Tanto of unknown origin given as diplomatic gift 1914.

[Michael_Forsyth]

Hi All

 

I'm new here, and a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information - It will take me quite a while to get up to speed!

I have a couple of swords including a Tanto (I think) inherited from my grandfather who was given them in WW1. The Tanto was a diplomatic gift from a Japanese officer in 1914 (when the Japanese were our allies), and a silver badge was applies then with his name (Capt. W.S. Forsyth).

I have owned the Tanto for many years but have failed to penetrate its origin - or even exactly what kind of Tanto it is (it has been suggested it is a women's blade?)...

It is 11 inches long, the blade being 7 1/2", with a cherrywood scabbard (I think?...) and a rayskin handle covering. (As I said, I am new to this and am not sure of proper terms).

The Hamon is clear, but hard to capture in the pics.

Anyhow, I am fascinated by this blade, and would love to now the date and maker if someone could shed some light.

My early research seems to indicate that the 16 petal chrysanthemum is a seal of the Imperial Emperor late 19th century?, buit I am entirely unsure.

 

Many thanks for any advice you can offer

 

Michael Forsyth (Australia)

[Toryu2020]

A wonderful little tanto Michael - you are most welcome here,

 

Looking forward to seeing and hearing about your discoveries with this very neat inheritance,

 

-t

[george trotter]

Hi Michael,

Very nice...especially the family connection. Was it in relation to the Australian assistance to the Japanese fleet that came to Australia in 1914?

 

Just briefly, your tanto is signed with a kiku-mon (Chrysanthemum crest) over large characters "Hei an jo Tomo Tsuru".

This is Tomotsuru of Hoki who worked in Bunka period 1804-1818. Heianjo is the Heian castle in Kyoto and this prefix appears on many swords to indicate a line of swordsmiths...even in modern times it is still seen.

The small writing says Hon cho cho...which means (not sure, but a slogan?) "our country first/leads?" One of our scholars will correct all my mistakes).

 

On the opposite side your blade is dated Bun ka 6? year 3 month a day (if correct this is March 1809).

The small writing on the date side says Kin michi Chaku? shi which means he is the legitimate descent of the swordsmith Kinmichi.

 

This is a nice little family treasure and a nice little tanto...congratulations. I'm glad your family and you have looked after it.

Regards,

[Michael_Forsyth]

Hi All

Sincere thanks indeed George for providing the information re: the Tanto. I'm absolutely fascinated by it all, although still amazed by the amount of information.

I can't find much other info about Tomotsuru 1808 - I guess there are just so many makers, and his career might have been limited - but am so glad to learn of the blade's age and maker,

and I'll keep looking!

George; - my grandfather was stationed at Fort Denison ('Pinchgut') in Sydney harbour during WW1, and I believe it was a Japanese training flotilla that visited in 1914 and gave him the Tanto.

The old man actually wrote a book ('Garrison Gunners by 'Fronzac') about his time there, and I have some great photos of the garrison.

Obviously there was no real 'action' in Australia during WW1 but he sounds very busy nevertheless, with many visits from allied navies French, British etc. - but no specific mention of the Japanese The Germans/Austrians stayed out to sea!

 

Thanks again for your most welcome feedback -

I have attached another pic of the blade trying to get a shot of the Hamon and blade shape etc. but my cheap camera isn't really up to it.

The blade itself is razor sharp on both edge and tip - quite intimidating really!

 

I will try to uncover more details about the Tanto and Tomotsuru etc, and your leads will be most helpful indeed!

Many thanks again

 

Michael F

[John A Stuart]

On pg 678 of Markus' index there is a good passage about this smith. John

[george trotter]

Hi Michael,

Yes, very interesting. I'm in Perth. We had a sword in the WA Museum presented to an individual here (Mr Liddel or Riddel) in 1914 also (might have been 1917).

I don't have the Markus Sesko book but I imagine he would repeat and expand on info to be found in Japanese works.

 

I always stand to be corrected of course, but by my reading it is in the contrary to what you thought, there are not lots of Tomotsuru smiths. Only about 4...1 in pre 1600 period and 3 around the period yours comes from...but only one listed with the chrysanthemum mon and that is your guy from Hoki province (now called Tottori).

 

The Nihonto Meikan p.634 says Tomotsuru of Hoki prov. in Bunka era used Kikumon. He signed with "genuine descent from Iga no Kami Kinmichi", and Hakushu ju (Hoki resident). He was of the school of 5th generation Heki Iga no Kami Fujiwara Kanetsugu (I think this must be Inaba Prov. "Inshu Tottori Ju Kanetsugu" of 1789, in Hawley 1981 number KAN 400). Tomotsuru's first swordsmith name was Kaneshige. Worked in Bunka era, lived in Hoki province. Your Tomotsuru's Hawley number is TOM 284.

 

Others who collect Edo period swords will no doubt add some info for you and correct any errors I have made. Maybe John can quote the passage from Markus? just to help you.

 

One last thing, I notice you speak of the sharpness of the edge and tip, I do hope you give the dis-assembled blade a light wipe with Singer sewing machine oil afterwards (blade only) and you get some advice about the light surface rust near the habaki before it gets really active...check the info and services links at the top of the main page.

So, nice blade and interesting fittings...probably members here who collect Edo and earlier items will think them a bit "naive", but they are a good example of Meiji/Taisho period fittings.

Regards,

[John A Stuart]

Hoki, 1804-1818, Nihon kaji sosho Iga no Kami Kinmichi chakushi Tomotsuru Kameyama sanroku ni oite kore o saku, Hakushu Shoyama ju Kunihide kore o tsukuru; said to be the son of Iga no Kami Kinmichi, also listed as a student of Heki Kanetsugu. John

[george trotter]

Thanks John...

Michael, it is a repeat of the mei inscription from one of his swords as given in the Meikan...I omitted it but since it is here, it means:

"Japanese swordsmith Tomotsuru, original/genuine descendant of Iga no Kami Kinmichi, made this at Kameyama sanroku".

Yours does not include all this info, being a much shorter mei for a tanto, but says plainly that Tomotsuru is a genuine descendant of Kinmichi.

Hope this helps.