Antique Japanese Yoroidōshi Tantō, signed "Masatsune" (政常) — an Owari domain smith, with extraordinary thickness

A powerful armor-piercing tantō by the renowned Owari retained smith Masatsune — massively thick, mu-sori hira-zukuri, in shirasaya with a gold-clad habaki

A supreme yoroidōshi (armor-piercing tantō) of extraordinary thickness and presence has arrived, by the hand of Masatsune (政常), a distinguished retained smith of the great Owari (Aichi) school. It carries the honed, functional beauty of a genuine combat blade, together with an imposing dignity undimmed by the passage of many centuries.

Workmanship and condition

The blade is vividly and freshly polished, and thanks to excellent preservation it survives in essentially flawless, very healthy condition. The jigane is an itame (wood-grain) mixed with mokume (burl), well covered with ji-nie and showing frequent yubashiri (patches of scattered nie drifting toward the ground). The temper line is an uneven gunome with a somewhat angular, distinctive shape; in places it has become slightly thin as a result of past polishing. The tang bears the signature "Masatsune" (政常), speaking to its sure history.

Form

This is a yoroidōshi (armor-piercer) of astonishing thickness — so thick at first glance as to make one doubt one's eyes — radiating outstanding presence. A yoroidōshi was made to be thrust into the gaps of an opponent's armor during grappling combat with an armored foe, embodying the original purpose of a practical battlefield blade. Made in hira-zukuri (without a shinogi ridge) with a keen finish and no curvature (mu-sori), it transmits a solid, substantial heft to the hand the moment it is taken up — with an exceptional motokasane (base thickness) of about 10.8 mm.

On the smith — Masatsune (政常)

Masatsune was a leading smith of a renowned Owari (Aichi) line that continued from the Sengoku period all the way to the Meiji era. The first generation originally signed "Kanetsune" (兼常) and worked in Mino Province (present-day Gifu), but was invited by Fukushima Masanori — a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi — to move to Owari (western Aichi), where he served with distinction as a retained smith. As a result he received the title "Sagami-no-kami" from Masanori and changed his name to Masatsune (政常). The range of his work was very broad: alongside katana and wakizashi, he actively produced tantō, spears (yari), and glaives (naginata). In his day it was rumored that owning a Masatsune blade could cure fox-possession and illness, and his tantō were even used as gifts.

The mounting (shirasaya)

The piece comes with a shirasaya whose beautiful wood grain reflects the craftsman's handwork, and a gold-clad (kin-kise) habaki. It is kept in sound condition that reliably protects the blade.

A yoroidōshi made with all the devotion of the master smith Masatsune, conveying to the present day the passion of the warrior and the breath of history. With its powerful steel, distinctive gunome temper line, and the lineage of a renowned smith, it lets you experience an overwhelming presence that unites the practical and the refined.

Specifications

• Type: Tantō (短刀) — yoroidōshi (armor-piercer), hira-zukuri, mu-sori (no curvature)
• Smith: Masatsune (政常), Owari Province (Aichi)
• Signature (mei): Omote — "Masatsune" (政常)
• Jigane: Itame mixed with mokume, well covered with ji-nie, frequent yubashiri
• Hamon: Uneven, somewhat angular gunome (partly thinned by past polishing)
• Length of edge (nagasa): 25.6 cm (approx. 10.08 in / approx. 8 sun 5 bu)
• Curvature (sori): 0.0 cm (mu-sori)
• Width at base (motohaba): 25.9 mm (approx. 1.02 in)
• Thickness at base (motokasane): 10.8 mm (approx. 0.43 in) — exceptionally thick
• Weight (blade only): 290 g
• Condition: Freshly polished and very healthy; the hamon is slightly thin in places from past polishing
• Mounting: Shirasaya, with a gold-clad (kin-kise) habaki
• Registration No.: Saitama No. 60317 (埼玉 第60317号)