ANCIENT 1600-1700 BLADE** Japanese Early Edo / Shinto Period Mino Work Tanto With Mid Edo Period Iron Tsuba, Quality Gold inlaid Flowers & Insects Fuchi Kashira Caps & Scabbard. Sn 21653 Knives

**ANCIENT 1600-1700 BLADE** Japanese Early Edo / Shinto Period Mino Work Tanto With Mid Edo Period Iron Tsuba, Quality Gold inlaid Flowers & Insects Fuchi Kashira Caps & Scabbard. Sn 21653 - 21653

This Japanese Tanto with ancient blade has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written assessment notes accompany this piece. Extracts from the assessment notes include “An early Edo /Shinto period tanto blade 1600-1700 unsigned it looks like Mino work with its forging of Gunome Midare (Nioi based). In bright condition but covered with fine scratches and a few patches of old rust. This obscures the hamon line and any grain. Needs a polish to see. Saya scabbard is wood covered with dark red lacquer finished with Buffalo mounts in reasonable condition but some chipping & splitting of the lacquer. Tsuba is oval shaped in iron with 2 large Ryu Itsu (same shape) for missing saya side knives. Nice colour to iron looks mis Edo Period. Tsuka hilt has nice quality Gold inlaid Flowers & Insects Fuchi Kashira Caps in Shakudo soft metal, looks 19th Century work. Menuki are mis-matched 20th century examples. Re-bound in Brown Ito cotton tape. Ray skin has a couple of small pieces missing. A reasonable Tanto needing some restoration to improve it”. In his illustration of the blade he adds “cutting edge is 28 cm. Total length 37.5 cm. He also describes other blade characteristics and measurements which can be seen in image 2. The price for this ancient blade with UK expert opinion includes UK delivery. Sn 21653 (in Tanto box armoury)

£695.00