hso Posted March 5, 2015 Report Posted March 5, 2015 Gentlemen, An older friend of mine has this nice condition knife and I was hoping for a translation of the blade markings and any other information you might lend. Thank you in advance. Quote
Jamie Posted March 5, 2015 Report Posted March 5, 2015 Usually engravings are referred to as Horimono. In this case there may not be a translation. I believe this blade is not of Japanese origin. It's more than likely a Chinese copy or tourist piece. The tang (nakago) looks to be rather crude. I don't mean that badly, but usually Japanese Tanto will have a better finished Nakago. I hope this helps. Quote
Brian Posted March 5, 2015 Report Posted March 5, 2015 If it is real, then it is one of the wartime or post war souvenir or utility tantos that are not traditionally made, and not of any great quality.Some have mentioned knives like this being sold from shrines as souvenirs, and WW2 soldiers often carried a utility knife in wooden shirasaya with a nakago like that. Either way, it isn't a hand forged and folded Japanese tanto. The bonji would be a Buddhist symbol. Could also be a fake as Jamie pointed out. Brian Quote
hso Posted March 5, 2015 Author Report Posted March 5, 2015 Gentlemen, Thank you for your insight. That is very much what I suspected. I'll share that information with my friend. Regards, Mike Crenshaw Quote
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