Need help Tomotaka Tanto

[Michael 67]

Hi,

 

I got this Tanto today, a nice little tanto. Please support me and help me translate Tomotaka Tanto.

 

Thanks

[Michael 67]

 

Sayagaki

[rebcannonshooter]

Hello, I'll take a try at the translation.  the first picture of the sayagaki says "nan kai ta ro TOMOTAKA" and the date of KO KA ichi nen ni gatsu ? hi.  The tang in picture 6 is signed "nan kai ta ? TOMOTAKA.  The fourth kanji does not look like "ro" to me ( maybe one of the other members can explain that ) 

Hawley has one TOMOTAKA from Tosa who worked circa 1845.  Hope this helps  

[Jussi Ekholm]

Could you provide a better picture of the side with date as this seems very blurry. Year might be 弘化元年 1844

 

I would approach the signature with caution. The famous Nankai Tarō Tomotaka signed Tomotaka with 朝尊 while your sword has different kanji (same reading though) for both. 友高 is Tomotaka but I don't know any smith signing with this combination.

 

Unfortunately I don't know the late smiths too well so I cannot give much more info.

[rebcannonshooter]

Could you provide a better picture of the side with date as this seems very blurry. Year might be 弘化元年 1844

 

I would approach the signature with caution. The famous Nankai Tarō Tomotaka signed Tomotaka with 朝尊 while your sword has different kanji (same reading though) for both. 友高 is Tomotaka but I don't know any smith signing with this combination.

 

Unfortunately I don't know the late smiths too well so I cannot give much more info.

Jussi, you're right, Hawley showed just one TOMOTAKA with this kanji.  The confusion for me is that the kanji for "ro" on the saya is not the same as on the sword?  Also the other tang photo is blurred another photo would help. 

    Tom M. 

[Michael 67]

 

I'll take better pictures tomorrow.

[SteveM]

The site below notes that Tomotaka used a variety of names and signatures, including 友高

 

https://www.tsuruginoya.net/stories/nannkaitarouchousonn/

 

I agree with Jussi that the date is 弘化元年 (well, basically the same thing that Thomas said, but in this case 元年 - gan'nen, is the correct reading), so 1844.

 

The rest of the mei should be

 

代田道長 Daita Michinaga

南海太郎友高　Nankai tarō Tomotaka

 

The "rō" is correct, it is just a bit stylized. In any event, a signature I can't find anywhere else, but the name Daita seems to be associated with this like of smiths. It would be nice to see if one could be authenticated.