I've seen two identical daggers on ebay. Pretty good blade shape though.

23rd January 2015, 07:46 PM	#8
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.