1943 Tanto.

[Hector]

I'm not lucky in auctions. Never.

 

However, I sometimes think 'you've got to be in it to win it' and I'll place a half hearted bid on something I like, only to see it inevitably develop into a bidding war that kicks me to the curb within seconds.

 

Well, I've always wanted a tanto from WWII but every example I've seen has ranged from Chinese 'kamikaze' junk to beautiful Yasukuni tosho masterworks which were way past my budget.

 

Anyhow, I spotted a very nice little piece on Yahoo a few days ago and kept an eye on it until its auction was due to end tonight.

 

I was watching it go up in increments and waiting for the usual flurry of last minute bids when I decided to throw my hat in the ring.

And then nothing else happened.😳

 

Long story short, mine was the last bid and I won it by going ¥500 higher than the last guy.

 

I have no idea who the maker, Morita Sadayoshi, was but I'm a pretty happy chap at the moment!

[eternal_newbie]

Related to Amata Sadayoshi perhaps? They use the same kanji in their names and only the first one differs between them:

 

https://www.samuraisword.com/gallery/swords/amata-sadayoshi/

https://swordsofjapan.com/product/amada-sadayoshi-katana/

[Hector]

6 minutes ago, eternal_newbie said:

Related to Amata Sadayoshi perhaps? They use the same kanji in their names and only the first one differs between them:

 

https://www.samuraisword.com/gallery/swords/amata-sadayoshi/

https://swordsofjapan.com/product/amada-sadayoshi-katana/

As you can probably imagine Rohan, I'm feeling on top of the world - but no way am I that lucky!

Truly appreciate your input nonetheless, sir!!!

 

Below is the seller's description automatically translated into English.

 

Best,

Happy Hector

[eternal_newbie]

16 minutes ago, Hector said:

As you can probably imagine Rohan, I'm feeling on top of the world - but no way am I that lucky!

Truly appreciate your input nonetheless, sir!!!

 

Below is the seller's description automatically translated into English.

 

Best,

Happy Hector

 

Ah well, worth a shot. I was also unable to find anything about a Morita Sadayoshi/Sadanobu who signed "森田貞延".

 

I guess it'll have to remain a mystery for now!

[Hector]

3 minutes ago, eternal_newbie said:

 

Ah well, worth a shot. I was also unable to find anything about a Morita Sadayoshi/Sadanobu who signed "森田貞延".

 

I guess it'll have to remain a mystery for now!

Indeed!

 

Whoever he was, he was pretty good with a file and chisel judging by his yasurime and mei. 😁

[Bugyotsuji]

Sadanobu, yes. (But can that also be read Sadayoshi?)

 

There is a comment by someone on X who was watching the auction saying that this smith must have worked in Mishima in what is now known as ShikokuChuo City in the north of Shikoku.

 

Nice blade, Hector, congratulations! Looks as if Lady Luck smiled upon you…

[Hector]

2 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Sadanobu, yes. (But can that also be read Sadayoshi?)

 

There is a comment by someone on X who was watching the auction saying that this smith must have worked in Mishima in what is now known as ShikokuChuo City in the north of Shikoku.

 

Nice blade, Hector, congratulations! Looks as if Lady Luck smiled upon you…

Many thanks Piers!

 

I'm not on X so I'm afraid I wasn't privy to that conversation. However, I'd be very interested in any other observations - good or bad. 

 

To be honest, I don't even know if it is traditionally made of tamehagane etc (especially as Japan was already on the skids in 1943) but I liked it enough to take a chance (never thinking I'd actually get it). 
I'm too ignorant of potential to ever buy something as an investment so I just aim for things that I know I'll like to look at in my old age. And, as you said, I think Lady Luck might have been smiling on me tonight. 🤞🙂

[Michaelr]

Great Tanto. Congratulations. I also enjoy WW2 Tanto and I would be proud to own this one. Thank you very much for sharing.  MikeR

[Bugyotsuji]

Maybe I'm biased but I like things like this where there is nothing in the literature to back it up. You get to study it from a clean state, no pressure of gimei or anything, simply appreciate it for what it is, a gentle long-time project. Keep it safe, and allow it to teach you! 

[Hector]

Just received the tanto 10 minutes ago and here are very brief first impressions after an initial strip down. 
 

The shirasaya is darker than Hinoki wood with an integral wooden habaki. It's very well-made with circular, ivory mekugi-ana reinforcements/decorations and a black horn mekugi. Everything appears period and completely original to the blade.

