Sword - Tamahagane - Japan - Mid Edo period

This is a nameless short blade judged to be from the mid Edo period. It is a single piece whose practical beauty and refined design are in harmonious balance. The newly polished blade is exceptionally sound, with no flaws or blemishes in the blade or the temper. Its slightly broad, stately hira-zukuri form is complemented by neatly carved bo-hi on both sides, conveying the tranquil beauty and proven forging skill of the mid-Edo period.

Form, workmanship and condition
carefully polished, it is in an extremely healthy condition with no flaws or defects. The blade steel (jihada) is based on a pattern of itame (figured grain), interwoven here and there with swirling mokume (wood-grain), creating a striking hamon. The temper line shows a gentle in-out arc (notare) with bright, sharp kobuse (ko-nie) along the edge. The jihada are sprinkled with hakobi (dots) and ha, giving a calm, rich expression within a clear blade. The tang (nakago) retains yasurime (grinding marks), and although unsigned, has a natural patina that speaks to the blade’s high quality.
The slightly wider, hira-zukuri configuration exudes a sense of heft and presence, despite its compact size. The most striking feature is the deep bo-hi run on both sides, which visually tightens the overall silhouette while maintaining the blade’s lightness and strength—an embodiment of the craftsman’s technique. The well-balanced weight distribution in the hand and the smooth, flat surface of the hira-zukuri are a true feast for the eyes.

The mounting
Carefully cherished and stored, it is housed in an elegant tsuno-tsuki shirasaya (horn-tipped white scabbard). The koiguchi (mouth of the blade) and kurigata (nut-shaped fittings) are adorned with water buffalo horn, giving a robust yet refined finish that suggests how carefully the previous owner treated this sword. The habaki is a striking gold-plated ni-jū habaki (double habaki), and the surface carries a delicate diagonal file pattern called shigure yasu-yi, which further elevates the blade’s elegance.

Specifications
Type: short sword (tantō)
Signature: unsigned
Era: mid Edo period
Patterning: hira-zukuri, iorimune (common ridge)
Blade length: 24.2 cm
Sori (curvature): 0 cm
Motohaba (base width): 28.8 mm
Motohoshi (base thickness): 6.4 mm
Weight (blade only): 190 g

Registration & Legal Documentation
All blades we handle come with an official registration certificate issued by the Japanese government (Gun-Tō Shinken toroku shō). This certificate confirms that the blade is legally registered in Japan. Export requires surrender to the Japanese government, but all export procedures are handled by us. Note that this registration certificate does not authenticate or certify the swordsmith, signature, or attribution to a particular author.