Swords of Japan

Private collection

Katana - Tamahagane - Signed Hizen no Kuni Tadayoshi

Long Tanto in uncommon koshirae

Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573–1603)

William Adams ( September 24, 1564 - May 16, 1620 )

Beautiful Wakizashi or long Tanto with a lot of personality. Antique and original nihonto in a beautiful and very unusual personalized koshirae. The lobster-shaped aikuchi koshirae is finely carved and lacquered in red urushi lacquer. It also includes a beautiful copper menuki inlaid with other metals.
The tsuka menukis are finely carved crabs. The quality of all the elements of the koshirae as well as the quality of the blade of the sengoku period (Sengoku Jidai, 1467-1568).
The blade has a fantastic polish with a beautiful suguha hamon clearly visible. The small black specks are caused by the various polishes and by the tamahagane steel of early times that consisted of differential pre-polishing in several layers with some traces of metal impurities and what makes the piece really authentic to the naked eye.
The blade is in old japanese polish remaining in good condition, the jihada of the steel is detailed and full of details to appreciate. A masterpiece Worthly a museum.
Blade is in very good condition due to aging. This is a japanese weapon so have a real historical value.