Considering Purchasing A Tanto...

[PhoenixDude]

Hi All,

I am considering purchasing this tanto I have had my eye on for a while, and was wondering if I could get your opinions / thoughts on it.

Thanks in advance!

[Ray Singer]

Custom order Eisho Norimitsu with zokumei? Looks interesting. The nakago appears to me in very poor condition though, for Muromachi. Do you have more photos? 

[Curran]

Ah, the other Bizen Norimitsu.

As Ray said, looks interesting but difficult to say more without more photos.

[PhoenixDude]

[Ray Singer]

It may be the photos (and the angle used) but there seems to be substantial 'bellying' in the ha where the width has been reduced. How tired is the tanto? 

[PhoenixDude]

Unknown, Dont have any additional photos, only what i can see in the pics. I dont see any shintetsu showing. They are asking about 6.5k for it.

[Ray Singer]

FWIW, I would not be able to make a decision on the basis of those photos. It was not long ago that Benson sold a healthy Magouemon Kiyomitsu tanto (well preserved mei) with solid gold habaki for $6k. There may be other options in terms of Sue-Bizen tanto at a comparable price...

[Vermithrax16]

I can't really make anything of it with these pictures. Buying a paper and signature with just these photos.

EDIT: Missed the above photos somehow and more added below, so looking it over.

[PhoenixDude]

Missed another photo

 

I like this tanto primarily because its a moroha style, from what I understand it was signed by two smiths as a collaberation?

[Ray Singer]

Yosozaemon Norimitsu gassaku.

 

https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=yosozaemon

[Curran]

It was not long ago that Benson sold a healthy Magouemon Kiyomitsu tanto (well preserved mei) with solid gold habaki for $6k.

 

Bob Benson? Was it listed on his site, or at one of the shows?

What he had to offer in Tampa was very slim pickings.

[Ray Singer]

It was an item listed on his website.

[seattle1]

Hello:

 Isn't the shape a function of it being moroha-zukuri (?), or so it seems from the images.

 Arnold F.

[PhoenixDude]

No,I think Ray is right and its seen a few polishes, It would probably have been much straighter when original. I don't see any core steel though in the pics.

[Ken-Hawaii]

One of the many Sukesada tosho, Jay. Is there some reason this blade attracts you? It's not typically Bizen, from what I can see in the photos. Might your money be better spent on a yoroi-doshi?

[Ray Singer]

There is an example of what appears to be a more healthy moroba-zukuri Yosozaemon at the link below.

 

https://yuhindo.com/yosozaemon-sukesada-3/

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

 

Food for thought,

 

consider the possibility that the noticeable dip near the hamachi on the upper edge may be there from a previous single chip taken out (and not from many polishes). The polisher may have decided to remove the damage while leaving as much metal as possible, thus creating a bit of curvature in the edge. Whether the result is correct/acceptable is open to question.

 

When considering a piece like this, consulting with an excellent polisher over the present condition and possibilities of improvement is advisable. Although there are certain physical limits for sure, an excellent polisher will often surprise with what can be accomplished.

 

This tanto could be enjoyed as is, but that should be weighed vs price and resell time, if need be. Especially with older pieces like this one which have seen previous polishes, those polishes, changes, should be carefully evaluated. Some problems extending from previous polishes can be corrected, while others cannot. This applies to the nakago as well.

[Geraint]

Dear Jay.

 

If you are chasing this one primarily for the sugata then you know about this one, right?

 

http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/swords/k15-moroha-tanto-koshirae-mihara-masaoki-3-papers

 

 

I know which one I'd chose.  But then, I'm fond of Mihara blades.

 

All the best.