Ubi no kubi zukuri tanto

[MarkB]

Hello all, this is my first post here and I'll start by thanking you all for such a great forum.

 

I'd like to submit this tanto for discussion and hopefully find out who made it and when.

So far I think the signature reads Suke mori but I'm not sure of that second character.

 

Overall length in koshirae is 49 cm. Blade length from mune machi to kissaki is 30.5 cm

Blade is uchi sori.

 

Hada is unclear due to the state of polish and the hamon appears mainly sugu ha.

 

The tsuba and kodzuka were added after purchase by my father and I think he also made the kodzuka blade.

Hoping these pics are good enough for you to form an opinion. Thanks in advance.

 

 

Mark Bedford

[MarkB]

More pics:

 

Mark B.

[Veli]

Hi Mark!

 

I think you translated correctly, looks like Sukemori 助盛

 

Veli

[MarkB]

Thanks Veli. Any idea of its' age?

 

Mark B

[John A Stuart]

In all likelihood Takada school 16th century. John

[MarkB]

Thanks, John.

 

Do you know any more about this smith or where I could go to look up more info on him?

 

 

MarkB

[Veli]

From Markus Sesko's Index of Japanese Swordsmiths:

 

Sukemori (助盛) Tenbun (天文, 1532-1555), Bungo - "Taira Sukemori Saku" (平助盛作) Taira-Takada school, suguha, gunome midare.

 

The shape of the tanto is attractive, and not so common in koto blades. Worthy of taking to Shinsa, I think. Your blade would also benefit from a re-polish; as you said, the current polish obscures the hada. Usually polishing is not advisable in financial terms, but tanto polish is not too expensive compared to the blade value. Better to take to Shinsa first, however, since polishing a Gimei blade is a waste of money.

 

Veli

[MarkB]

It is a strange thing, but nihonto, designed to be tough and durable things, are in fact rather fragile objects when in full Japanese polish. The smallest fingerprint or scratch can destroy the aesthetics of the item and even the investment spent in polishing them.

 

I live in Australia where even shinsa is not so readily available, let alone anyone qualified to polish. So, I won't have it polished but will probably end up selling it to someone who has more knowledge (and money) than I have and then they can decide to have it polished or not.

I confess that I had hoped it was older than 16thc, but them's the breaks. Thank you all for your information.

[cabowen]

This shape (which by the way is actually called u-no-kubi (cormorant's neck) is seen in the works of Unji, Mihara group, and other Koto Bizen smiths. It was also revived in later Shinshinto and seen often in the tanto from Taisho and early Showa by smiths from the Gassan group and Horii Toshihide. It is relatively rare but that in and of itself really doesn't make it any more valuable.

 

Shinsa would be a good idea. If you want to get it to shinsa there are several people I can recommend who could handle this for you. PM me if you wish to pursue this.