Q837. Mumei tanto with NTHK paper, dated 2017, giving it to Den Seki Kaneharu.

Nagasa: 10 5/8″ 27 cm.

Sori: Minimal.

Moto haba: 2.3 cm.

Moto kasane: .5 cm.

Nakago nagasa: 3 3/4″ 9.5 cm.

Overall in koshirae: 16 3/8″ 41.8 cm.

Hira zukuri, iore mune. The hada is ko itame with mokume elements and some slightly coarse masame. The hamon starts with a short yaki dashi (straight) and becomes doran (billowing) with a bit of sanbon suji (pointed) and choji (clove), all in a bright and consistent nioi guchi, ending in a kaen (flame) boshi with a medium kaeri. The blade is in polish and mounted with a gold foil habaki (there is a small tear in the foil).

There is an aikuchi (without tsuba) koshirae. The saya is a ribbed black lacquer. There are a few small dents in the lacquer but none is missing. There is a sleeve in the saya for a kogatana/kotsuka but these are missing. The kojiri is horn. The plate at the mouth of the sleeve, kurikata, koiguchi, fuchi, and kashira are en suite: shakudo with gold inlay. The menuki are shakudo and gold tigers. The handle wrap is professionally done and in excellent condition.

There were a few smiths who signed Kaneharu working in Mino in late Koto. The paper doesn’t specify a smith but does give Tensho (1573) as a date. Another nice tanto in better than decent koshirae: this one would fit quite well in your collection. 1 pound, 3 ounces. $1,950.