Need Help Identifying This Tantō

dana_w · 7th February 2013, 03:07 PM

I will look around and see if I can find matching example of the "reproduction" tanto / aikuchi / tanken.

Is there anyway to put a production date on the officers naval dirk? Is it worth removing the handle and photographing the tang?

laEspadaAncha · 7th February 2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dana_w

Is it worth removing the handle and photographing the tang?

In a word, no.

The blade in the officer's dirk is almost certainly (read: certainly) not nihonto, and is more appreciable and desirable left as-is.

dana_w · 7th February 2013, 10:27 PM

Ok, but

Quote:

Originally Posted by dana_w

Is there anyway to put a production date on the officers naval dirk?

laEspadaAncha · 8th February 2013, 07:16 AM

To be honest, that's a good question, Dana...

As I understand it, this pattern is still issued in the Japanese navy to this day.

With some Japanese military-pattern edged weapons (e.g., Type 30 bayonets and Type 95 NCO swords), arsenal marks, serial numbers, and/or acceptance stamps can sometimes be used to narrow down a date range with varying degrees of success. There should be arsenal marks or acceptance stamps on the crossguard of your dirk.

Another clue may be found in the same grips. Is the grip of your exmaple made with real or synthetic same? If synthetic, it dates to late-WWII or later.

dana_w · 9th February 2013, 03:17 PM

Hello laEspadaAncha,

Here is a photo of a mark on the crossguard made with my cell phone.

Is there anything to look for that would tell if the grip is synthetic or real?

trenchwarfare · 13th February 2013, 11:09 PM

The same looks to be authentic. The maker mark is that of Suya Co. Overall, this dirk is of very good quality, and possibly pre WWII.

pbleed · 14th February 2013, 12:21 AM

There are two blades here.
The Navy Dagger is absolutely a piece of WWII era Japanese militaria.
The other blade is absolutely Modern Chinese production. Your father wasted his money. It will be hundreds of years before this has collectors' value.
Peter Bleed

dana_w · 14th February 2013, 09:48 PM

Thanks trenchwarfare, I'll see if I can find some information on the Suya Company..... Ok found something "Suya Shōten Co. Ltd with To inspection stamp". Time to do some more reading.

pbleed, You must be psychic

to say that my father "wasted his money". What do you think he paid?

In any case, I would enjoy seeing a picture of your WWII era Navy Dagger for comparison.

9th February 2013, 03:17 PM	#5
dana_w Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Florida, USA Posts: 436	Hello laEspadaAncha, Here is a photo of a mark on the crossguard made with my cell phone. Is there anything to look for that would tell if the grip is synthetic or real? Attached Images

14th February 2013, 12:21 AM	#7
pbleed Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 88	There are two blades here. The Navy Dagger is absolutely a piece of WWII era Japanese militaria. The other blade is absolutely Modern Chinese production. Your father wasted his money. It will be hundreds of years before this has collectors' value. Peter Bleed Last edited by David; 14th February 2013 at 10:43 PM. Reason: Offers or inquiries into commercial sale is absolutely forbidden in this forum!

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7th February 2013, 03:07 PM	#1
dana_w Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Florida, USA Posts: 436	I will look around and see if I can find matching example of the "reproduction" tanto / aikuchi / tanken. Is there anyway to put a production date on the officers naval dirk? Is it worth removing the handle and photographing the tang?

8th February 2013, 07:16 AM	#4
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	To be honest, that's a good question, Dana... As I understand it, this pattern is still issued in the Japanese navy to this day. With some Japanese military-pattern edged weapons (e.g., Type 30 bayonets and Type 95 NCO swords), arsenal marks, serial numbers, and/or acceptance stamps can sometimes be used to narrow down a date range with varying degrees of success. There should be arsenal marks or acceptance stamps on the crossguard of your dirk. Another clue may be found in the same grips. Is the grip of your exmaple made with real or synthetic same? If synthetic, it dates to late-WWII or later.

13th February 2013, 11:09 PM	#6
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	The same looks to be authentic. The maker mark is that of Suya Co. Overall, this dirk is of very good quality, and possibly pre WWII.

14th February 2013, 09:48 PM	#8
dana_w Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Florida, USA Posts: 436	Thanks trenchwarfare, I'll see if I can find some information on the Suya Company..... Ok found something "Suya Shōten Co. Ltd with To inspection stamp". Time to do some more reading. pbleed, You must be psychic to say that my father "wasted his money". What do you think he paid? In any case, I would enjoy seeing a picture of your WWII era Navy Dagger for comparison.