 

In hand, the blade itself seems broader (32.4mm) and longer (28cm) than I anticipated. As expected, it retains its ubu-ha section just past the habaki and is in its original wartime polish.
This is very dull and I will need to get the blade into the right light to examine it properly. However, my first observations are that the hamon is water quenched as it has a fine nioi-deki outline but, at present, I can see no other activity and no hada beyond an extremely small kitae-ware.

Next is the nagako - it is sparkling clean for its age and the most beautifully finished of any sword I've handled. The file marks are stunning and the chisel work is very fine. It almost reminds me (and I'm only using this as a comparison, folks - not fantasizing) of some of the Gassan work.

The final surprise was that it has a mitsu-mune, in the style of a much older blade.

 

Further updates to come as I get the blade under a proper light and look for hada and any activities in the hamon.

 

Best,

Hector

 

PS: According to the torokusho, the tanto was only registered six years ago in 2020. So, I strongly suspect it was 'mislaid' (i.e. hidden) by a family post war and has only resurfaced with the eventual passing of someone's grandparent.

Edited Tuesday at 05:22 AM by Hector
Additional comment.

[Hector]

Following a great heads-up by @Bazza regarding WWII tanto and similar, votive or talismanic blades, I would very greatly appreciate any thoughts from @cabowen and @Volker62 on my blade.

 

If you have the time, gentlemen.

m(_ _)m

 

BTW, I think it's now reasonably safe to say the name of my mysterious tosho is SADANOBU.

[Bazza]

Hector,

 

O Lovely!!  A lovely find.  Looking forward to pictures.  A GOOD polish reveals and would add much to your tanto.  I have seen Yasukunito in indiffent polish and a few in very, very good polish and the difference is amazing. Likewise a Minatogawa sword I once saw had a hada very much like silk.  It was gorgeous  The typical WW2 polish just doesn't cut it, but when a good polisher does the work the difference is startling.  So my point here is make sure it goes to a good polisher.  It will be worth every cent.

 

BaZZa.

[lonely panet]

its not ww2 but i have a Morioka Masayoshi tanto, if it arrives before oct i could show you it at the meeting in melb.

 

 

[Hector]

22 minutes ago, lonely panet said:

its not ww2 but i have a Morioka Masayoshi tanto, if it arrives before oct i could show you it at the meeting in melb.

 

 

Maybe this was intended as a PM to BaZZa?

 

I live in Japan, not Australia.

 

PS: absolutely beautiful tanto, btw!

[Hector]

OK, so I've got to start somewhere - so it might as well be a couple of nakago shots.

[ROKUJURO]

Hector,

I read the family name as MORITA. Maybe that leads to more information?

     From the internet:       

A Japanese TANTO (fighting knife) signed Morita Sadanobu (森田貞延) typically points to a 20th-century or WWII-era Gendaitō/showato smith, though signed records for this exact name are scarce and often considered minor or lesser-documented local artisans. Authentic pieces require evaluation of the tang filing (yasurime), signature chiseling (mei), and steel quality

[Hector]

Thanks @ROKUJURO et al but my parade may already have been rained on.

 

Over on the Wehrmacht Award Forum, Komiya-san drew my attention to some war period tanto on the Ohmura site.

 

Stainless steel tanto.

 

Also, to a stainless steel katana which exhibits hada and a true hamon.

 

This would certainly explain why the nakago on my blade doesn't show a lick of rust anywhere.

 

As of yet, the two members whose opinions I value most regarding WWII period tanto, @Volker62 and @cabowen, have not passed comment - so perhaps it's best for me to keep my expectations low and go with 'probably stainless'.

 

On the bright side, at least I won't have to worry about Japan's killer humidity with this one!

 

Best,

Humbled Hector

[Lewis B]

Not sure I would give up all hope Hector. I do see some discoloration on the nakago, just no advanced corrosion. Could the nakago have remained largely untouched and protected within a tightly fitting tsuka? I do see what appears to be some corrosion on the hamachi. If stainless, not sure that could develop unless this is a high carbon stainless steel. Is there any activity in the hada?

 

Have the steel tested using an XRF gun which will quickly give you a non-destructive elemental analysis of the metal. If you see a high signal for chromium (>10%) you will have your answer.

[ROKUJURO]

Hector,

there is no reason to be disappointed in my opinion. Having a HAMON on a stainless steel blade would be extremely special and rare in a metallurgical view. These steels would have to contain more than 13% of chromium to remain rust-resistant (they will not be 100% stainless as long as they contain carbon). 
On the other hand, folding and fire-welding is not possible with the methods used in a traditional forge. Inevitably, oxygen would prevent the welding by forming chromium oxide on the surface which would work as separating agent. Also, a laminating technique as used in traditional forging would make no sense as the stainless steel is completely homogeneous.

