Old Tanto

[Ulrik]

Dear all, 

 

I got a Tanto from a friend and don't know anything about it. He said it's old and in good shape. I can try to find someone to translate who made it. Would just be interesting to hear your thoughts and I guess this forum I found could give me some information. 

 

All the best / Ulrik 

[Mark S.]

First character is very difficult to see.  Initial impression of mei is Kunimitsu.  But that is based more on feeling than clearly being able to read the characters.  More confident that second character is ‘mitsu’.  

[John C]

I was thinking along the same lines, Mark. Maybe Kanemitsu or Kanemoto, or Kanemaru. This is what I think I'm seeing.

 

John C.

[Ulrik]

John and Mark, thank you for your feedback! 

[Matsunoki]

I also “saw” Kunimitsu. Very tricky. 

[SteveM]

If we can get a photo of the other side of that registration certificate, it will show you what the authorities thought the signature is. 

[Ulrik]

Dear Steve, here it comes. Looking forward to hear from you. 

[ROKUJURO]

Not easy to read for me but might be TOMOMITSU.

The blade looks indeed KOTO. A little tired though, which after a few hundred years is not surprizing.  

[Lewis B]

I think Jean is correct with a Tomomitsu translation. Can you provide the specs. Nagasa, motohaba and motokasane. Tomomitsu is best known for armour piercing yoroi-doshi tanto. 

[Bugyotsuji]

The Mei is casually rendered on the registration certificate, but it looks like Yoshimitsu 吉光, with the other form of Yoshi, i.e 𠮷.

 

(Unfortunately I cannot see the Mei itself on the nakago clearly.)

 

[Ulrik]

Thank you all for your comments!

 

Lewis B:

Here comes the measurements. It's new terminology for me but I hope it's right.

Nagasa: 19 cm

Total length: 27,5 cm

Motohaba: 14 mm

Motokasane: 5 mm

 

Bugyotsuji:

Thank you for translating and I asked a Japanese person at museum i Stockholm today and she said it stood Yoshimitsu. 

 

Here comes some more pictures if its help to determine the tanto and age. 

[Lewis B]

From the sugata I would suggest this is Muromachi and if shoshin either 1st or 2nd gen Yoshimitsu. Hard to tell from the photos but the characteristics  nioi deki, gunome hamon etc point in that direction. Mei is quite small so I might lean towards 1st gen.

 

Does the mune remain straight over its entire length or dip towards the tip? The latter or uchizori suggests earlier production blade eg late Kamakura. A straight Chukan-zori mune would be more consistent with Muromachi. 

 

You should really consider attending the Japan Art Fair in Utrecht next June. This year they had an informal Shinsa session with some very educated eyes, who could assist with the signature and attribution, which I hope they will repeat in 2026. The show is also very educational and allows you to see many blades in hand from most eras. Here's a taster of what to expect

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/DrrY8G1-4T4?si=U3V_2lzIJNAU-9FG

 

 

YOSHIMITSU (賀光), 1st gen., Ōei (応永, 1394-1428), Bizen – “Bizen no Kuni Osafune-jū Yoshimitsu” (備前国長船住賀光), according to tradition the younger brother of Morimitsu (盛光), he signed with small characters, gunome-chōji-midare in nioi-deki

YOSHIMITSU (賀光), 2nd gen., Bun´an (文安, 1444-1449), Bizen – “Bishū Osafune Yoshimitsu” (備州長船賀光), “Bizen no Kuni-jū Osafune Uemon no Jō Fujiwara Yoshimitsu” (備前国住長船右衛門尉藤原賀光), son of the 1st gen. Yoshimitsu, first name Uemon (右衛門), suguha or gunome-chōji in nioi-deki, sujikai-yasurime, the Yoshimitsu lineage stood somewhat out from contemporary Bizen smiths, jō-saku

[Jussi Ekholm]

I would guess Tosa Yoshimitsu (吉光) would be the first direction that I would look into and later part of Muromachi smiths of the lineage. When you search you should be able to find several tiny reference tantō like the one you have.

[Ulrik]

 

Lewis B,

 

Thank you so much for your comments and it could be a great idea with the Japan Art Fair!  
 

The mune doesnt remain straight to the tip, it differs around 1,5-2 mm to the end. 
 

However I might be interested of selling the tanto at an auction house or private sales in the coming future.