Japanese Tachi, Mid-Late Edo Period

Description

Extraordinarily sharp unsigned blade features a 29″ cutting edge with suguha hamon; nakago (tang) with single mekugi-ana (hole). Iron tsuba with chiseled birds and foliage with gold highlights; bronze dragon menuki. Traditional tsuka (handle) with same (rayskin) and gold ito (silk wrap). Lacquered wood saya (scabbard) with bronze tachi mounts. Attached to the upper mount is an old wooden tag with Japanese characters reading “Kakudate town, 250 Tezuka Narikazu (likely the owner’s name) 38 Nihonto (japanese sword)”. This could be a confiscation tag from the end of WWII. As per the terms of surrender, all weapons were required to be turned over to Allied authorities and thousands of swords were turned over to GHQ. After the occupation most were turned over to the Japanese Government, but few ever made their way back to their rightful owners. Many were stolen by the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). Made originally as a tachi and the mounts appear to be the original. Blade shows one mune-ware (forging flaw) about 5″ from the kissaki (point), which is common and does not detract from the look or functionality of the blade. Rare to find a Japanese sword with unaltered blade and the original mounts. This is the sharpest sword we have ever had in our possession.