A Koto period tanto with mother-of-pearl inlay on the scabbard and kozuka has arrived.

The sword is in extremely good condition, with only a few minor flaws, but overall the workmanship is excellent. The jigane is very well packed with itame and yubashiri. Hamon has some hakomidare mixed in with gunome and active hataraki such as aranye and ashi.

The name Kanetsune is engraved on the Nakago. Kanetsune was a swordsmith active in Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture) from the late Muromachi Period through the Edo Period, especially after receiving a red seal from Oda Nobunaga in July 1571 guaranteeing his swordsmanship, and was the chieftain of swordsmiths in the Seki region.

This piece was made in the late Muromachi period and shows the character of Mino's work; in August 2024, the Japanese Society for Preservation of Art Swords issued a certificate of authenticity for this piece, certifying it as highly worthy of preservation for posterity and as a genuine work of Kanetsune, with a Hozon certificate.

The preservation of the jidai-style tanto koshirae is also excellent, with artistically crafted metal fittings. These fittings alone are well worth appreciating. The scabbard has mother-of-pearl inlay and was most likely owned by a high-ranking feudal lord.

Be sure to add one of these fine tanto to your Japanese sword collection.

• Blade length: 25.8 cm
• Curvature: 0.0 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 2
• Motohaba: 24.6 mm
• Motokasane: 4.9 mm
• Signature: Kanetsune(front)
• Era: Koto
• Structure: Hira-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jigane: Itame
• Hamon: Gunome with Midare
• Boshi: Jizo Boshi
• Weight: 160 g(blade only)/300 g(without Saya)
• Nakago: Suriage
  
• Koshirae: Tetsukon silk wrapped Tsuka with mother-of-pearl-inlaid-Saya
• Original Registration No.: Tokyo 97561

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