Tanto a friend is willing to trade to me, Good deal?

[tokashikibob]

Hello,

Thanks in advance for the help and sharing your knowledge. A friend of mine is willing to trade a tanto in need of polish. It has a few kizu, strong Midareba hamon with faint itame hada. He's looking for $300 or some German stuff I have.

 

Thank you,

Bob

[Tcat]

Some questions to help make a judgement:

 

1) what kind of kizu, and how large?

2) is there a habaki?

3) are there any other fittings / shirasaya present?

4) can you provide any other photos showing the whole blade and/or any other parts present?

[tokashikibob]

Thanks for taking the time to look at this tanto Alex. Habaki is silver over copper but damaged. extreme tip of blade is gone, There are 6 kizu, none in the hamon and the blade edge is undamaged. I would have liked to have seen it in it's glory days thats for sure. I usually look for valid battlefield pick ups to place in historical displays, I just want to make sure this is something that needs rescue from the flea market or not.

 

Thanks again, Alex!

 

[Jean]

Fukure, all depends on your appetite to get this blade. I would not go for it except if your stuff is also full of kizu

[tokashikibob]

I went ahead and traded after my buddy threw in a unusual USMC pre ww2 uniform which could be a prize in itself. I figured out that the tanto was from the shitahara school but could not match the bottom kanji to a individual This clean version is a pretty close match as far as characteristics that I see faintly on this flea market find. http://ryujinswords.com/hiroshige.htm A special thanks to Alex for taking the time to write a personal message.

 

Semper Fi,

Bob