Matsunoki

Hello from the UK. I am returning to collecting Japanese swords after a gap of many many years. This is my first Nihonto post and this is my first ever forum or social media attempt. Please forgive all errors and omissions! I am trying to reactivate the relevant memory cells and have recovered my books from the loft! It’s good to be back. I have just acquired this Tanto and unsurprisingly I’m already stumped! Please can you help me with the inscriptions? I can get the odd kanji…..year, day, Kuni (I think) but really I’m hopelessly lost. The blade itself also confuses me. I apologise for the poor images but the indifferent polish makes it difficult to photograph. The hada seems to be a gently undulating masame more visible in the hamon. The hamon is is a quite wide suguha mostly in nioi bit with nie scattered and with what looks like lots of sunagashi and strange dark striations along the whole blade. Is it utsuri or hitatsura? It has koshirae that has stylised silver leaf mounts…..I can post an image if anyone would like. Any/all help greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Colin. Ps more images to follow

Well, I’ve decided to join! It’s my first forum/social media platform so it’s all a bit new. However I’ve been heavily into Japanese history and arts for over 40 years…..ever since a dealer showed me a Japanese sword. I was totally hooked. Collected swords but then sold them all more than 30 years ago. (I try not to think about it!!) My interest expanded into different arts….Meiji metalwork, cloisonné, okimono, netsuke etc. Dealt in all these for over 30 years in parallel with a corporate career . Now fully retired from everything. However Nihonto always tugged away at my subconscious. I’ve just sold my whole collection of Japanese art and am returning to swords…ie where it all started those many years ago. It’s like coming home really. Haven’t been this excited for quite a while. Really looking forward to being part of this superb forum. When I get the hang of it I will seek your assistance and opinions on a sword or two that have already entered the household. Meantime best wishes to all of you, stay well in these troubled times. Colin