So for me, there are two explanations for the clean NAKAGO: Either the blade was made with very special steel in an unknown process (in another galaxy) or, as mentioned above, it was preserved so well in its SHIRA-SAYA that no oxygen could attack it.  

In any  case, the SUGATA, the workmanship and features are looking nice enough for me to like it a lot.

Having said that, I will look on the ÔMURA site for a stainless KATANA with HADA and HAMON which should not exist in a scientific regard, but hey, you never stop learning (in case you accept that you don't know all).

Having the metal of your TANTO XRF-tested would be the first step for me.

[Hector]

Dear @Lewis B and @ROKUJURO,

An XRF gun definitely seems the way forward but I looked into it and I was quoted around $300 to rent one for a day. As I only paid $360 for the tanto, I think I may have to give it a miss. 😁

 

[Lewis B]

8 minutes ago, Hector said:

Dear @Lewis B and @ROKUJURO,

An XRF gun definitely seems the way forward but I looked into it and I was quoted around $300 to rent one for a day. As I only paid $360 for the tanto, I think I may have to give it a miss. 😁

 

There are services in Tokyo who will analyze your sword as a drop in. Price I'm seeing is around $50-75. They may want to see the Torokusho. If you have friends in the jewellery trade, they sometimes have XRF handheld devices to test precious metals. 

[Hector]

17 minutes ago, Lewis B said:

There are services in Tokyo who will analyze your sword as a drop in. Price I'm seeing is around $50-75. They may want to see the Torokusho. If you have friends in the jewellery trade, they sometimes have XRF handheld devices to test precious metals. 

Thank you Lewis!

m(_ _)m

[Conway]

Hector, 

 

Based on the pictures provided, the blade does not exhibit any of the characteristics I have seen in swords and dirks made with WW2 era anti-rust steel. I think you need not worry about that possibility. It looks to be a very nice piece. And even if it was made from anti-rust steel it would be worth far more than what you paid for it. 

[Hector]

16 minutes ago, Conway said:

Hector, 

 

Based on the pictures provided, the blade does not exhibit any of the characteristics I have seen in swords and dirks made with WW2 era anti-rust steel. I think you need not worry about that possibility. It looks to be a very nice piece. And even if it was made from anti-rust steel it would be worth far more than what you paid for it. 

 

Thank you sir!

That is very reassuring to hear.

 

As folks here have probably noticed, it takes very little for me to get paranoid.
 

Even when I occasionally get lucky, the eternal pessimist in me keeps whispering "the glass is half empty, Hector ..... the glass is half empty"

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Chris Bowen doesn't post on NMB anymore.  He's active on this Military Swords of Japan - Facebook group.  Volker is around, unless he's busy with life elsewhere.

[Hokke]

4 hours ago, Hector said:

Dear @Lewis B and @ROKUJURO,

An XRF gun definitely seems the way forward but I looked into it and I was quoted around $300 to rent one for a day. As I only paid $360 for the tanto, I think I may have to give it a miss. 😁

 

If Japan has jewelry stores and or pawn shops, you will find XRF. I charge $25 to scan things for customers and it literally takes 10 seconds. The tech is getting more and more commonplace these days and with gold at $4400, places that buy precious metals can justify the 20k XRF price tag. 
All that said, I have seen blades made from stainless with hamon, there was a smith here in the states that made them with great success and the hamon and yakiba do not look like your tanto, so I cannot believe this is SS. Hope you find a place to get it scanned, I’m dying to know.

[Matsunoki]

Hector, I have a Showa (just pre war) tanto where the nakago is pristine….just like yours and mine is definitely not SS.

I think yours is a nice trad blade.

Here is the nakago from mine……(lousy dark pics with shadows etc)

and another blade by my smith made for Hitlers ambassador posted elsewhere by Volker (excellent pic) 

Have faith!🙂

 

 

 

[ROKUJURO]

5 hours ago, Hector said:

.....the eternal pessimist in me keeps whispering "the glass is half empty, Hector ..... the glass is half empty"....

Hector,

a pessimist is a realist with some experience in life! 

[Bryce]

G'day Hector,

To back up what Colin said you do find Showa blades with very well preserved nakago. Here is a 1940 dated Gassan Sadakatsu in my collection and yes your blade does have a very well finished nakago.

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[Hokke]

9 hours ago, Hector said:

An XRF gun definitely seems the way forward

 

Oh, one more thing….if you get this blade scanned, snap a picture of the read out on the screen, it’ll be interesting to see the alloy composition and their percentages.