{"product_id":"authentic-japanese-sword-for-sale-shinto-era-tanto-masatsune-tozando","title":"Authentic Japanese Sword for Sale - Shinto Era Tanto - Masatsune | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAntique Japanese Yoroidōshi Tantō, signed \"Masatsune\" (政常) — an Owari domain smith, with extraordinary thickness\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA powerful armor-piercing tantō by the renowned Owari retained smith Masatsune — massively thick, mu-sori hira-zukuri, in shirasaya with a gold-clad habaki\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA supreme \u003cstrong\u003eyoroidōshi\u003c\/strong\u003e (armor-piercing tantō) of extraordinary thickness and presence has arrived, by the hand of \u003cstrong\u003eMasatsune (政常)\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is vividly and freshly polished, and thanks to excellent preservation it survives in essentially flawless, very healthy condition. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is an \u003cem\u003eitame\u003c\/em\u003e (wood-grain) mixed with \u003cem\u003emokume\u003c\/em\u003e (burl), well covered with \u003cem\u003eji-nie\u003c\/em\u003e and showing frequent \u003cem\u003eyubashiri\u003c\/em\u003e (patches of scattered nie drifting toward the ground). The temper line is an uneven \u003cem\u003egunome\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eForm\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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 \u003cem\u003eyoroidōshi\u003c\/em\u003e 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 \u003cem\u003ehira-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e (without a \u003cem\u003eshinogi\u003c\/em\u003e ridge) with a keen finish and no curvature (\u003cem\u003emu-sori\u003c\/em\u003e), it transmits a solid, substantial heft to the hand the moment it is taken up — with an exceptional \u003cem\u003emotokasane\u003c\/em\u003e (base thickness) of about 10.8 mm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOn the smith — Masatsune (政常)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMasatsune 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 \u003cstrong\u003e\"Kanetsune\" (兼常)\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cstrong\u003eMasatsune (政常)\u003c\/strong\u003e. The range of his work was very broad: alongside katana and wakizashi, he actively produced tantō, spears (\u003cem\u003eyari\u003c\/em\u003e), and glaives (\u003cem\u003enaginata\u003c\/em\u003e). 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe mounting (shirasaya)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece comes with a \u003cem\u003eshirasaya\u003c\/em\u003e whose beautiful wood grain reflects the craftsman's handwork, and a gold-clad (\u003cem\u003ekin-kise\u003c\/em\u003e) \u003cem\u003ehabaki\u003c\/em\u003e. It is kept in sound condition that reliably protects the blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tantō (短刀) — yoroidōshi (armor-piercer), hira-zukuri, mu-sori (no curvature)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmith:\u003c\/strong\u003e Masatsune (政常), Owari Province (Aichi)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e Omote — \"Masatsune\" (政常)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e Itame mixed with mokume, well covered with ji-nie, frequent yubashiri\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e Uneven, somewhat angular gunome (partly thinned by past polishing)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLength of edge (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 25.6 cm (approx. 10.08 in \/ approx. 8 sun 5 bu)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.0 cm (mu-sori)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 25.9 mm (approx. 1.02 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.8 mm (approx. 0.43 in) — exceptionally thick\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 290 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Freshly polished and very healthy; the hamon is slightly thin in places from past polishing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shirasaya, with a gold-clad (kin-kise) habaki\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegistration No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Saitama No. 60317 (埼玉 第60317号)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tozando Katana Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53794664808811,"sku":"611-ATQSWD-saitama60317","price":300000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/saitama60317_masatsune_1.jpg?v=1788423242","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-japanese-sword-for-sale-shinto-era-tanto-masatsune-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}