Thoughts on this Tanto

[Jamie]

New acquisition

It's believed to be a sue soshu Tanto.

 

 

I like the Hada and hamon. In the right light the characteristics just pop right out.

Subtle, yet striking in the right light.

 

Nagasa: 27 CM

Mune: Mitsu Mune

Hada: Itame,Mokume, O Hada and Bright nioi

Hamon: Sungashi

 

There are many more pics if anyone is interested in seeing them. I already own this piece and I am happy with it, but was curious as to you guys thoughts. please express your honest opinion.

[Mark Green]

Very Pretty!!!

Good pics too. I would say post a few more.

Mark G

[huntershooter]

Nice blade with a lot of activity. I don't see a lot of hirazukuri blades with bohi.

Well done on the photos.

[Jamie]

Thanks

I can't take credit for the pics. But they are detailed, no doubt. Very accurate

A couple more pics.

[estcrh]

I was wondering if the blade was longer at one time? Is it normal for bo-hi to be so far into the nakago?

[huntershooter]

Not that unusual for the bohi to run into nakago like this Eric. The blade doesn't look appreciably shortened if at all to me.

[SwordGuyJoe]

Very nice piece Jamie! I agree that this wasn't shortened and it is very normal for bo-hi to extend into the nakago, this type is called kaki-nagashi (extending to the end of the nakago completely would be kaki-toshi).

 

So Jamie, you have the tradition as soshu, do you have a guess on the school?

[sanjuro]

Jamie.

 

A very nice piece. Congrats! I like the hada very much. I think this one might stretch your research abilities a little. Enjoy!

[pcfarrar]

Nice looking tanto. It appears to be quite healthy and hasn't had many polishes, I wonder if its shin-shinto?

[Jamie]

Peter,

It's supposed to be Muramachi. The patina is a bit darker than it appears in the photos.

 

Joe, Possibly from Odawara

[cabowen]

Definitely not shinshinto.....I think muromachi is a safe bet....Odawara soshu was known for their horimono and the jigane is a little more refined....I would look at Shimada.

[pcfarrar]

I've got a papered Keichô period Shimada Sukemune wakizashi and the jigane is very similar to this tanto. I think Chris might have nailed it with Shimada.

[Jamie]

Shimada-

Interesting

Thanks

 

Peter, I'd be interested to see pics if you felt like sharing one.

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Personally, based on hada itame with O itame and some mokume and the hamon i would go to Soshu Yasuharu ha.

[Veli]

What a beautiful hada!

 

I am asking to learn, not to suggest anything: How much of the O-itame is due to metal removal by polishes (the number of which seems to be smaller than in most blades of this age) or has it been visible already when the blade was new?

 

BR,

 

Veli

[sanjuro]

Jamie.

 

For comparison to a Shimada blade of the same era I have attached photos of my NBTHK papered Shimada blade. The hada seems a little tighter on my blade than on yours, but that in itself is not decisive. There are significant similarities.

[pcfarrar]

Quick photo of my NTHK papered Shimada Sukemune. Photo is a bit poor but you can see the mokume and o-hada.

[Curran]

Given shape and what I can see of it, Shimada is not a bad call at all by Mr. Bowen. I tend to think of them when coming across late Muromachi o-tanto.

 

There is a fair bit written on this school in English, though I have sold most of my publications that I recall having this info.. Someone else might have them and be able to further yes/no the Shimada call by consulting them. What little of their work I've seen in person, I have often liked.

[b.hennick]

There is a good section on shimada blades in the sue koto translation done for the JSSUS. The 2 volume set is inexepensive and available on-line on the JSSUS web.-site. Go to http://www.jssus.org and click onsupplies. Scroll down the page ...$60.

[Curran]

This would be one of the book sets I was thinking about. I think I purchased it for the Bizen section, but found other sections very informative. I recall the Shimada writeup being good.

[Jamie]

Thank you guys for your thoughts and Pictures. I really appreciate all the help, and suggestions.

 

Peter that hada and even the Activity in the Hamon looks pretty similar to me.

I'm sure I'll get this papered eventually- but for now I'll study up on the Schools discussed, see if I can make a guess, and then send it for Shinsa.

[nihonto1001]

I was thinking some Hasebe smith. Any chance?

 

Jon

[nagamaki - Franco]

Greetings,

 

This tanto fits the descriptions Yamanaka presents in his Newsletters revised for the Shimada school in general, and more specifically for Shimada tanto, reasonably close.

 

I already own this piece and I am happy with it, but was curious as to you guys thoughts. please express your honest opinion.

 

Only opinion, it's possible the tip of this tanto might have been adjusted due to damage at some point, as it looks like it might have extended out farther based on the position of the boshi. It would be interesting to compare the shapes in relation to the boshi of these other tanto posted along with lengths.

 

How much of the O-itame is due to metal removal by polishes

 

"O-hada" is 'part of the described characteristics for this school's jitetsu/hada', along with "the grain will stand out". Additionally, each blade must be assessed for workmanship and for how much metal removal has occurred from polishing. Which could affect the remaining tightness/looseness of the steel.

[Jamie]

Franco,

Can I take a picture or measure the blade that might help establish if you are correct?

it's interesting researching this.

 

Looking at the blade in hand I see why you might think that. How can I compare it to others like it?

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Jamie,

 

Actually, was hoping someone with a very similar tanto would post images of their tanto's kissaki/boshi area for visual comparison. While no two swords would be expected to be exactly alike, seeing swords made from the same school or even the same smith is often helpful when evaluating a particular piece, especially if one of the swords were ubu.

 

added for boshi tip comparisons;

http://www007.upp.so-net.ne.jp/m-kenji/oshigata/koto14.html

 

http://www.shibuiswords.com/tokai6.htm

 

http://www.japaneseswordpolishing.net/fss191.htm