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Antique Japanese Koto Tanto, with Papers

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,250.00 USD
Antique Japanese Koto Tanto, with Papers
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Antique Japanese Koto Tanto, with Papers. Nice Nambokucho period (1336 to 1392), mumei (unsigned), hira-zukuri-shaped tanto, with ko-itame and mokume hada grain, a ko-nie deki suguha hamon, o-maru boshi with short turn back, bohi and sohi horimono grooves, suriage nakago with three mekugi-anas, and mounted in a wooden shirasaya resting scabbard. There is a nice gold foil over copper habaki with cat scratched file marks. Blade length is 24.8cm or 9.75" and has an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate dated Heisei 25 (2013) that attributes the blade to "Den Enjyu". The Enjyu School was active during the Kamakura and Nambokucho periods, late 1200s to around 1392. The workmanship on this piece is similar to Rai Kunitoshi, according to a Japanese sword dealers fact sheet that comes with the blade. There is also a full-length oshigata rubbing of the blade that is wrapped in a scroll. Included also is a nice old silk brocade storage bag with a wooden tag with "Enjyu" written on it. Condition is excellent, the blade in a nice state of polish with a few light scratches, a couple of tiny spot blemishes from old dried oil, a couple of tiny kizu in non-critical areas, and what looks like an old repair to the bottom of the nakago(tang). The hamon is very close to the edge, from old polishing over its 600-year life span. The three mekugi-anas show that the blade has been mounted many times over its life also, no doubt passed down through many generations of a samurai family as a treasured heirloom. The shirasaya is in very nice condition. The silk bag shows some age and light stains on the inside lining. Est.: $2,500-$4,000.