{"product_id":"authentic-shinto-era-tanto-for-sale-mumei-tozando","title":"Authentic Shinto Era Tanto for Sale - Mumei | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAntique Japanese Tantō, unsigned (mumei) — mid-Edo period\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA genuine antique short sword — an ideal first nihontō\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an unsigned (\u003cem\u003emumei\u003c\/em\u003e) tantō in original, un-shortened (\u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e) condition, judged to date from the mid-Edo period (18th century). At 23 cm, it is a full, classic tantō length, with the calm, dignified presence of a straight-tempered blade. Offered at an approachable price, it is an excellent first genuine Japanese sword for the newcomer — and a quietly refined study piece for any collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA genuine antique, made to be enjoyed\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany people who admire Japanese swords assume that owning a real, antique, traditionally-forged nihontō is out of reach. This tantō is proof that it need not be. It is not a reproduction or a modern copy but a genuine Edo-period blade, hand-forged in tamahagane steel and water-quenched in the age-old way — the same craft as the great swords of the samurai. For a first purchase, it lets the new collector hold and study the real thing: the grain of the steel, the temper line, the quiet curve of the blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eForm, workmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is made in \u003cem\u003ehira-zukuri\u003c\/em\u003e with an \u003cem\u003eiori-mune\u003c\/em\u003e (peaked back) and a very slight curvature. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is a well-worked \u003cem\u003eko-itame\u003c\/em\u003e (fine wood-grain), tightly and beautifully forged. Over it runs a \u003cem\u003echū-suguha\u003c\/em\u003e — a medium-width straight temper — within which fine \u003cem\u003ekinsuji\u003c\/em\u003e (\"golden lines\" of nie activity) can be seen playing along the edge, a subtle detail that rewards close viewing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is freshly polished, and both steel and temper are in good, healthy condition — very nearly flawless. It shows its workmanship clearly and is thoroughly enjoyable as it is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eOn the unsigned tang\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tang (\u003cem\u003enakago\u003c\/em\u003e) is unsigned. Many fine Edo-period tantō were made without a signature, and being \u003cem\u003eubu\u003c\/em\u003e — never shortened — this blade retains its original form and character exactly as it left the smith. For the collector, an unsigned blade is a chance to appreciate a sword on its own merits: its shape, steel, and temper, rather than a name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is housed in a plain wood \u003cem\u003eshirasaya\u003c\/em\u003e, the traditional resting mount that protects the steel between viewings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA genuine, ubu, mid-Edo tantō of full classic length — hira-zukuri, with tightly forged ko-itame steel and a calm chū-suguha temper lit by fine kinsuji — freshly polished and near-flawless. The ideal first Japanese sword for the newcomer, and a refined small blade for any collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tantō (short blade)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e unsigned (mumei), ubu (un-shortened) tang\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mid-Edo period (18th c., attributed)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/strong\u003e hira-zukuri, iori-mune\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e ko-itame, well-forged\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e chū-suguha (medium straight temper) with kinsuji\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade length (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 23.0 cm \/ 9.06 in\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.1 cm (nearly straight)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 20.5 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.9 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 120 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshly polished; good, healthy ji and ha, very nearly flawless\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e shirasaya\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTorokushō (Japanese registration) No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Iwate 34305\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"TOZANDO KATANA SHOP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53463528341867,"sku":"611-ATQSWD-Iwate34305","price":130000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/iwate34305_1.jpg?v=1783313681","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-shinto-era-tanto-for-sale-mumei-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}