genuine kaiken?

[123565542]

Recently, one of my friends offered me to buy this kaiken. It seems original to me, but I would like to have your opinion on it. I also wonder how much it can be worth, and if a polishing by a recognized togishi would be worth it. I couldn't disassemble the blade, there is no mekugi in the tsuka.

 

Sorry about the fact that the blade is lying on the floor, but I didn't take these pictures.

 

 

[Tanto54]

Dear Stephane,

 

I think that an honest and blunt answer will help you the most.  This looks like a trinket made for export.  Neither, the blade nor the koshirae look very good. Actually the sword does have a mekugi, it is the metal "rivet" looking thing in the handle.  It will screw apart, but please remember that most of these have a "reverse" screw thread (it is two tubes that screw into each other but in the opposite direction of Western screw threads).  We would need to see the nakago to know for sure, but I'm 99% positive that this is just a trinket blade (therefore not worth purchasing or having polished).  As such, it would be worth about $100 to a non-collector... 

[Geraint]

Dear Stephane.

 

I agree with George but with one caveat.  I have a koshirae where the mekugi is not a screw fitting but simple two tubes which are a friction fit to hold them together.  This will not bring you joy in your possession.

 

All the best.

[16k]

... and I agree with both. That blade looks very cheap. The laquer work screams “tourist souvenir”.

[Bazza]

... and yet the blade appears to have mu-zori.  Let's see the tang if we can.

 

BaZZa.

 

LATE EDIT:  I believe I meant to say UCHI ZORI.

[123565542]

Here are more pictures of the blade. Sorry it took so long to show you more pictures of this object, I finally got my friend to let me take it apart and inspect it. I cleaned the blade with uchiko powder as much as I could. The habaki seems to be silver. It looks like someone sharpened it very coarsely but I think I can see a hamon in the light. Although I doubt the authenticity of this blade because of what you told me, I would still like to have your opinion now that you can see the nakago.

 

Stéphane

[123565542]

[Geraint]

Dear Stephane.

 

The additional pictures do nothing other than confirm the advice you already have.  No good blade has a nakago like this one.  Look at the birds in the lacquer design, nothing about them suggests flight.  This is certainly not worth a polish and as I suggested you will have no joy from this if you do buy it.  Let it go.

 

 

All the best

[Brian]

Agree with all the above. But to mention, it is real and Japanese. Not a Chinese fake. Just not a full traditionally-made Japanese working tanto.