A Shin-shinto tanto | Edo period, dated Kaei rokunen hachigatsu kichijitsu (An auspicious day in August 1854)

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A Shin-shinto tanto

Edo period, dated Kaei rokunen hachigatsu kichijitsu (An auspicious day in August 1854)

Sugata [configuration]: Hira-zukuri

Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko-mokume hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Choji in nioi with a long yakidashi into the machi

Boshi [tip]: Ko-maru with kaeri

Nakago [tang]: Ubu, kuri-jiri, sujikai yasurime, one mekugi-ana

Koshirae [mount]: The tanto koshirae of ribbed red and black lacquer, the iron kozuka inlaid with butterflies, leaves and scrolling foliage, the menuki of dragons, the tsuka is black ito, with iron mokko-gata tsuba inlaid in silver with plum blossoms on waves

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 29.5 cm., 11¾ in.