{"product_id":"authentic-shinto-era-tantokaiken-for-sale-mumei-tozando","title":"Authentic Shinto Era Tanto(Kaiken) for Sale - Mumei | Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAntique Japanese Tantō (Kaiken), unsigned (mumei) — mid-Edo period\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAn ideal first nihontō for the new collector\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 just 19 cm, it falls into the small, elegant size traditionally known as a \u003cem\u003ekaiken\u003c\/em\u003e — a personal blade carried close at hand. Offered at a very approachable price, it is an excellent entry point for anyone buying their first genuine Japanese sword.\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 little 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, in miniature, 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 graceful \u003cem\u003euchizori\u003c\/em\u003e — the gentle inward curve typical of the classic tantō. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is a beautiful \u003cem\u003eitame\u003c\/em\u003e (wood-grain) forged in \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e, bright and clear. The \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e is a \u003cem\u003egunome\u003c\/em\u003e with a somewhat open base, its \u003cem\u003enioiguchi\u003c\/em\u003e soft and misty, with \u003cem\u003esunagashi\u003c\/em\u003e (\"drifting sand\" streaks of activity) playing within the edge — an attractive, lively temper for a blade of this size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is freshly polished and both steel and temper are in good, clearly visible health. In candor, three small spots of residual rust remain within the hardened edge on the omote (front) face, about 5 cm above the \u003cem\u003ehamachi\u003c\/em\u003e (blade notch) — honestly noted. It shows its workmanship well 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 kaiken size — hira-zukuri, with beautiful nie-laden itame steel and a lively gunome temper — freshly polished and honestly priced. The ideal first Japanese sword for the newcomer, and a charming 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 \/ kaiken (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 itame, nie-laden (nie-deki), bright and clear\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e gunome with a somewhat open base, soft misty nioiguchi, with sunagashi\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade length (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 19.0 cm \/ 7.48 in\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e uchizori (slight inward curve)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 21.3 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 4.4 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 80 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshly polished; good, healthy ji and ha; three small residual rust spots in the edge on the omote, ~5 cm above the hamachi\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 Tokyo 231256\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"TOZANDO KATANA SHOP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53463502946667,"sku":"611-ATQSWD-Tokyo231256","price":150000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/tokyo231256_mumeitanto_1.jpg?v=1783312475","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-shinto-era-tantokaiken-for-sale-mumei-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}