Yardsale find last week-Tanto

**Hal** · 05-07-2009, 11:19 PM

Hi forum members,
THIS WAS POSTED ON ANOTHER FORUM AND THE DISCUSSION CENTERED ON WHETHER OR NOT THE BLADE WAS RETEMPERED.
THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO HAVE A LOOK.
REGARDS,HAL
P.S. will try to anser any questions.

**harryamb2** · 01-21-2010, 09:47 PM

a signed blade means its very old.could be worth a lot.

**Matt L** · 03-14-2010, 04:25 PM

Well if it's real, then the hamon is proof the blade was hardened and tempered as it is a direct result of the heat treatment. So that subject shouldn't have been worth much discussion LOL

I'd post this in the Japanese section as some folks in there might be able to translate the marking for you...

**Hal** · 03-15-2010, 01:12 AM

Thanks Harry and Matt for your comments. The signature reads; Kanehisa. Best Regards, Hal

**BOB COLEMAN** · 03-17-2010, 06:08 PM

Hal-
The signature appears to be Nobuhisa. What made you think the blade is possibly retempered?

**BOB COLEMAN** · 03-17-2010, 06:16 PM

For those members who do not understand the meaning of "retempered," that refers to a blade that was burnt in a fire and lost it's temper. The blade was retempered. However, retempering never has the strength of an original temper. There are certain telltale signs for retempering such as a cloudy area where the temper begins known as mizukage. Fire will cause the soft interior core of the blade to melt, shift and loose blade balance. There is also a dry appearance to the unfinished steel in the nakago. Pitting can also occur in the nakago.
By the way, the blade appears to be a hirazukuri wakizashi, not a tanto.