Antique Japanese Tantō, Signed "Taira Tanenaga" — A Yoroidōshi-Style Blade by a Trusted Student of the Shinshintō Master Taikei Naotane, with Sayagaki

A gentle suguha with a tight nioi over a well-wrought itame jigane, in a sturdy 8.4 mm thick blade worthy of being called a yoroidōshi, from a smith personally recommended by Naotane to Egawa Hidetatsu at Nirayama

We are pleased to present a newly arrived tantō from the Shinshintō period, signed Taira Tanenaga, preserved in very well-maintained condition. The blade is free of flaws, chips, or rust, with a well-wrought itame jigane showing beautiful chikei, and a gentle suguha hamon in a tight nioi. At 8.4 mm thick, the blade may properly be called a yoroidōshi (armor-piercing dagger), reflecting its sturdy, practical design.

On the smith — Taira Tanenaga

Tanenaga was born in 1812 in what is now Yokohama, and was apprenticed to Taikei Naotane, one of the leading figures of the Shinshintō movement. His meticulous nature earned him Naotane's deep trust — so much so that Naotane recommended Tanenaga as a swordsmith to Egawa Hidetatsu, the chief magistrate of the Nirayama district in Izu. This is truly the work of a master swordsmith who represented the Shinshintō era, a turbulent time in Japanese history.

Workmanship and condition

The blade is free of any defects such as flaws, chips, or rust. The jigane is a well-wrought itame-hada (wood-grain pattern) with beautiful chikei (dark lines within the steel). The hamon is a gentle suguha (straight temper line) with a tight nioi (misty temper-edge boundary). There is umegane (a forge-welded repair plug) applied on the hiraji (flat surface) approximately 12.5 cm from the kissaki (point) on the sashi-omote side.

Form

At 8.4 mm thick and 24.9 mm wide at the base, this hira-zukuri, iori-mune blade carries a solid, substantial weight that may properly be called yoroidōshi (armor-piercing) in style.

The mounting (shirasaya)

In later years, the shirasaya was inscribed in black ink (sayagaki) with the words: "Tantō with the signature of Taira Tanenaga. This was made by Taira Tanenaga at Nirayama in the Izu region."

This is truly the work of a master swordsmith who represented the Shinshintō era, a turbulent time in Japanese history. Add this sword now to your Japanese sword collection.

Specifications

• Type: Tantō (短刀), hira-zukuri with iori-mune; ubu, zaimei (signed); Shinshintō era
• Smith: Taira Tanenaga, born 1812 in present-day Yokohama; student of Taikei Naotane
• Signature (mei): "Taira Tanenaga" (front)
• Jigane: Itame with beautiful chikei; umegane on the hiraji, sashi-omote side, approx. 12.5 cm from the kissaki
• Hamon: Gentle suguha with tight nioi
• Bōshi: Massugu ni haitte togatte kaeru (enters straight and turns back with a pointed tip)
• Length of edge (nagasa): 25.3 cm (approx. 9.96 in / approx. 8 sun 4 bu)
• Curvature (sori): 0.0 cm (mu-sori)
• Width at base (motohaba): 24.9 mm (approx. 0.98 in)
• Thickness at base (motokasane): 8.4 mm (approx. 0.33 in)
• Peg holes (mekugi-ana): 1
• Weight (blade only): 220 g
• Weight (blade in mounting, without scabbard): 280 g
• Nakago: Ubu
• Mounting: Shirasaya, with sayagaki
• Registration No.: Tokyo No. 166534 (東京 第166534号)