Need Help Identifying This Tantō

laEspadaAncha · 8th February 2013, 07:16 AM

To be honest, that's a good question, Dana...

As I understand it, this pattern is still issued in the Japanese navy to this day.

With some Japanese military-pattern edged weapons (e.g., Type 30 bayonets and Type 95 NCO swords), arsenal marks, serial numbers, and/or acceptance stamps can sometimes be used to narrow down a date range with varying degrees of success. There should be arsenal marks or acceptance stamps on the crossguard of your dirk.

Another clue may be found in the same grips. Is the grip of your exmaple made with real or synthetic same? If synthetic, it dates to late-WWII or later.

dana_w · 9th February 2013, 03:17 PM

Hello laEspadaAncha,

Here is a photo of a mark on the crossguard made with my cell phone.

Is there anything to look for that would tell if the grip is synthetic or real?

trenchwarfare · 13th February 2013, 11:09 PM

The same looks to be authentic. The maker mark is that of Suya Co. Overall, this dirk is of very good quality, and possibly pre WWII.

pbleed · 14th February 2013, 12:21 AM

There are two blades here.
The Navy Dagger is absolutely a piece of WWII era Japanese militaria.
The other blade is absolutely Modern Chinese production. Your father wasted his money. It will be hundreds of years before this has collectors' value.
Peter Bleed

dana_w · 14th February 2013, 09:48 PM

Thanks trenchwarfare, I'll see if I can find some information on the Suya Company..... Ok found something "Suya Shōten Co. Ltd with To inspection stamp". Time to do some more reading.

pbleed, You must be psychic

to say that my father "wasted his money". What do you think he paid?

In any case, I would enjoy seeing a picture of your WWII era Navy Dagger for comparison.

David · 14th February 2013, 10:17 PM

Peter, your offer of sale has been deleted. Please re-read the forum rules on this.
I might also add that your additional comment on money wasted and collector value seems to have little value itself. I recommend a more constructive approach.

pbleed · 15th February 2013, 01:22 AM

Well, gee.
I tried in concrete terms to explain what IJN daggers are really worth. There are lots of books and websites that offer this information on these blades. I did not mention the fact that I currently have a IJN dagger that I would sell for XXX as a ad. I simply thought it was a graphic demonstration of the real world value of such daggers.
Apparently, my comments on the other "sword" seemed harsh. I'm sorry. But this knife it has nothing of the balance and beauty of a real Japanese sword. I never met your Dad. And Lord knows that I have made lots of good friends at Gun Shows.I probably would have liked him. But, whatever he paid for it, as an investment, this knife has essentially no upward potential. It was, in other words, "a bad investment." Maybe your Dad had a great day, a pleasant trip, and a good lunch. I hope so. Maybe he liked buying this sword. That's okay, too. But you seemed to want information about this knife and I assumed that the purpose of this list is to tell the truth.
Maybe I was short, but I tried only to tell you about this knife. It is not old. It is Chinese in origin, and -given the standards of Japanese swords- it is not handsome.
Peter

9th February 2013, 03:17 PM	#2
dana_w Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Florida, USA Posts: 436	Hello laEspadaAncha, Here is a photo of a mark on the crossguard made with my cell phone. Is there anything to look for that would tell if the grip is synthetic or real? Attached Images

14th February 2013, 12:21 AM	#4
pbleed Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 89	There are two blades here. The Navy Dagger is absolutely a piece of WWII era Japanese militaria. The other blade is absolutely Modern Chinese production. Your father wasted his money. It will be hundreds of years before this has collectors' value. Peter Bleed Last edited by David; 14th February 2013 at 10:43 PM. Reason: Offers or inquiries into commercial sale is absolutely forbidden in this forum!

14th February 2013, 10:17 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,229	Peter, your offer of sale has been deleted. Please re-read the forum rules on this. I might also add that your additional comment on money wasted and collector value seems to have little value itself. I recommend a more constructive approach. Last edited by David; 14th February 2013 at 10:44 PM.

15th February 2013, 01:22 AM	#7
pbleed Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Little Rock, Arkansas Posts: 89	Well, gee. I tried in concrete terms to explain what IJN daggers are really worth. There are lots of books and websites that offer this information on these blades. I did not mention the fact that I currently have a IJN dagger that I would sell for XXX as a ad. I simply thought it was a graphic demonstration of the real world value of such daggers. Apparently, my comments on the other "sword" seemed harsh. I'm sorry. But this knife it has nothing of the balance and beauty of a real Japanese sword. I never met your Dad. And Lord knows that I have made lots of good friends at Gun Shows.I probably would have liked him. But, whatever he paid for it, as an investment, this knife has essentially no upward potential. It was, in other words, "a bad investment." Maybe your Dad had a great day, a pleasant trip, and a good lunch. I hope so. Maybe he liked buying this sword. That's okay, too. But you seemed to want information about this knife and I assumed that the purpose of this list is to tell the truth. Maybe I was short, but I tried only to tell you about this knife. It is not old. It is Chinese in origin, and -given the standards of Japanese swords- it is not handsome. Peter Last edited by pbleed; 15th February 2013 at 02:17 AM.

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8th February 2013, 07:16 AM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	To be honest, that's a good question, Dana... As I understand it, this pattern is still issued in the Japanese navy to this day. With some Japanese military-pattern edged weapons (e.g., Type 30 bayonets and Type 95 NCO swords), arsenal marks, serial numbers, and/or acceptance stamps can sometimes be used to narrow down a date range with varying degrees of success. There should be arsenal marks or acceptance stamps on the crossguard of your dirk. Another clue may be found in the same grips. Is the grip of your exmaple made with real or synthetic same? If synthetic, it dates to late-WWII or later.

13th February 2013, 11:09 PM	#3
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	The same looks to be authentic. The maker mark is that of Suya Co. Overall, this dirk is of very good quality, and possibly pre WWII.

14th February 2013, 09:48 PM	#5
dana_w Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Southeast Florida, USA Posts: 436	Thanks trenchwarfare, I'll see if I can find some information on the Suya Company..... Ok found something "Suya Shōten Co. Ltd with To inspection stamp". Time to do some more reading. pbleed, You must be psychic to say that my father "wasted his money". What do you think he paid? In any case, I would enjoy seeing a picture of your WWII era Navy Dagger for comparison.