tanto mei

[rloose]

I found this tanto while cleaning out some drawers in an old shed. Any help with translating the signature would be appreciated.

 

Rich

 

[hxv]

Rich,

 

It looks like

Munehisa

 

 

Hoanh

[Stephen]

beat to the punch

[benatthelake]

Rich: Well now I'm sure people are curious as to what the full blade looks like. "Found this" stories are always interesting.

 

Additional context and more pictures would be great.

 

Ben M.

[rloose]

Ben-

 

The blade is in very bad shape and I would not want anyone to see it. It is a shame.

 

Rich

[ROKUJURO]

Rich,

 

unless it was you who caused the bad condition of the blade there is no reason to be ashamed. We are not curious to see destroyed items, but in many cases we can help to decide if a blade could possibly be restored.

 

Looking at the NAKAGO, it is probably an older blade, and it would be a pity not to make a preservation attempt.

[rloose]

Jean-

 

I am not the guilty party, but I cannot find a spot on the blade where any of the original surface is intact on either side. No sign of the hamon anywhere. It is still in one piece with no major nicks or dings. A good polish could possibly bring it back, but I imagine that would be more than I can afford. You can see the mune machi is still there, but the ha machi has been previously polished away.

 

Rich

[Brian]

Rich,

I don't think it is that bad. Not good...but I have seen a lot worse. It looks worth a window. If you don't want to tackle that, sell it to me, and I'll take the chance

 

Brian

[rloose]

Hi Brian-

I took a "polishing work shop" from Kuzan Oda (living in Denver at the time) and have some Japanese water stones. The geometry of this blade is very simple, so I think a window attempt is possible. I don't think I can hurt it much as long as I don't change the geometry. Thanks for the offer. If I don't have any luck, I will get back to you.

 

Rich

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Rich,

Sorry but I think what you propose can hurt it much. It's also more aggressive than necessary to bring out the hamon. If your stones touch the ha you will bring it back and if the blade ever gets a real polish the whole ha will have to be brought back to match. How about a tiny sliver of hazuya (or is it jizuya) just on the hamon, not touching the ha or mune?

A polishing workshop is not sufficient training and shame on Kuzan Oda (whoever that is) for encouraging this.

And I know I'll get jumped for this but amateurs (even after a workshop) shouldn't polish.

Grey

[rloose]

Grey-

 

I knew I would get a response like yours. I have an old mumei blade that I picked up at a trading post in Orogrande New Mexico (of all places) around 1978. I submitted it to a shinsa in Albuquerque in 1980 and it was rejected for "being too tired". I was told it was worthless. Lucky for me, John Yumoto consented to discussing the blade with me after the event. He told me it was suriage, and made by a "country smith" around 1590. So here I am with an artifact. I worked very carefully on the blade for about a year and even restored the yokote. I can now see the hamon and the hada. I am sure it is still worthless from a collector's point of view. This blade was never intended to be an art sword, but something to be used. It is worth something to me because of it's age and historical value.

 

But this issue is somewhere between politics and religion.

 

Rich

[rloose]

Grey-

 

I had lost track of Oda, but it appears he has gone back to Japan. He is an interesting mix of the old and the new. Here is a link:

 

http://moderntosho.com/OdaTanto.htm

 

Rich