Tano Moroha Zukuri Horimono Cherry Blossom Branch Sakura Mei Kikumon Raden Mother of Pearl Koshirae

Long Tanto 短刀 Moroha Zukuri

Double Edge and double Hamon

Horimono: Cherry Blossom Branch (Sakura) 桜の枝

Mei: Chrysanthemum Imperial Crest (Kikumon) 菊紋

Raden (Mother of Pearl work) Koshirae

Tanto短刀 blade:

Material and work: Japanese traditional forged Tamahagane steel

Shape: Double Edge type Moroha Zukuri (rare and unusual)

Edge: Double edge without Mune by traversing the edge each of the opposite sides in its entirety. It shows on both sides as a sharp razor edge.

Hamon: As the edge, the Hamon is double, running in its entirety on the two opposite sides with similar characteristics. Suguha with degradations that show the extremely fine tempering work.

Hada: Matsu combined with Masame (very marked and visible denoting excellent forging work)

Horimono: Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Branch 桜の枝

Nakago Mei: Chrysanthemum Imperial Crest (Kikumon) 菊紋

Chrysanthemum Crest (菊紋, kikumon) is a crest (mon) used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial Family. Also some exceptional swordsmiths were authorized to use it in a similar way to the Royal as honor title in occidental monarchies. In the Japanese swordsmiths is a recognition of the quality of their work

Blade measures:
Nagasa: 25,1 cm.
Moto-haba: 2,7 cm.
Moto-gasane: 0.4 cm.
Saki-gasane: 0.3 cm.
It is an extremely thin blade, another example of the impressive forging work

Polished: Made in an indeterminate period but quite recently, it is very well maintained.

Blade condition: It maintains its shapes and razor edge intact, with insignificant points and very slight shadows of old stains on the steel, all without importance and practically invisible to the simple eye, as can be seen in the detailed pictures that amplify these points. In short, everything appropriate to its age in a very well preserved old blade.

Koshirae:

Recently restored by a Koshiraeshi master with original parts. Silk parts and lacquered were renovated as usual

Tsuka:

Wood: Honoki

Same: Genuine Ray Skin

Menuki couple: Shakudo and Gold

Fuchi/Kashira: Iron and Copper with Sakura (Cherry Blossom) in Gold

(The Kashira matches the Horimono of the blade. Show a Cherry Blossom Branche, which suggests that it was from the same antique period as the blade and therefore these Kodogu pieces are parts of the original Koshirae now restored.)

Ito: Natural Silk

Habaki: Silver

Tsuba: Carved bronze

Saya:

Wood: Honoki

Kurikata: Carved Bronze

Kurikata Shitodome: Golden Brass

Lacquered work: Raden (Mother of Pearl with Urushi)

Sageo: Fabric Silk

Koshirae measures:

Total Tanto length in Koshirae: 41,6 cm.

Age: Transitional period of the first years Meiji 明治時代 near the end of Edo 江戸時代. It show very defined characteristics of the period.