Hello
I have my eye on a tanto that is up for sale. It is in not so clever mounts (it has one of those three leaf clover tourist mons emblazed all over it), BUT the blade looks very good, and is signed "Noboyushi". I took a look at the meis recorded on the Nihonto Club Smiths directory, but no Noboyushi signed their name simply "Noboyushi".

I presume therefore that the mei is a short one by token of the fact the tang is small, because it is a tanto. But is there any way of deducing which Noboyushi the swordsmith likely was?

Cheers
Mark

You will need to compare it to known examples using reference works such as Fujishiro's Shinto-hen, Shinto Taikan, and the like. This is why experienced people always recommend building a good reference library before one starts buying swords.....

I also have a tanto in the same, Meiji period brass aoi mounts, with earlier blade. Mine is also by Nobuyoshi
Never did investigate which one though.

Brian

Hi Brian
Are you selling yours?
If not, that is a coincidence. Maybe there was a job lot of these done?!
Regards
Mark

Mark,
Nope...yours is much nicer than mine, and a different hand. Mine is the typical brass mounts, yours looks quite nice and not mass produced imho. Done in the kikuichi yari style? What is the going price, or is it on auction?

Brian

Hi Brian
It is at an auction and I think I will take a bid / punt.
If I get it, I will let you know.
Cheers
Mark

I wouldn't bother bidding look how poor quality the nakago is and the signature is crude. A good blade never has a bad nakago.