Picked Up The Tanto Identified As Kane Sumi. Is This Correct. Any Info

[Scripps]

Picked up my first Japanese Tanto. Did I buy junk or something nice? Any helpnot information would be appreciated.

[Ray Singer]

Appears to be Showa era (not Edo or Muromachi period).

[Grey Doffin]

Hi, name please,

I agree with Ray.  The nakago and placement of the mekugi-ana are off, quite typical for Showa-to.

Grey

[Scripps]

My name or that makers name? Mine is Scott. The maker? Kane Sumi is what it says on paper but I have not verified using a Japanese language book I have.

[J Reid]

It does infact read kanesumi. Translation correct.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Scott,

It was your name; thanks.  The signature does read Kanesumi but the fact that it is signed on the blade and not the nakago leads me to believe that the signature is meaningless.  Many tanto were put together after the war to be sold to westerners.  Often, as is the case here I believe, a blade was made to be put into pretty mounts to catch the eye of the tourist.  As often as not the blades were signed with a famous name: Masamune or Munechika, and quite often the signature was on the blade like on your tanto.  This is probably due to the smaller than usual nakago: no room for a signature.  Many broken katanas ended up as tanto for tourists also.

Next time come to us with questions before you buy; we'll likely save you money.

Grey

[Scripps]

Grey, thanks so much for the information. I’ll keep it as a my first of many then.

[Scripps]

And wow. It this we’re a broken blade reworked someone has some mad skills. Thanks again.