Tanto Shape?

[hmultimedia]

Hi guys,

 

This is my first post! I've been reading and learning as much as I can and I have to say I learn so much from you all in here . I traul eBay a lot as most newbies do and I saw this Tanto that has a strange shape to it. From my learnings so far, shape is one of the key areas of knowledge when appreciating a blade so I'd like to know if this is from a bad reapair / polish or a stlye I haven't come across yet. You can see the blade shape taper before the habaki?

 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Matt

[paulb]

Hi Matt,

Welcome to the board. Can you let us have some dimensions for the blade please?

regarding the shape near the habaki it is generally caused when the blade becomes chipped and the polisher has to remove metal from the edge to get rid of the chip. You see it quite often on older blades (or those that have ahd a rough life)

regards

Paul

[hmultimedia]

Hi Paul,

 

It has a 14" blade with handle of 5 3/8"...o tanto ? Thanks for answering so quick! Shape change like this I assume would detract from value similar to flaws?

 

Cheers

 

Matt

[paulb]

Hi Matt,

with a 14" blade it is more accurately described as a ko-wakazashi. Yes it would detract from the value, how much depends on the age of the blade and who made it as well as the condition of what is left. For example a blade by a famous tanto maker such as Yoshimitsu with this would be accepted and the value not greatly depreciated. If it is by a more run of the mill maker and a much newer blade ( I think this one is shinto BTW) then the drop in value would be greater.

[runagmc]

Another explanation for this shape can be a lot of material being removed from the edge (due to age or damage, as Paul said) and the polisher/polishers didn't want to completely remove the ha-machi... so you get this widening in front of the ha-machi. It's a tired shape...