1st Nihonto,help with era and school please.

[bluboxer]

I recently purchased my first true Nihonto and am trying to place the blade in an approximate time period.This is a tanto that was referenced on the old board by a disabled vet wanting to sell.It is unsigned and has had some bad things done to it.The nakago was cleaned with a wire wheel?Looking for a signature no doubt and it has been polished to it's limit.There is just a thin hamon left.Some of the old patina still remains.I have attempted to take images of the hada and hamon(so much harder than it would seem).I would describe the hada as a mixture of itame-masame/ayasugi.The hamon appears to be a suguba of smallish nie with multiple rows or sunagashi with nie.There seems to be some utsuri close to the nakago.The cutting edge is 29 cm.With my limited experience and literature review I want to say Kamakura period but I may be way off.

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Alan M

[paulb]

Unfortunately the condition does not give too much help in determining age or school. could you confirm the size of the blade?

based on shape alone I would not put it down to Kamakura, earliest would be namobucho but more likely later into the momoyama or taisho.

uinfortunately the cleaned nakago is a great handicap to telling more.

regards

Paul

[Guido]

... earliest would be namobucho but more likely later into the momoyama or taisho.

That would span almost 600 years, 1333 through 1926 ....

 

In any case, not every "true Nihonto" shows the characteristics that make it possible to attribute it properly to a period, province, school or smith, even by the most learned and experienced connoisseurs. Especially when the state of preservation leaves to be desired.

[paulb]

oops!!! sorry I did this early in the morning didnt mean taisho should have been Tensho so a slightly shorter time window!!

[bluboxer]

could you confirm the size of the blade?

The blade measures 29cm edge,40cm OAL,2.5cm wide and approx. 3.5cm thick.

I think I was hoping that there may have been an obvious indicator.Just being able to describe it as Koto or Shinto would be satisfying.Narrowing it down to a century or two would be even better.I would also like to send it to a Togishi to determine it's suitability for further restoration.I am adding another photo of the unfortunate nakago with it's remaining patina.

Thanks,Alan M

[nagamaki - Franco]

In this condition it is tough to tell. Setting that aside for a moment, shape, the brighter red of the newer rust, and the darker steel generally point toward a later piece, not shinto or koto, but then again, that could be completely wrong.