O-Sa Tanto (Samonji)

[smitty 0]

Trying to get more info on this.

[SteveShimanek 105]

Some more photos would be helpful; is it signed on the handle? It looks pretty old and authentic.

[D.Kraft 0]

A good picture from the tip also from the tang (nakago) will be helpful.

[Lee Bray 1]

Presumably it is signed O-Sa by the title - that is a big name.

Percentage of gimei(fake signature) blades is very high so with a name like yours, it's generally safe to assume the name is fake.

 

I hope it won't be...

 

Forums may give you an idea, but for a name like O-Sa, if the signature and blade work is close, it needs to go to shinsa. No one will be able to say for certain online.

[smitty 0]

Here are a few more pics

[Lee Bray 1]

Reading up on O-Sa and the Samonji school, your blade certainly shows attributes that corroborate the signature.

The pointy boshi and long turn back being the most obvious.

The nakago looks a little too 'modern'(though still old, not old enough) but that could just be me.

The red rust inside the chisel strokes always makes me suspicious, too.

My view would be - possibly, but more than likely gimei. Certain similarities would have me exploring further research, though.

It's probably worth taking along to one of the sword shows in the States; google Token kai and it should give you plenty of info. They may have shinsa at some of those events or they'll be able to tell if it's worth sending to shinsa in Japan.

 

Also worth posting your blade here - http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/ - for more and better opinions than mine.

I couldn't find the kanji that you've pictured on the menuki(?)in my books - it's probably slightly stylised to suit the artist. The guys at NMB can probably help with that.

 

Good info on O-Sa:

http://www.nihonto.com/abtartchikuzensa.html

http://www.sho-shin.com/sai2.htm

[smitty 0]

Reading up on O-Sa and the Samonji school, your blade certainly shows attributes that corroborate the signature.

The pointy boshi and long turn back being the most obvious.

The nakago looks a little too 'modern'(though still old, not old enough) but that could just be me.

The red rust inside the chisel strokes always makes me suspicious, too.

My view would be - possibly, but more than likely gimei. Certain similarities would have me exploring further research, though.

It's probably worth taking along to one of the sword shows in the States; google Token kai and it should give you plenty of info. They may have shinsa at some of those events or they'll be able to tell if it's worth sending to shinsa in Japan.

 

Also worth posting your blade here - http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/ - for more and better opinions than mine.

I couldn't find the kanji that you've pictured on the menuki(?)in my books - it's probably slightly stylised to suit the artist. The guys at NMB can probably help with that.

 

Good info on O-Sa:

http://www.nihonto.com/abtartchikuzensa.html

http://www.sho-shin.com/sai2.htm

 

 

Thank You for the info and links. The rust is not as vibrant in person,the camera makes it a little more red than it really is...I will do some more research.