Late 1700’s Armour Piercing Tanto Japanese Dagger

~ Late 1700’s Armour Piercing Tanto Japanese Dagger ~

The blade is made in the ‘Hira-Zukuri’ style and the mune (blade back) is shaped in the ‘Ihori’ style.

The hamon finish is Sugu (straight) and its point is Jizo (shaped like Buddha’s head).

The grain is not clearly visible but seems to be of an ayasugi (undulating grain) pattern.

The menuki is made of iron. Its fuchiand and kashira are of cooper decorated with embossed sea waves.

The two seppa (spacers) are made of copper as is the habaki (blade locket).

The tsuba is old iron.

The grip is made from white rayskin covered in a black woven silk binding.

There is no makers mark on the tang.

The wooden saya (scabbard) is made of black lacquered bamboo, fitted with one shitodome (suspension ring).

The kojiri (end-cap/chape) is made of gilded steel and is decorated with three oak leaves.

~ Dimensions ~

The blade has a length of 10.2 inches (26 cm), without the tang. The dagger’s overall length is 14.7 inches (37.5 cm) and with the scabbard is 15.5 inches (39.4 cm). It weighs 445 g.

~ Condition ~

The tanto is in excellent order. The blade is very good condition with a high polish. The saya is in excellent order with no sign of loss to the lacquer and minimum signs of wear. It would have originally been fitted with a side knife, now absent.

ref. GS4234D3E