A Tanto | Edo period, 19th century

The Property of an English Collector

A Tanto

Edo period, 19^th century 

Sugata [configuration]: Hira-zukuri

Kitae [forging pattern]: Tight ko-itame hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Suguha in ko-nie deki

Boshi [tip]: Okaeri

Nakago [tang]: One mekugi-ana, mumei

Habaki [collar]: Copper-gilt 

Koshirae [mount]: The tanto koshirae with a rich nashiji ground, bronze kojiri with a dragonfly, shakudo kozuka with a river scene in copper and gold inlay, the kogai in shakudo with key fret and snowflakes, the tsuka with black ito

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 22.4 cm., 8⅞ in.