Matsunoki

Greetings to you all from the UK This Tanto is a recent acquisition, bought because I think it’s fairly unusual. Personally I’ve never before seen a Tanto of this style. It is in typical UK condition ie neglected but with no serious damage. There is light surface staining and scuffing but a healthy suguha hamon about 5mm wide is visible. An old collection label kindly told me the Mei reads Seishin sai Morichika and I think my old Hawleys tells me it is MOR543 working in Musashi during the Bakumatsu period….1860s. The Handachi type mounts would once have been very flashy as they were allover richly gilded, now worn. The tsuba is pretty awful, maybe a replacement. Nagasa 25.5cm Any/all opinions/comments/info most welcome. Many thanks. Stay well. Colin.

Greetings all. I am learning so much about Showa swords from this forum. Obviously knowledge has greatly increased over more recent years. I am posting this sword to hopefully get all/any comments/opinions/ information but also because hopefully someone might enjoy it. I believe the Star stamp suggests it is a traditionally made blade? It has two other stamps…one on nakago and one on nakago mune. I believe it is dated 1942 and signed Seki Mitsunobu. From what I can find, he was a young smith who came late to the RJT programme….please correct me. I bought it because I really liked the blade. To me it has “spirit”….flamboyant hamon etc. The forging is very dense and does not really show in the current polish (wartime??). The Nagasa is 65cm but the blade is quite light and has excellent balance…imo. I believe the smith had some real talent even though young? What do you all think. Many thanks. Stay well. Colin.

Hi Jon parcelforce will not handle swords/blades if they know that is what it is. I suspect that means their insurance would be invalidated anyway if a problem occurred. Have a look at their terms and conditions, in particular the “prohibited items”. I know it’s a nightmare sending anything now and I can’t give you a viable alternative. I urge caution. If it’s really valuable how about meeting the recipient halfway and handing it over? Peace of mind……. regards. Colin

JT….for what it’s worth….I would have bought this if it was put in front of me. I agree….it looks interesting. Unless it has been retempered, the presence of an obvious boshi means it hasn’t been shortened at that end, nor does it look shortened at the other end to my eyes. The nakago does look a tad “old” …..but the whole blade looks old to me. From the images it looks like the hamon ends at where the machi used to be (unless its a disguising polish) which does at least imply “ubu”. And anyway, how many blades do we see with decent ayasugi hada?…….another reason to buy it in my book. Like you say….they all have value….and it need not necessarily be monetary value. I am not qualified to comment on the Mei….except that it does not look in the right place! I applaud. Colin.

It would be strange to record your last will and testament in kanji on the inside of a tsuka where no one would ever see it unless the tsuka was destroyed in the process of discovery. As Yanchen suggests, much more likely to be something the sayashi noted for assembly purposes….imo.

Just a thought….could something be stuck/lodged in the depths of the tsuka? But I can’t see an answer to the question- does the mekugi hole line up with the mekugi ana in the nakago? If it does then missing horn is best bet. If It doesn’t then shrunk tsuka or something lodged more likely? Or…has the habaki been forced too far up on the blade? I’ve seen that before.

Thanks David. No stamps anywhere. Is it unusual to have a lacquer saya on these army koshirae? I would have thought they would be very vulnerable ….but of course more traditional?

Hi Bruno thanks for looking and commenting nakago is good I think. Images attached Trouble is the inscription just says “made from iron sand” ……doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gunsuihagane? Brian tells me above that tamahagane is made from iron sand!…thus could be a traditionally made blade? I think this smith is quite well thought of. I did find this blade by him. http://sanmei.com/contents/media/A69928_S5089_PUP_E.htm The hamon on my blade does look like it COULD look like that from the barely visible elements……or maybe hopeful thinking! The hamon is quite wide….around 1cm+ and the boshi is strong…because it is still visible despite the degraded polish. why are so many UK swords so neglected!? all the best. Colin

There is absolutely definitely a hamon there - present for full length and boshi but impossible to get a good image. If you look you can just see it in auctioneers pics.

