Is this even actually a tanto?

[George KN]

I am once again considering purchasing something with questionable credentials - but I promise I do try my best to learn from my lessons and generally never ask the same question again!

 

This time is what is being described as a Japanese tanto in rather rough shape. Apart from the light surface rust and deeper rust nearer the edge and tip, I'm fairly confident it is a hand forged blade. However, its a tale of two halves, as below the habaki the nakago is way chunkier than other tanto's I've seen, and there seems to be no hole for tsuka/menuki to use!

 

Now I was previously warned that the last tanto I bought looked like it could potentially be a sword blade that had been cut down: 

 
I am still uncertain this is the case with that one (although it has certainly been shortened a bit), but surely this new one below has to be a cut down larger blade if it is missing a hole in the nakago? I can't think of any other reason the blade and nakago are also so thick for its size? It is though a little confusing since the rust seems to indicate it has at least a bit of age too:

 

 

 

 

 

Any and all thoughts are welcome - just trying to increase my understanding,

 George

[Ray Singer]

This appears to be the upper fragment of a longer sword. A wakizashi or daito. 

[George KN]

Thank you @Ray Singer! It would seem I am slowly learning something then 

 

Is there a proper name for a fragment of a sword like this? I'm somewhat surprised they aren't more common, as I could 100% see people wanting to repurpose a broken blade, especially if it had been in a family for a while. Strange they went to all the effort of cutting it down, but then not actually drilling a hole in it so it could be useable...

[Ray Singer]

There would be a mekugi-ana in basically all cases, but with swords being cut up on Japan due to being unlicensed or being showato, they may be sold in this fragmented format (and I've seem more than one placed in a crude shirasaya). 

[Brian]

Not worth it. Not traditionally done, this was done to sell it.

[2devnul]

7 hours ago, Ghoul414 said:

Is there a proper name for a fragment of a sword like this?

 

Junk, they are called junk  

 

Silly Gaijin will buy anything. I now recall mine dispute with one guy who bought Iaito Koshirae fittings/Tsuba from Japan. No explanation worked on him, that this Koshirae fittings/Tsuba are cast, mass produced, for training swords. Not worth much from collector/historical perspective. For that guy they were "something" because he bought them in Japan. Doesn't matter that you can purchase better fittings/Tsuba (even historic), unique, here locally in Poland, for same or lower price.  

 

Anyway, George, please make sure to stick around as this forum will help you (as it is helping me) to navigate safely between all these "newbie Nihonto collectors" traps. 

[George KN]

Thank you all for the help on this! I restrained myself from bidding on it today, and it is now someone else's problem...

 

And @2devnul I'm definitely sticking around for the long haul, the forum and community have already saved me from terrible decisions at least half a dozen times over the last year