ANCIENT 1467–1568 RARE SHAPE OSARAKU ZUKURI BLADE IN SUPERB MINT FULL POLISH**Japanese WW2 Pilots’s Tanto Dagger Blade Smith Signed ‘SHIMADA SUKE MUNE’, Shira Saya Resting Mounts Special Order Gunto Mounts With Wood Blade Scabbard & Expert Assessm Sword

**ANCIENT 1467–1568 RARE SHAPE OSARAKU ZUKURI BLADE IN SUPERB MINT FULL POLISH**Japanese WW2 Pilots’s Tanto Dagger Blade Smith Signed ‘SHIMADA SUKE MUNE’, Shira Saya Resting Mounts Special Order Gunto Mounts With Wood Blade Scabbard & Expert Assessment. - 23803:6

This is a superb ancient Japanese tanto blade with resting mounts and special order gunto mounts which has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His hand written assessment notes accompany this tanto. The assessment states “A Japanese tanto (dagger) with rare blade shape osoraku zukuri originally made by shimada suke mune for a famous general katagiri katsumoto in the sengoku period 1467–1568. The point is longer than the body of the blade. Suke mune carved the kanji for osoraku on his blade means perhaps! In mint polish mounted in shira saya it is inscribed with a famous smith's name oku yamato kami taira masa moto hira 2 generations: shiodai 1789–1801 grandson 1854–1860 see markus sesko book on swordsmiths p/nos 191–192 see hawley's illustrated revised edition p/no 441 rated 70 points shodai see afu watson translation of nihon tokoza for info & oshigata of this man 0S/ 68- 70-81-129-196-393-94-95 450-452 a superb craftsman and highly rated needs to go to Japan for verification of signature & papers this sword was carried in WW2. A koshirae special order set. A scaled down (miniature?) set of mounts for a type 98 shin gunto (new army) pattern sword made to special order in either arsenal or sword factory. The blade for these mounts is an Antique made with a spectacular & rare shape in mint condition (now housed) in a honoki wood shira saya for safe keeping, and mounted in Japan. The mounts are held together with honoki wood blade scabbard is steel painted black (possible restored) with brass special gunto style fittings & one slide on ashi with steel hanging ring. Tsuba gunto pattern pierced through the body with four showa blossom flowers lots of original gilt remaining complete with all its seppa (washers). Tsuka complete with all its ray skin wrap and its Ito brown binding (bit of dirt from carrying) has working locking catch and menuki of cherry blossom flowers, only missing a sarute (knot loop) to complete it. Because of its small size, possibly made for a pilot to carry?. The whole set is a spectacular display item for the collector of rare second war Japanese swords”. In his illustration of the blade he adds “cutting edge is just over 30 cm. Total length just 44 cm’. He translates the tang signatures and dates and sdescribes other blade characteristics & images. The price for this ancient blade with original UK expert opinion includes UK delivery. Sn 23803:6

£3,450.00