Hi Brian…..no wonder I get confused! These two articles talk about it as if it is a different material! http://www.nihontocraft.com/Gunsuihagane.html http://www.nihontocraft.com/Kanetomo.html All the best Colin

Hi Trystan this should take you there https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/halls-timed/catalogue-id-halls-10006/lot-33c61444-4dad-459c-8b71-ae1a010e9266

Hello all I got a good dose of “the red mist” and recently bought this sword at auction in the UK. I attach images of the auction description, the auctioneers info re the Mei and inscription and a few of the auctioneers images. No point trying to image the blade…..the polish has gone but it is in solid “grey” undamaged condition with just one very minor chip. A wide and wild hamon is just visible…looks choji based. The saya is good quality lacquer with a few dings and cracks….but untouched as are the rest of the mounts. It’s a “sleeper”. What attracted me to it was the “made from iron sand” inscription that I have never seen before. I have now found out more about the project to find a tamahagne alternative…..this sword would possibly be a documented example? Can we even call it Gendaito……not made from tamahagane? Would the NBTHK even look at it?…..non traditional wartime blade etc. Worth polish and s/saya? (It was not inexpensive in the first place,) You guys will know far more about it and I would love to hear your opinions and comments. if I can provide any more info please ask. Many thanks in advance. Colin Auctioneers info re the inscription- “Not a problem and best of luck with the bidding! For the translation I asked an online community for Japanese sword collectors and it was essentially a communal effort. The final translation came back as: Side 1: Ryūminsai Kanetomo nyūdō saku kore 龍眠齋兼友入道作之 (made by Kanetomo, lay priest of the Dragon Sleeping Studio) Side 2: 九十九里浜ノ砂鉄ニテ造ル : made with iron-sand from Kujukuri beach They also linked me to this page which had lots of useful information about the swordsmith: “http://www.nihontocraft.com/Kanetomo.html

I think the current state of our planet has a lot to do with things slowing down right now. Covid (and it’s after effects) is still with us, seriously soaring energy and cost of living increases (here in Europe anyway)……A major war in the heart of Europe (again…who would have believed it), interest rates at virtually zero etc etc. It’s a very uncertain (and scary) world. I think before…going back say 3 years….. people generally would rather spend capital and enjoy ownership rather than keep money in the bank. Not so now it seems. I know several of the worlds leading Meiji Works of Art dealers and things are definitely slow in that market also. The only exception seems to be when something half decent crops up in an auction and then things seem to go totally crazy. Is it like that in the USA or Australia?

Christian…..many thanks for looking and for your comments. I did even wonder if it is a type of hitatsura hardening. The polish simply isn’t good enough to get a good look now matter how you light it. It’s got loads of hataraki….but impossible to get a good image. So frustrating! Anyway, thanks again. colin. Steve…pm sent. Many thanks.

Hi Bruno. I used a UK craftsman cabinet maker to make some for me many years ago. I showed him some images of the real thing and I made templates in cardboard of the important pieces ie the end pieces in which the swords sit. I gave him dimensions and the results were superb. He studied the images and understood how the Japanese craftsman made them. Ok, not Japanese but very close. I had them done in polished hardwood but of course you could use something like seasoned pine….leave them simply waxed or have fun with aerosol paint to give a lacquer effect. Even cut out stencils to apply gold mon…..or any design you like. Lots of possibilities but, sadly, still not Japanese. Please also bear in mind shipping fragile items from Japan can end in disaster. Also I don’t think anything can come from Japan via air at the moment because of the war…..so it would be sea freight….many weeks. The big London Japanese auctions sometimes have them….Bonhams, Christie’s etc but they seem to make strong prices. happy hunting. All the best. Colin

