1864 (RAT YEAR) DATED BEST QUALITY SPECIAL ORDER SAMURAI ORITA CLAN BLADE WORTHY OF ASSESSMENT IN JAPAN FOR PAPERS** Japanese Soshu School O-Tanto (Large Tanto) With Dated & Smith Signed Tang ‘NOBU SHIGE TSUKURU’ & Scabbard With Kogatana Knife Swords

**1864 (RAT YEAR) DATED BEST QUALITY SPECIAL ORDER SAMURAI ORITA CLAN BLADE WORTHY OF ASSESSMENT IN JAPAN FOR PAPERS** Japanese Soshu School O-Tanto (Large Tanto) With Dated & Smith Signed Tang ‘NOBU SHIGE TSUKURU’ & Scabbard With Kogatana Knife. ED 2675

This Japanese O Tanto has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His hand written assessment notes accompany this piece. Extracts from the assessment and notes include “O Tanto (large dagger). Shape is Hirazukuri (slab sided no ridge line). Made in Soshu school (den) work. A best quality blade made in August 1864 (Rat year) signed ‘MOTOME ORITA UJI ?? MINAMOTO NOBU SHIGE TSUKURU’, working in Edo Furukawa castle in Shimosa province, also in Edo Yushima Tenjinshita. He made dense well foged Ko-Itame and gunome hamon with nioi crystal edges. Rated as making above average blades. This is a special order blade made for the Orita clan worthy of further research. Worthy of professional polish and papers in japan. Bright but covered in light scratches obscuring workmanship. Tsuka in black lacquer 1 chip otherwise good condition, Iron end mount with carved cloud dragon (old rust). Kogatana side knife has soft metal hilt showing cherry blossom tree with artisan working. Tsub hand guard is brass with round shapes inlaid with silver around rim. Fuchi Kashira are copper alloy with gourd & whisk?. Menuki are silver dogs in good condition. Wrapped in black ito very good condition. I think this man would have gone on to make even better blades but 4 years after this was made swords were banned from wear by Hattori edict from the Emperor. A lot of smiths went back to making tools to earn a living”. In his illustration of the blade he adds “cutting edge is 33.5 cm. Total length 46 cm. He translates the tang signature, clan name and date. In his illustrations he also describes other blade characteristics and measurements which can be seen in image 2. The price for this ancient blade with original UK expert opinion includes UK delivery. ED 2675

£2250