Help identifying Tanto

[LesFire]

Hello everyone, I write you from Italy because one of my friends gave me a Tanto knife that he bought from a junk dealer.
I've got just basic knowledge on Nihonto, I've read Yoshindo Yoshihara book "The craft of the Japanese Sword", but nothing more.  So I'd like to ask your help with the translation of the mei and possibly with the identification of the age/period of this knife (If this is not he the right section please point me the right one).
I've asked one of my Japanese friends to help me with the translation and told me that the first two characters designated the city of KONOE (SHIGA). He told me that the characters where quiete ancient (EDO PERIOD) and he couldn't understand them fully, he thought that the other two characters meant "WIND" and "VICTORY" 
I don't know maybe the last ones were the blacksmith "art" name?
Thanks again for your help!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

Good find from Junk dealer, seems to be late Edo period tanto. Signature is - 近江国胤勝 - Ōmi no kuni Tanekatsu. This smith Tanekatsu was rather unknown but he studied under the famous Taikei Naotane. Age would be in the mid-later 1800's.

[LesFire]

Thanks a lot Jussi Ekholm! For me it would have remained a mistery without your help!
Do you think the blade is actually made from folded steel starting from tamahagane? The hada is not very visible... maybe due to the state of oxidation of the blade. The hamon instead is visibile under the right light
I' don't know if i can ask you this in this section, but do you have an idea of the value of this blade? Just to have an idea of what i'm holding onto. 
Do you think it's better to keep the blade in this state or to find a good sword polisher and restorate it?
Thanks a lot and sorry for all these questions!

 

 

[Katsujinken]

Yes it’s made from tamahagane. 
 

Value is very low in this state. It could certainly be restored by someone qualified but it would not be a profitable investment by any means whatsoever. 

[Brian]

I am not so sure it isn't worth getting a quote on. Tanto, being short are a lot cheaper to polish. If it came at minimal price, then spending some money on it may not be a crazy idea. I think there may be a decent polisher or 2 in Italy. Maybe you should have someone look at it. I think it's likely a tamahagane Nihonto.

[Jussi Ekholm]

You have very high quality sword collecting groups in Italy, NBTHK Italia and INTK. There are members with really great knowledge in both groups and they can give you very good guidance. You might also want to hit up Massimo Rossi as he can guide you well too in regards of restoration (and he is a member of both above groups too).

[Gakusee]

5 minutes ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

You have very high quality sword collecting groups in Italy, NBTHK Italia and INTK. There are members with really great knowledge in both groups and they can give you very good guidance. You might also want to hit up Massimo Rossi as he can guide you well too in regards of restoration (and he is a member of both above groups too).

I second the recommendation of Massimo. He is a lovely, friendly gentleman and really helpful. I have been to his home, and treated with such great hospitality and warmth. 

He is an accomplished polisher and I have seen a number of certificates of merit issued by the NBTHK for swords he has polished. For a beefy,  late tanto like this one, definitely try Massimo. He lives in not far from Firenze. 

[Jacques D.]

Edoardo, 

 

Keep in mind that not all blades are worth polishing for purely economic reasons. A tanto made by an unknown smith will remain a tanto made by an unknown smith once polished. The cost of polishing will be higher than the added value it will provide. 

[LesFire]

Thanks everyone for your help and the great info you gave me!

I'll definetely follow your advices and check the italian forums you pointed me to and maybe have a chat with Massimo.

I wanted to know an approximate value of the tanto only to see if it was worth restoring it.

I really like the tanto even in this "beaten up" look, it makes me think of all the people that have used it, passing it along the generations, and i wouldn't mind keeping it like this.

But a quotation for a polishing job, maybe with a new shirasaya and habaki wouldn't harm anyone, so I will ask around!

Thanks again!

 

[Katsujinken]

Definitely worth asking. My point was just that the cost of restoration may not increase the value more than that cost. But if you love the piece it doesn’t matter!