Antique Japanese Tanto, signed Hiromitsu (廣光作) of Musashi — mid-Edo period (Genroku era) — ubu, signed — a luxurious set with TWO period aikuchi koshirae

Ubu, signed tanto by Hiromitsu of Musashi (present-day Saitama) · finely packed ko-itame · broad ō-notare hamon with sunagashi and kinsuji · comes with two interchangeable period mountings for the collector to enjoy

An ubu (original-length), signed (zaimei) masterwork tanto by a swordsmith who worked in Musashi province (present-day Saitama) around the mid-Edo period (Genroku era). It arrives as an unusually lavish set complete with two period mountings (koshirae) of quite different character — so the owner can change its dress to suit the day's mood or the feel of a collection, a rare and delightful luxury for any sword lover.

Workmanship and condition

An ubu, signed piece by a mid-Edo (Genroku-era) smith of Musashi. The tang (nakago) is carved with the signature Hiromitsu saku (廣光作), and the finish shows the skill of an accomplished mid-Edo maker. Freshly polished, the blade has survived the passage of the years in an almost miraculous, essentially flawless condition.

Form and workmanship of the blade

The jigane is based on a very finely packed ko-itame (small wood-grain), with a moist, deep quality; forged with great uniformity and free of any coarse ō-hada, it conveys the refined material for which mid-Edo Musashi smiths are known. The hamon is broad, based on a leisurely, large-wave ō-notare. Within the edge, delicate activity can be admired throughout — streaks of nie (sunagashi) and bright, glittering lines (kinsuji) that catch the light. Though tempered in a sharp, nie-hon'i manner from the yakidashi, the nioiguchi is remarkably bright and clear — a notable feature of this blade.

On the signature and the smith Hiromitsu

The tang is ubu and signed Hiromitsu saku (廣光作). Hiromitsu was a swordsmith active in Musashi province — the region of present-day Saitama — around the middle of the Edo period, in the Genroku era, and this tanto shows his hand at its best.

The koshirae — two mountings

This is a richly appointed set that comes with two period mountings:

• Period aikuchi koshirae with dragon dashi-menuki: a stylish, high-toned antique aikuchi mounting set off by boldly three-dimensional silver de-menuki in the form of a dragon; together with its age-patinated saya, it is a fitting of real presence and history.
• Black-lacquer aikuchi koshirae: a mounting unified in lustrous black lacquer — spare, solid, and thoroughly understated in its dignity.

Wooden placeholder blades (tsunagi) allow both mountings to be kept and displayed. Being able to change the sword's dress to match the mood of the day or the character of one's collection is a pleasure of the highest order for the devoted collector.

An ubu, signed mid-Edo tanto by Hiromitsu of Musashi — its finely packed ko-itame and broad ō-notare temper with sunagashi and kinsuji preserved in near-flawless condition, and presented as a luxurious two-koshirae set ready to appreciate exactly as it is.

Specifications

• Type: Tanto (hira-zukuri)
• Signature (mei): Hiromitsu saku (廣光作); ubu (un-shortened) tang
• Certification: none
• Period: Mid-Edo period, ca. Genroku era (late 17th–early 18th century)
• Smith / province: Hiromitsu — Musashi province (present-day Saitama)
• Jigane: finely packed ko-itame, uniform and moist, free of coarse grain
• Hamon: broad ō-notare, nie-hon'i, with sunagashi and kinsuji and a bright, clear nioiguchi
• Blade length (nagasa): 22.7 cm / 8.94 in (7 sun 5 bu)
• Curvature (sori): none (mu-sori)
• Width at base (motohaba): 21.1 mm
• Thickness at base (motokasane): 7.1 mm
• Weight (blade only): 140 g
• Weight (in period dragon dashi-menuki aikuchi koshirae, without scabbard): 220 g
• Weight (in black-lacquer aikuchi koshirae, without scabbard): 180 g
• Condition: freshly polished, essentially flawless, very sound
• Mounting: two period aikuchi koshirae — (1) antique with silver dragon dashi-menuki and patinated saya; (2) lustrous black-lacquer; with wooden tsunagi
• Torokushō (Japanese registration) No.: Okayama 919