Genuine WW2 Japanese Tanto?

[FinMC]

I recently aqquired this little piece (not for too much) off of an auction site. I am not an expert on Japanese edged weapons & so I am not sure what to look for to tell if it is a genuine WW2 item or not, help would be appreciated!

[BOB COLEMAN]

It appears to be the type of tanto sold for shrine gifts. It is not a blade of great age and possibly is stainless steel.

[FinMC]

Is there no chance it could of WW2 origin - in which an officer/soldier (whoever) had it from his private life, rather than military?

[Gunto]

Civil purchase, IMO. But its not a tanto, since it dosnt have a guard and its not in koshirae, but in shirasaya.

Tanto is the name of the mounts and size.

The knife is ww2.

[BOB COLEMAN]

Is there no chance it could of WW2 origin - in which an officer/soldier (whoever) had it from his private life, rather than military?

There is no way to tell.

[Bruce Pennington]

It has the look of one of those post war crafted tantos made from chopped up gunto. I'm reading a book now, in which the author interviewed a swordsmith fron the war who collected 2 tons of chopped up blades, kept them under his house, and made tanto, knives, etc. Smiths had a very hard time after the war just trying to make a living, so this is one way this gentleman found to survive.

[ghp95134]

It has the look of one of those post war crafted tantos made from chopped up gunto. I'm reading a book now, in which the author interviewed a swordsmith fron the war who collected 2 tons of chopped up blades, kept them under his house, and made tanto, knives, etc. Smiths had a very hard time after the war just trying to make a living, so this is one way this gentleman found to survive.

Could be -- that nakago is mighty rough; maybe because it is fashioned from the tempered portion of the blade.

I know a sword polisher whose father was a smith. His father produced a lot of swords during the winter (easier to work in the forge in winter!), but left them in rough polish; when he died, he had a stack of them. When his son needed some money (not likely because he was landlord of a 5-rise apartment), he'd pull out one, polish it, then sell it. Dunno how he got around naming/dating them since they needed to be registered afterwards.


--Guy