2 Tanto’s brought home from Iwo Jima

[Dean1981]

Evening all

 

Thought I would show these 2 Tanto’s ? They where bought home by American vets after the war.

 

The one with the black lacquered saya was found in a cave on Iwo Jima wrapped in a flag. I have the flag also.

 

The other one I have no history on it.

 

Both had some very light surface rust so I sent them away to be stone polished the traditional way, it cost me a small fortune but I wanted it done correctly.

 

Both are very very sharp and have some beautiful crystals in them, I’m guessing these ones are traditionally made ?

 

I look forward to your comments

 

- Dean

[Dean1981]

Blade 1 with no history except it was brought back after the war

[Dean1981]

Blade 2 found in a cave on Iwo with a flag

[Stephen]

Did the professional clean the patina off the signed nakago?

Both nice tanto IMHO spend more money on shirasaya for both.

[Dean1981]

Did the professional clean the patina off the signed nakago?

Both nice tanto IMHO spend more money on shirasaya for both.

Not that I know of but as the other side is black I’m

Guessing he may have cleaned it to unveil the mei.

 

Both Tanto’s where in poor condition when found as can be seen by the saya’s so I got them professionally stone cleaned to save them.

[Dean1981]

Did the professional clean the patina off the signed nakago?

Both nice tanto IMHO spend more money on shirasaya for both.

Also thanks for the advice and kind comments

 

- Dean

[Bruce Pennington]

Very cool Dean! Both look fairly old, have you had anyone give you a guess on age?

[Greg F]

Nice score Dean.

Unlikely a pro would go that far on a nakago. Red rust removal is important but so is preservation of patina.

 

Greg

[Guest]

Hi Dean,

 

Kamon on the Fuchi of Blade 1 is called Kuyo (Nine Stars)

 

  not to be confused with the Hosokawa Kuyo  

 

Also plural of Tanto is Tanto and Saya is Saya 

[Brian]

Both very nice looking tanto.
The unsigned one looks to have hitatsura and may be worth getting a professional opinion on. You could have something significant there.
Someone is going to ask anyways, so may as well be me. Who did the work? There are less than a handful of qualified people to do a "stone polish" and the majority would have done more harm than good. It may cost you a lot more to undo what they did. But for now, let's focus on the blades.
Btw..no so much oil. Just a light wipe is ok.

[Dean1981]

Both very nice looking tanto.

The unsigned one looks to have hitatsura and may be worth getting a professional opinion on. You could have something significant there.

Someone is going to ask anyways, so may as well be me. Who did the work? There are less than a handful of qualified people to do a "stone polish" and the majority would have done more harm than good. It may cost you a lot more to undo what they did. But for now, let's focus on the blades.

Btw..no so much oil. Just a light wipe is ok.

Thankyou Brian

The unsigned blade is really something very beautiful In hand, the blade is very unique to look at.

I looked up hitatsura and it pretty much matches the pictures.

The Hamon is naturally formed ?

 

- Dean

[Ken-Hawaii]

No, the hamon is each tosho's "signature," not to me confused with the mei. It is specifically created to be the hardest part of the blade, as the cutting edge. Check out http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/yakiire.html

[SteveM]

The signature on the signed one is 

 

長曽祢興里

 

Nagasone Okisato - one of the most faked names in the sword world. 

[Stephen]

And to the stones guy is...drum roll..