Here we have a very unique find. It’s a Japanese Moroha-zukiri tanto and it is in very good condition.  We do not always sell these type of swords as they hard to find. The blade has a carving of gomabashi that runs through the end of the nakago called kaki-toshi. The blade is mumei and appears to be shinshinto. Moroha-zukiri are one of the rarer styles of tanto. These are double edged blades and were sometimes made as Buddhist ritual implements although it is not uncommon to find them mounted and used as tanto. Moroha style tanto were made in the Koto and Shinshinto eras; but few were made during the Shinto period (few tanto of any style were made during the Shinto era). Moroha blades have parallel edges and one side ends about halfway down the blade and is finished with a iroi mune. Some of the top sword smiths in history made these as offerings to various temples.

The Koshirae is wrapped with a beautiful blue ito-maki. With matching sageo,. The tsuba is of waves with a sakura rim. The menuki are of Yanone and the fuchi kashira are themed of oni and are signed. The saya is a black lacquer. The habaki is silver finished and all in all a wonderful package waiting for Shinsa. This tanto has been fully restored and is only in need of submitting to shinsa in the future that will add to the value of this fine collectable.