This is a fine quality tanto signed and dated from the shin-shinto era. The signature reads Katsutoshi and is dated in the Meiji era. This smith is listed in Hawley’s and in his longer signature signed “Echigo Wakida Yoshiteru and Ryuunsai (Wakida) Katsutoshi. He is from Echigo and is a very good smith. Tanto from him are not easily found and this tanto is especially very well made and has a beautiful clear jigane. the hada is a swirling mokume in itame. It is well forged and has no flaws. The hamon is incredibely attractive of gunome-midare with much to see within. Many quality hataraki/activity can be seen in this blade. Tanto like these that were made during the shinshinto era and brought to war are few. After the wakazashi came to existence during the Edo era tanto production diminished greatly. During the shin-shinto era tanto began to be made again. Swordsmiths took pride in producing these quality blades to honor the blades of old. This blade is in a good older polish but would greatly benefit with a new polish. The blade interestingly was mounted for WWII. Tanto mounted in military garb such as this are extremely rare and well sought after by the WWII Japanese sword collector. it may have been a pilots tanto, its difficult to say but the few extent pieces were as such. You generally don’t find tanto like this in a leather cover that is clearly WWII military. The hanger for the cord is also of good quality, to add to it’s uniqueness. To polish this blade would not break the bank, it’s highly recommended by us.