Tanto - Sukemune - NBTHK Hozon Certificate - Tanto Koshirae - Ubu Nakago - Shinshinto Era - Mie 8526

This work is Unokubi tanto made in the Soshu region during the mid-Edo period.

The blade is almost completely polished and in excellent condition with almost no flaws. Both sides of the blade are engraved with bohi and soehi. The jigane has a well-kneaded itame ha with a mokume-like pattern and active chikei. The hamon is irregular with gunome patterns, and there are also hataki patterns such as aranie and yo. The nakago is engraved with the name of the swordsmith, Sukemune.

Sukemune is a prestigious swordsmith name that has been passed down since the Kamakura period. Sukemune who made this work was a skilled swordsmith who was active during the Shinshinto period, specializing in the style of Soshu-den, and belonged to the Shimada school.

In December 2024, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords certified this work as an authentic piece by Sukemune and issued a certificate of authenticity, recognizing its high value for preservation for future generations.

The koshirae features a very unique tanto koshirae. The tsuka is made of exposed wood without any wrapping, revealing its beautiful grain. The scabbard and kuritagata are finished in a kizami style, while the rest is lacquered in shinobue style, resulting in a very elegant finish. All the fittings are original. Unfortunately, the kozuka is missing.

This signed tanto, equipped with a Hozon appraisal certificate and a meticulously crafted koshirae, is a highly desirable piece for Japanese sword collectors.

• Blade length: 24.9 cm
• Curvature: 0.0 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 1
• Motohaba: 25.5 mm
• Motokasane: 7.8 mm
• Signature: Sukemune(front)
• Era: Shinshinto
• Structure: Unokubi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jigane: Itame
• Hamon: Gunome
• Boshi: Massugu Haitte Togatte Kaeru
• Weight: 190 g(blade only)/360 g(without Saya)
• Nakago: Ubu
  
• Koshirae: Wooden Tsuka with Shinobue-lacquered Saya
• Original Registration No.: Mie 8526

Please contact us if the katana you are looking for is not listed here.