Help with inscription on 22 mm blade please

[goo]

Hello everyone I picked up this short Dagger/tanto at the local chapter antique arms dealers meeting spotted it at the bottom of a box of misc partial parts pistols.   I am not a dealer I did not buy it to resell I am trying to put together examples to use to when I make Koshire.   I looked through my reference material and the online resource for the forum and cant seem to find or identify the inscription on this blade. if anyone would be able to help sure would appreciate it. Best Regards Gustavo Hoefs

[ROKUJURO]

22 mm would be really short! On the image, it looks longer....like 22 cm. It's not a dagger, but probably one of the WWII 'pilot TANTO' or 'KAMIKAZE TANTO'.

Before you make a KOSHIRAE (not Koshire), it would be a good idea to have it polished.

I don't know if it is a MEI, but it seems to end with MUNESADA. 

 

[goo]

Thank you for the reply, You were right to correct me yes its 22 centimeters and koshirae is the correct spelling as well.  I will be sure to get those things under control out of respect (and any further embarrassment.) It came with what looks like a fancy but plain saya natural wood with horn at the end of the tsuka and top of the scabbard portion but missing a habaki to secure the two halves together    If this is a pilots Tanto then this would be modern Kanji, a  quick google search auto corrected Munesada to Monesada and images of these types of Tanto Thanks for the clue i will continue to look.

[ROKUJURO]

Gustavo,

there is no swordsmith named 'MONESADA', modern or old.

Concerning the inscription on the blade, I think our language experts will be able to read it. Just post again here: 
 

-  pictures of the NAKAGO (tip pointing upwards) and of the naked blade (full length)

-  taken directly from above

-  with light from the side

-  well focused
-  showing details like HAMON, HADA and HATARAKI

-  against a dark background to get a good contrast

-  and presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the blade itself 

[goo]

Hello Jean if I understood correctly this is about the best I can do I dont have alot of editing and imaging skills I could not get the lighting against a dark back ground after many tries the blue dish towel seemed like the best choice the hamon is barely visible in person and there seems to be residue inside the Tsuka. 

 

Edited March 23, 2024 by goo
photo upside down

[Brian]

Typical wartime soldier's tanto. They were made quick and basically. But genuine for the period. Probably oil quenched.