Tanto: What do we have here?
 

This is owned by a friend of mine who obtained it in a lot of three Japanese swords. He brought it to me to examine and handle earlier this week.

The blade has been seriously abused by someone with a belt grinder, but it is quite "beefy" and heavy, so there is plenty of metal left to polish. The horimoto (carving on the blade) is detailed and deep.

All the fittings are either horn or iron inlaid with gold. Even the seppa are horn covered in gold. It is complete, with the exception of a missing kozuka (scabbard knife).

We removed the handle and examined the tang, which was devoid of any maker's marks or mei. However, it was covered in thick, dark stabalized patina. (He didn't forward photos of the tang to me yet, but I'll post them when he does).

Sure, it your friend's :D
Just fess up, Andrew, you are switching from SEA to Nihonto!

Can't tell a whole lot about the blade due to lack of pics of it. I suspect
Late Shinshinto. The horimono (blade carving) is poorly done, so I suspect
a later addition perhaps to cover a flaw in the blade (commonly done). The
koshirae are most likely post war pieced together (nothing matches) done
for sale to the West. Keep in mind this is all speculation based on pictures
and I could be very wrong. Still could be an interesting coffee table tanto -
nothing wrong with that, I have a couple of them :-) However, I would
strongly recommend it be seen in person by someone knowledgeable in
Nihonto before you or friend think of having it professionally polished. The
polish could cost more than the tanto is worth.

Rich S

You know I'm a one-trick pony, Ariel. :D The Nihonto waters are too deep for my liking!

Many thanks, Rich! I wondered about the maple-leaf/birds/water/fish/dragon koshirae "theme." ;)

Is it common (or significant) for the tang to be devoid of marks?

Yes, quite common for blades (of all eras) to be unsigned. About half of my
collection is composed of mumei (unsigned) blades. It may (?) by possible
if the blade was in better condition to make a guess as to the school or
even the smith. But again that requires someone much more knowledgeable
than I; in hand inspection and the blade in good polish.

There were a variety of reasons why blades were unsigned. For some smiths
it was considered improper to sign them; for others they didn't sign because
they felt it wasn't their better work; many blades have been shortened over
the years and the signatures cut off.

Rich S

I agree that the quality of the horimono is quite low. Maybe you could show a few more pics of the blade and the tang.
Peter

More pics:

More...

Eek :eek:

Always hurts to see what people can do to a blade.