Unusual tanto in the shape of a dragon
 

When my grandfather past away 45 years ago one of his possesions was a tanto in the shape of a dragon. I had never seen something like that and never saw something like that again. One of his grandsons inherited the tanto. I hope he still have the piece in his posesion.

Today i was able to buy a similar one. To be honest, i feel very lucky. Can anyone of the knowledgeable forummembers tell me more about it?
I don't have it yet but here are some pictures of the seller.

Hello Henk,

I know next to nothing about tantos but I like your one and I am curious to read what knowledge members will tell you. :)

Regards,
Detlef

THE JAPANESE SWORDS I HAVE SEEN WITH THE SCABBARD AND HANDLES CARVED LIKE THIS ONES ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN CARRIED BY PHYSICIANS / DOCTORS. I HAVE ONE CARVED LIKE A TYPE OF FISH FOUND IN THE WATERS SURROUNDING HOKKAIDO THE NORTH MOST JAPANESE ISLAND. THEY ARE USUALLY THE LENGTH OF THE SHORTER WAZZIKAI SWORDS NOT THE FULL SIZE KATANA . I AM NOT SURE IF A TANTO (DAGGER SIZE) WOULD BE A DOCTORS SWORD. I AM SURE THOSE WHO COLLECT JAPANESE WEAPONS CAN GIVE YOU BETTER INFORMATION. IT LOOKS LIKE A NICE ONE CONGRATULATIONS. :)

Unusual & interesting item!

Ive never seen anything like it. {Not that means anything..}

But if you ask the dealers at Aoi Art by email at info@aoijapan.jp They should know.

There the true horses mouth for all true Japanese knife & sword art, in my experience.

spiral

Would you mind posting the description of the seller. A traditionally made Japanese blade (nihonto) would have a way to remove the blade from the hilt (tsuka). This may be a Meiji Period (post samurai) creation.

I agree. I think late Victorian "tourista" piece, made for the Europeans who were ravenous for anything Oriental, Egyptian, or Medieval. I've seen two identical daggers on ebay. Pretty good blade shape though.

Dragon tanto
 

Hello Henk,

I think the scabbard is indeed, as stated, created for economic purposes instead as for the traditional Japanese market. The blade does not look very wel imho but the pictures are bad. It looks like it has a dent in the cutting edge, not a sharp dent but more like a wave. Perhaps somebody used a grinder? Doe it have a hamon and hada? (When you receive it we will know)

Greetings Ronpakis

Hello all,

Thank you for your input.

I followed the advise Spiral gave me and i sent a mail to Aoi Art. I hope they will take the time to give me an answer.

Estcrh,
If there was a description of the seller i would gladly post it, but there is none. I bought it at an auction and i was struck by it for sentimental reasons.

I certainly may hope a grinder wasn't used :mad: When i recieve it i'm probably able to tell you more.
For me the value goes beyond the money, although the price i paid wasn't a price bringing up big expectations of a superb blade. :cool:

Answer from Aoi Art
 

This is the answer i became today from Aoi Art.

This unusual engraving was made after the war time.
After the war ended a lot of occupation troops stayed Japan, and Japanese dealers sold as souvenir.
Many soldier bought as a memory of the victory of the war.
So ,you saw the item as same as yours

Interesting information. Thanks for sharing, Henk. Touristy or not, I definitely appreciate the wood carving by hand..., today it would be done with power tools and probably plastic.

HERE ARE 3 EXAMPLES OF UNUSUAL JAPANESE KNIVES THAT FALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY AS YOUR EXAMPLE. #1 HAS A YARI SPEAR BLADE AND IS CARVED LIKE A HOKADO FISH #2. JAPANESE SHRIMP OR LOBSTER KNIFE.
#3. SAID TO BE A JAPANESE TEMPLE KNIFE. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO BETTER INFO. BUT THEY FALL IN THE TANTO SIZE RANGE RATHER THAN THE SHORT SWORD SIZE.

Thanks Vandoo for sharing your examples. I really like them.
It is just as Nathaniel said. It is absolutely well carved and your temple knife is done with real ivory and horn.

While the koshirae may be "tourista" the yari blade is definitely not. Occasionally some good blades are found in these type mounts.
Rich S

Glad it helped.