A tanto | Signed Masahiro | Muromachi period, 16th century

The Property of Gentleman

A tanto

Signed Masahiro

Muromachi period, 16^th century

Sugata [configuration]: hirazukuri, iori-mune, mu-zori

Kitae [forging pattern]: itame mixed with mokume towards the kissaki

Hamon [tempering pattern]: narrow suguha hamon in nie, sunagashi, kinsuji

Boshi [tip]: ko-maru boshi with turnback

Horimono [carvings]: the omote with suken [straight sword], the ura with futasuji-bi [double groves]

Nakago [tang]: ubu, ha-agari kurijiri, two mekugi-ana, the omote signed Masahiro

Habaki [collar]: single clad, copper-gilt

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: of later date, the vertically ribbed (tate-shino) black lacquer saya with silvered and iron fittings, the fuchi-kashira depicting plovers in flight above crashing waves, signed Hoshinsai Hisakage, the kojiri similarly decorated, signed Kan'i and kao [cursive monogram], the kozuka [knife handle], kogai [hair dressing tool] and sword guard with flowers among karakusa, the gold menuki in the form of coiled three-clawed dragons (ganryu), the hilt

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 29.5 cm., 11⅝ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.5 cm., 1 in. 

The sword accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 1021146 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Reiwa 5 (2003).

The koshirae accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu [Sword Mount Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 2009558 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Reiwa 5 (2003).