Japanese Tanto?

[saschneider]

Hi all - not sure if you can help but I'm interested in perhaps purchasing a Japanese sword or tanto. I was looking at a couple of auctions and is there any way to verify that what I'm seeing is genuine? Thanks in advance!

Unokubi Zukuri Tanto in simple Suaka koshirae, edo period antique | eBay

TANTO (sword) w/AIKUCHI KOSHIRAE : □YASU : EDO : 13.5 * 8.8 " 370g | eBay

[rbminis]

Please save the photos and add them to your post.
This thread will become useless as a reference once the sale is finished.
Ralph.

[saschneider]

Good point! I've attached some photos here.

[Bruce Pennington]

They both look legit to me. I can't read the mei, but it's Japanese mei.

[ghp95134]

They both look legit to me. I can't read the mei, but it's Japanese mei.

And neither could the person who issued the sword/weapon card in item 353631712805. He read the mei as:
囗廣
[unreadable kanji] hiro



The other one, item 265311118101, looks like the signature is
勝宗
Katsumune
But I'm not certain.

-- Guy

[saschneider]

Guy, can you read the Hiro mei? I think I'm going to buy that one. Thanks all for your opinions!

[ghp95134]

Guy, can you read the Hiro mei? I think I'm going to buy that one. Thanks all for your opinions!

Only the last kanji. The Tourokushou [weapon registration] identifies it as a tanto 22.4 cm long, signed by 囗廣 [something]~hiro. The recorder also could not read the first kanji, so used 囗 as a place-marker. If it were three unreadable kanji, he'd write it as 囗囗囗廣. Sometimes they use an x-box ☒.

-- Guy

[saschneider]

Guy, this is honestly fascinating. I'm thinking I need to start learning these characters if I decide to get serious about collecting these items. Does the Tourokushou give a date? What other information is contained in it.

[ghp95134]

銃砲刀剣登書
Jūhō Tōken Tō-sho

So-called: 登録証
Tōroku-shō
Registration Card

This card is issued when the swordsmith registers a newly made sword; also issued when an older, unregistered, sword is newly registered. The card is divided into two parts. Top is for bladed weapons, the bottom for firearms.

• 種別 Shubetsu． Kind/type Sword/wakizashi/tanto/spear, etc.
• 長さ Nagasa. Length, given in centimeters
• 反り Sori. Curvature.
• 目くぎ穴 Mekugiana. Nail hole
• 銘文 (表) (裏) Meibun (omote) (ura). Inscription (front) (back)
• Date/location of the inspection

Yours was registered Showa 48 (1973), November 7. It was engraved on the omote (front) with 囗廣 [unk]-hiro.

Tōroku-shō will NOT list a date unless it is engraved on the sword.

Cheers,
-- Guy

[saschneider]

Guy (or others who can read these characters) does this help with deciphering the first character?