Hello all, I would greatly appreciate opinions, views and if possible some help on this silver mounted Aikuchi Tanto. On a previous post “Nobody” on this forum very kindly translated the Mei and inscription as - 應藤原▢邦求作之 – Responding to the order from Fujiwara something-kuni, made this. 萬延元年八月日 道俊 – Man’en 1st year (1860), 8th month, Michitoshi (＜ー smith name) frustratingly the critical kanji of the person who commissioned this Tanto is ruined by an ana. Does anyone have any idea, bearing in mind the important Fujiwara family name…..who this could be? Could it be something to do with what happened in the Manen nengo? The nengo was I believe for just a single year marking a major fire at Edo castle and also a famous assassination? I am also struggling with the smith. In this case his name appears below the date which threw me totally and I am unable to identify which Michitoshi it is. The Michi kanji confuses me. Hawley lists 3 smiths around that time. Help! …..and with profuse apologies for so many questions…..can you comment on the unusual (to me) blade features. The polish is a bit tired but the hada is flowing masame, the hamon is a wide wild suguha/midare with some notare undulations. Looks full of sunagashi…….but I am puzzled by the dark streaks running the full length of the ji …..is that bo-utsuri? Apologies for poor images. many many thanks. Basic dimensions nagasa 28.5 cm (40.0 overall) motohaba 28mm motokasane 8mm

Best reason for buying anything……because we love it. I applaud. Only the sword can tell us exactly it’s history and It cannot speak. I also like it……it exists…..we are so lucky.

I think the blossom depicted is Cherry because of the indented ends to the petals. Plum has rounded ends? That probably doesn’t help much…sorry.

Hello Will, welcome to the world of Japanese swords. This interest can become a passion that can stay with you all your life. The subject is challenging and complex and never ever boring. It can generate great debates! Real Japanese swords (Nihonto) come in many sizes, styles and qualities…..from breathtaking works of art to functional fighting weapons. And that is just the blades…..wait until you encounter some of the stunning fittings that can come with them. In my opinion (hopefully shared by all on this forum) the blades are the finest cutting weapon ever made by us humans and some of the the fittings defy you believe that we humans actually made them. You have not got off to the best start…..not many of us did. I certainly didn’t. You have found a Chinese fake. There are probably millions of them all over the world. Don’t let that put you off. Get on Amazon and buy a few books. Anything you read will start to build knowledge. Take your time. Find a reliable dealer. Read what kicks off on this forum. Don’t buy anything else (one fake is enough!) until you get some of the “basics” and you find someone you can trust. Later you will be able to make your own mind up. Above all buy what you like……not for investment but for pleasure. (No doubt I will be contradicted here!). Good luck! Bon voyage. Colin

Hello Raaay and Bruno thank you both for your time and your helpful comments….greatly appreciated. I’m going to think about it all for a little while. I’m not keen to wait ages for anything nowadays so might just live with it “as it is”. I am confident it is “right” and thus it’s a pleasure to own an item by such an important modern/Showa smith. Bruno…..how does Chris Bowen know about this Tanto? I have not heard from him directly but it’s extremely reassuring to have such a definite opinion. If you read this Chris….thank you. Finally ….everyone…..PLEASE don’t let this thread become a debate about “togishi”! All the best to all of you……out there somewhere on this planet. Colin

Hello Bazza, if I grow much older it’ll all be over! Wise advise, thank you. I have travelled this Nihonto road before. My first collection had over 100 blades of all variants, ages, qualities etc from a lovely Heian tachi in Muromachi court mounts to Yasukuni shrine examples. I sold them all 35-40 years ago (I try not to think about it). The intervening years was spent on Meiji works of art…..cloisonné, mixed metalwork, Satsuma, okimono…….but I’ve just sold my entire collection to return to where it all started…Nihonto. Trouble is my knowledge (what there was of it) lies buried deep in some redundant brain cells and my library is definitely out of date. The trouble over here in the UK is that the required restorers are few and very far between not mention waiting lists of years apparently. It’s very frustrating but I would never take short cuts. Good swords are in short supply as well…..and the worlds postal system seems to have broken down so that hampers things as well as does our current Border Force attitude . Heyho….it’s still great fun. Thanks for the contact. All the best. Colin

Brian…..I totally agree it needs a lovely shirasaya, polish and shinsa. Trouble is stuck here in the UK…..no chance really unless I wave goodbye to it for a few years! If anyone can suggest a way this can be done given these chaotic times and dodgy postal systems I’d love to hear from you. I doubt its value would justify using an agent? I acquired it from probably the most knowledgeable UK dealer who I’ve known for over 35 years…..he was totally sure. lonely planet….thanks…I’m with you! I’d bet my house it’s right (if I was a betting man)