New Tanto - Suishinshi Masahide

[FletchSan]

Hi All,

 

I took a gamble on this tanto and I have a pretty good feeling about it and would like some feedback.

 

It is signed Masahide with the Kao and as far as I can tell is a pretty decent match on several Kantei points.

The condition isn't great to see too much detail, though the hamon is still bright captured under the right lighting.

 

The shape of the tanto, yasurime, and mei are all pretty close to a few examples I've compared to.

What is left of the fittings look like they were good quality.

 

The provenance is also good being in the same family since the war, so hasn't passed through collectors hands or been previously papered.

 

What do you think Jackpot or Junkyard?

 

Ben

[PNSSHOGUN]

Good quality koshirae always a plus, mei isn't raising any instant alarmbells. Hard call in that polish.

[Stephen]

Id make sure it goes thur Chicago shinsa, BTW bigger the name bigger odds its gimei.

 

I dont see why not Ken!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Ken-Hawaii]

Is the polish good enough for NTHK, Stephen?

[tokashikibob]

Very Nice!  Great find Ben,  let me know when you get tired of it so we can work out a trade or something likewise.

 

Best regards,

  Bob

[FletchSan]

Thanks. I’ll try to get a window done at some stage before thinking about Shinsa.

 

Does anyone have any more examples of papered masahide tantos? I could only find one other.

 

I think my new litmus test to know whether it’s worth keeping is whether or not Bob mentions that it’s something he’d be willing to trade for

[paulb]

Ben

Just a thought regarding shinsa. Its true that the polish doesnt allow you to see much of the workmanship but the mei is very clear and readable. A shinsa panel should be able to tell you whether the mei is right or not as is so you could get an opinion as to it's authenticity without having a window polished.

[FletchSan]

Thanks Paul. Unfortunately I’m limited re: Shinsa options being in Australia. I figure if I was to go to the expense of shipping it to Japan and using an agent etc I’d be better off waiting. At least with a window / togishi looking at it in hand I can get an informed view of whether it’s worth sending on to Shinsa I guess.

 

What options do you have in the UK? Would you send to Japan or the US for Shinsa for something like this?

[PNSSHOGUN]

Andrew Ickeringill should be able to do an appraisal and window for you, if you aren't already aware of him.

[FletchSan]

Yes, aware of Andrew and have used him before. I guess we can't complain about not having Shinsa in Australia given we have a local qualified Togishi

[TheGermanBastard]

This is a very appealing Tanto / Yoroi doshi. I had an interest in it when it was on eBay however the seller said it was Gimei so I did not bother further. From my gut feeling though it looks good. So please let us know the final outcome and good luck! Nice piece.

[peterd]

Fujishiro.

[TheGermanBastard]

Comparing it to the Fujishio Oshigatasa I would lean towards Gimnei. I had at first assumed that the Oshigata you had shown in your first post were legitiamneones but just realized that those are the ones from your actual tanto. Howevr I must make you a huge compliment for your gift in drawing. Very well made Oshigata!

[Jean]

Gimeï

[FletchSan]

The oshigata in my original post is an original one, not my tanto. The reason I included a picture of it is its simularity.

Its from Markus Sesko's Shinto & Shinshinto Katei p.304.

 

That example is from his early artistic period so if mine did pass Shinsa I'd suspect it was from a similar period.

[FletchSan]

A few papered mei examples for comparison. Mine being the first image.

Seems to be some variation over his long career.

 

The second image is the only other tanto example I've been able to find though - which is the closest match.

I also scanned the nakago which shows a lot more detail.

 

[edit] I found another tanto example and the hide character is a reasonable match also found a suishinshi masahide wakizashi on unique Japan that has the same mitsu-mune and rounded back of the nakago.

 

Kantei is fun

[Marius]

Do not raise your hopes Ben. It was put on eBay. It is out of polish, so workmanship cannot confirm the mei. The seller said gimei (good chap, unlike many others). Shinsa will say gimei. That's what you must prepare for. And shoshin is what you can hope for - a jackpot, basically

 

In any case, it is fun and let's see what Andrew says after he makes a window. Keep us informed, please

[FletchSan]

Will do, and I get it The seller wasn’t a collector and was just told it was most likely gimei given the name which is the right assumption of course. It hasn’t been confirmed either way by Shinsa as it was part of an estate sale and hasn’t been in the market before as far as I know. Anyway all I can do is research it and eventually submit it if the workmanship matches the mei

[Surfson]

I studied that blade a lot when it was on ebay, checking all of my mei examples.  I like the mounts, though half of the aikuchi tsuba is missing.  I eventually concluded it was gimei, largely due to the fact that I couldn't find a single other kao that was carved the way this one is.  Good luck with it though - I hope it ends up right.  It was cheap because nobody thought it was shoshin, but that doesn't mean that it's not!  I would like to see it if you bring it to Minneapolis or Chicago.