Tanto - Opinions On Whether It Can Be Restored?

[FletchSan]

Hi All,

 

I have a Tanto that may technically be a Wakizashi that I am interested in some information on.

 

It appears as though someone has tried to polish one side only and there are several small ware on the blade.

Total length is 43cm

Nagasa 31cm

Nagako 12cm

Sori 0.9cm

 

I assume it is authentic? Just a little dubious as the fittings that came with it are fairly random.

 

Could it be polished given the number of small ware on the blade and is it worth restoring?

 

Is it possible to tell what period it is from the photos ? I assume Shinto?

 

thanks in advance for comments (realise it may be beyond or not worth restoring).

 

cheers,

 

Ben

[lonely panet]

Hi ben,

Its real, BUT...

the hada ware may get worse, that aside its prob not worth the 1000-1500 to get it polished, considering the 100 to 150 hours of work for the Togi, they may decline it.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Ben,

May not be hopeless.  You would be smart to show this to a real polisher and ask his opinion.

Grey

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

1) Personally would not invest in polishing this piece. 

2) Would guess mid to late Edo.

3) Wakizashi

[SAS]

I agree with Grey.

[Jean]

Agreed with Franco...

[FletchSan]

Thanks all. I've sent pics to a local Togishi for his thoughts, though will most likely pass this one on and look for a better example.

 

cheers,

 

Ben

[Ken-Hawaii]

Better example of what, Ben?  What are your criteria for a purchase?

Ken

 

[FletchSan]

A tanto - given it's not a tanto

I don't have one in my collection - and mistakenly thought this was one. Assume this would be classified as a tanto if it was < 30cm?

 

I'm fairly new to collecting so learning all the time and need to start being more selective as well budget permitting.

 

cheers,

 

Ben

[Jean]

It could be called Sunobi tanto. Limit is 30,3 cm for tanto in modern classification.

[Darcy]

Tanto as Jean says is 30.3cm and less (1 shaku). Sunnobi tanto are 0.85 shaku to 1 shaku. Above 1 shaku you are generally calling it a ko-wakizashi if it is hirazukuri and as it gets into the "mini katana" kind of shape from the Edo period just as a wakizashi. If it is earlier than Nanbokucho it could still possibly be called a tanto even if a bit over 1 shaku. 

 

I have had an example of a Yukimitsu that is basically a tanto (no curvature and a bit longer than 1 shaku) by make and intent. This is now classified as a wakizashi at Juyo. It was given as a gift by one of the Tokugawa shoguns and it shows up in their daybook as a wakizashi when it was given. So by whatever determination they chose to use during the Edo period they called it a wakizashi (maybe by the koshirae which is now gone)... and it is about 34cm. 

 

This is all a bit fluid as uchigatana overlap with wakizashi which overlap with tanto. Period and intended use come into play about how you want to call such a thing.

 

This one, curved and hirazukuri and 43cm is solidly in wakizashi territory and ko-wakizashi is ok probably as it's less than halfway to a katana. I don't know if there is a hard limit over what you'd call a ko-wakizashi. 

[FletchSan]

Thanks Darcy. I had thought that the shaku measurement ~30cm was used in relation to the nagasa not the total length? E.g a Tanto being less that 1 shaku meant that the nagasa was less the 30cm and therefore this blade was just outside that being 31cm?

[Guido]

The “standard / average length” during the Edo period was called teisun 定寸; it’s 2 shaku 3 sun 5 bu (71.2 cm) for katana, and 8 sun 5 bu (25.8 cm) for tantō.

 

Tantō longer than teisun are called sunnobi-tantô 寸延び短刀, and less than teisun sunzumari-tantô 寸詰まり短刀.

 

Wakizashi over 1 shaku 8 sun, or 54.5 cm, are called ō-wakizashi 大脇指.

 

Tachi of more than 3 shaku (90.9 cm) are referred to as ōdachi 大太刀, whereas tachi under 2 shaku (60.6 cm) are called kodachi 小太刀.

 

 

[Jean]

You are right Ben.