Unokubi zukuri tanto by Kobayashi Masaoku, a master craftsman active in the country of Echigo in the late Edo period (1603-1868) during the Shinsinto period, has just arrived.

 Regarding the preservation condition, there are no flaws on the blade, but there is a small rust on the mune, about 6 cm from the munemachi. It is an old polishing, but overall it is well polished and can be enjoyed for appreciation right away. The hada is well packed itame and the hamon is characterized by a relaxed gunome.

The sword is called unokubi-zukuri because the structure of the blade is shaped with the shinogi shaved off, and when viewed from the mune side, it just resembles the neck of a water bird, the cormorant, hence the name.

Because of the excellent state of preservation of the sword, the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords recognized this piece as a work of great value for preservation for future generations, and issued a hozon certificate of authenticity in May 2019.

In addition, this tanto comes with a full package tanto koshirae equipped with a kozuka. The koshirae is in very good condition and has an atmosphere that suggests it would have been carried by a samurai in the late Edo period. The metal fittings and tsukamaki are of the period, and the koshirae alone is worth admiring.

It is a piece that can be enjoyed from the day it arrives in your possession, and its relatively good state of preservation makes it well worth adding to your collection. We urge you to buy yours before they are sold out.

• Blade length: 25.5 cm
• Curvature: 0.2 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 1
• Motohaba: 25.7 mm
• Motokasane: 5.8 mm
• Signature: Kobayashi Masaoku Saku(front)
• Era: Shinshinto
• Structure: Unokubi-zukuri
• Jitetsu: Itame
• Hamon: Gunome
• Boshi: O-maru ni Kaeru
• Weight(without Saya): 190 g
• Nakago: Ubu
  
• Koshirae: Tanto Koshirae/Shirasaya
• Original Registration No.: Tokyo 199447

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