"who Saw Them?"

[Keiji]

Last year I saw on ebay some interesting tantō, "who saw them?"

 

I'm curious to know if any of the forum user have bought, studied, and if he made polishing..

 

"This sword blade came to us from the estate of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps who was stationed in Japan during WWII. The soldier returned to the United States with a large collection of Japanese swords and weaponry, which are currently available in our eBay store."

 

1) http://www.ebay.it/itm/371344471184?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

2) http://www.ebay.it/itm/331575198407?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

3) http://www.ebay.it/itm/381285370095?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

 

4) http://www.ebay.it/itm/381285345338?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[Surfson]

I saw them and actually bought one of them.  The one I bought is a koto Mino tanto signed Kanematsu, but you don't seem to have it shown in your examples.  There appear to be a couple of Kamakura era blades, but I sent images of the nakago from some to my polisher in Japan and he didn't like the shape (apparently old tanto tangs can be bent to look like Kamakura blades), and recommended that I not buy them.  I would be very curious if anybody had one polished and papered.  

[Surfson]

Here are photos of the Kanematsu.   Cheers, Bob

 

[Stephen]

Last time i saw "Them" was tripping on acid out by Giant Rock Caliy ...but nobody believed me!!!

[Keiji]

Thank you Surfson for for sharing your blade! 

Also I would be very curious if anybody had one polished and papered.  There were many blades in auction. I shared only tantō with big names and one unsigned, but perhaps Kamakura.

 

Ahahah Stephen 

[Jean]

Stephen aka David Vincent. LoL

[Surfson]

I assume that some of them are being restored Stephen.  A couple of the ones with "big names" and kinzogan mei on them went for over $2000.  

[Stephen]

[Surfson]

Wouldn't want to see "Them" on acid, that's for sure!   Come to think of it, wouldn't want to see "Them" straight.  

[Keiji]

The first mei is Chikuzen Sa  

[Brian]

C'mon folks. Perfectly reasonable question. Looking at those, who wouldn't want to know the outcome of some of them? Whoever collected them knew a bit about what to look for. Even if they turn out to be all gimei, they are obviously a cut above the usual gimei. Wonder if any of them tuned out to be shoshin?

[Jean]

To be more serious, it would have been interesting to handle these tanto. I noticed the Sa mei but the boshi does not seem to fit from what I can see.

[Mark]

i think Grey and I bought one or two of them. As i remember we sold it/them in SF last year

[vajo]

Nice swords!

 

Btw Them is on of the best B movies i have and looked several times.

 

I also love

The Thing

War of the worlds

Planet of fear

Tarantula

Robinson Crusoe on the Mars

Mister C

and lots more.

[Keiji]

Thank you!

 

We hope to see polished and certified in the future 

[Surfson]

Brian, I bought the only one I was sure of, which is certainly shoshin but not a big name guy.  All the big named ones seemed to have issues.  Some even had a mei that had active rust in the kanji carving.  It is believed that when this is the case the mei is fairly recently carved.  

[Keiji]

From this collection I had bought this kogatana. 

 

Mei: Izumi no Kami Fujiwara Kanesada (maybe the famous 11th generation)

Aizu Kanesada school

Late Edo period

The hamon represents three waves with splashing water (tobiyaki)

 

This kogatana has a really impressive quenching control and the habuchi in nioideki is impressive. Those who tried to make this hamon on kogatana, I'm sure he understands what I mean.

 

You can see about this school: https://books.google.it/books?id=tVEWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA229&lpg=PA229&dq=aizu+kanesada+school&source=bl&ots=jJuLQUisU9&sig=VYJOuB54WBCVm3URKs9HJEj44ZU&hl=it&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzoP-fhv7NAhXIMhoKHWWOC7IQ6AEIKzAC#v=onepage&q=aizu%20kanesada%20school&f=false

 

 

 

  

 

[Greg F]

Hello Francesco, obviously a decorative design but i agree the smith must've had very good skills applying the clay and quenching. I recently made a couple knives with hamon im sure i couldnt even try attempting this. Thanks for sharing.

 

Greg

[Keiji]

It's a pleasure! 

 

The 11th generation Kanesada (1837-1903) came from Aizu, in Iwashiro province (present-day city of Aizu-Wakamatsu), and was active during the Bakumatsu and Meiji era. He received the title „Izumo no Kami“ (和泉守), this was a special honour because no other Kanesada smith except the great No-Sada granted with this title. It 's known that his swords were worn by local Aizu retainers and members of the Shinsengumi. An especially famous work of his became one of the favourite swords of the Shinsengumi vice-commander Hijikata Toshizō. Accordingly, the swordsmith Kanesada is not only known amongst sword collectors and regional historians, but also amongst those interested in the Bakumatsu era in general and the Shinsengumi in particular.

[Keiji]

Do you remember?

 

 

Last year it became Juyo token. A rare ubu tanto of Yamato Hosho Sadaoki...

 

Treasure hunt is still possible?!

[Gakusee]

Francesco, did you buy that sword?

It looks like some of "them" were actually genuine treasures, even though most people were sceptical or uncertain due to the rusty condition of the blades.

[tokashikibob]

Bravo Francesco! There are treasure all around.  You just have to look and risk capital.

 

  Could I bother you for a picture of the masame hada and nioi line?   I am thinking this blade from a WW2 occupation vet has a slim chance at hosho yamato school.

 

Best regards,

   Bob

[Keiji]

I don't win this sword for few $... ????

 

(you can see this sword before the polish, it's the number 3 in the first post).

 

Now is the time for a new "Indiana Jones and the missing tanto"?

[Keiji]

Hello Bob, please open a new topic for the your sword, I'm a beginner, but we hope to help you ????

[Fred Geyer]

C'mon folks. Perfectly reasonable question. Looking at those, who wouldn't want to know the outcome of some of them? Whoever collected them knew a bit about what to look for. Even if they turn out to be all gimei, they are obviously a cut above the usual gimei. Wonder if any of them tuned out to be shoshin?

 

that one is mine !!, yes they are out there 2nd Juyo in 2 years the other came from a gun show that no one looked at because it was in duck taped saya only.

 

go to sword shows and go to the NBTHK displays and see great swords to know what to look for in the old rustly blades, yes guys they are there!!

 

Fred     

[Stephen]

Good eye Fred!!!

[Gakusee]

Well done, Fred!! There were some gems in there. Yours and a couple of others in particular.

 

A few times I did not bite the bullet in some online auctions and have regretted it so kudos to you and other guys who look through the rust or the obvious gimei (not in this case but in other) and decide to take a plunge.

[Keiji]

It's amazing Fred, I think this is the right way for the preservation of the Japanese sword, buy books and visit museums with important blades to refine your eye. I know it's very hard. Congratulation!

 

 

Can you can share more detail and pics about this tanto?

 

Thank you :D

[Surfson]

Well done Fred!  That is the one that I was going to buy until my polisher talked me out of it.  Oh well, live and learn!  

[TheGermanBastard]

Congratulations! Some blades one shouldn't have missed. I did.

 

Great to hear about the outcome of two.