Japanese

A Super, Original, Antique Edo Period, Most Rare Samurai Kubikiri 'Head Cutter' With Fine Original Edo Period Koshirae Including a Minogame, a Hairy-Tailed Turtle,Tsuba. Katakiriba-zukuri and Flat Mune Blade

Superbly mounted in traditional samurai tanto form but once drawn from the saya the tanto blade reveals its cutting edge to be on the inside, specifically for the removal of a head from behind, while holding the fallen samurai's head up by the hair, grasped in the left hand.

The term "kubikiri" is traditionally translated as "head cutter". This style of tanto may have been carried by attendants to high ranking samurai whose job was to remove the heads of dead enemies as "trophies of battle". While this usage was real in ancient times, in later eras it would have been largely a ceremonial sword, used possibly as a badge of rank.

Katakiriba-zukuri form with a flat mune, and the cutting edge is on the inside curvature (extreme uchi-sori), and there is no kissaki with a single ana. The hamon is notare based on suguha with nioi, One blade side is fully polished , flat sided, the other the cutting edge polished and the wide hada blackened and chisseled with horimono of splashing waves. The saya has polished black buffalo horn fittings, and its kurigata, with kozuka or kogai pocket.

The iron tsuba of maru-gata form with single hitsu ana and carved with a takebori of a minogame hairy tailed turtle. Not a real species, it is a mythological or symbolic turtle found in Japanese art, folklore, and proverbs. The "Hairy" Tail is actually a thick growth of long seaweed and algae that trails behind an ancient turtle's shell,
Legends say these turtles live for 1,000 to 10,000 years, and the long algae tail grows as a sign of this immense age.Famous Tales: A Minogame famously appears in the classic Japanese folklore legend of Urashima Tarō, where a fisherman saves a turtle and is rewarded with a trip to an underwater palace.

The blade collar is a copper habaki, the black saya of finest black urushi lacquer of contrasting ishime and polished, sacred aoi plants, the tsuka is covered in samegawa giant rayskin, beneath takebori shakudo menuki of shishi {lion dogs}, and in their turn, beneath black silk tsukaito binding.

The blade is in excellent condition with minor wear. The mounts are in very good condition with some wear, minuscule lacquer nicks to the original Edo saya.

Examples of kubikiri are very rarely found in even the best Western collections

A similar style of tanto (hanakiri) blade, but simpler without fine detail or horimono, was made for ikebana master and samurai as tools for trimming bonsai and flower arranging, ikebana, however they would be mounted in the most simplest and rudimentary wooden mount as a nata, that was required for garden tools and inclement weather.

Samurai would be trained for ikebana in order to settle the mind and create an inner peacefulness, and to train the senses for order and balance, vital for the universal skills needed to be a successful samurai.
A samurai was not merely a physical weapon, they practiced Bunbu Ryodo ("The Cultural and Martial Ways Accord").
Warlords recognized that disciplined minds made better tactical leaders. Alongside martial arts, samurai trained in Zen Buddhism to build an absolute composure and acceptance of death, alongside practical studies in literature, war strategy, and calligraphy  read more

Code: 26357

The Lanes Armoury Probably The Largest Online Militaria Website in the World, After Over 100 Years of Brighton Trading, &, The 25th Anniversary of Our Best Antique & Collectables Shop in Britain Award

In this very special anniversary year of 2026

Presented by MILLER'S Antiques Guide, THE BBC, HOMES & ANTIQUES MAGAZINE in 2001.

With around 2000 visitors at our shop every day the most popular question asked, is, “where in earth do you find thousands of such incredible pieces?”
Well, although the answer relatively simple, it is based around over a 100 years of our firmly established reputation. Those that wish to sell, one way or another, find us, because we have been here, located and trading in Brighton for over four generations, and thus well known around the world, and more importantly, throughout the United Kingdom, as one of the most important buyers of ancient, antique and vintage collectables, in Great Britain.
We have been acquiring treasures from history, almost exclusively, from some of the most remarkable private sources for all that time, The family partners have had their specific and utterly remarkable business experience, literally unchallenged, for over fifty years. With the privilege of meeting some of the most incredible individuals imaginable, and all with their own unique story to tell, and their desire to pass on their past heirlooms, to become others heirlooms of the future.

Five years ago we were approached by a most historically enthusiastic young person studying at Sussex University who asked if they could research through our archive to complete a 'paper' based on us as one of the oldest remaining Sussex family business's.
It resulted in some remarkable statistics, that we thought we would share with our regulars, for those that have interest. The research only included the types of items that we regularly buy, sell and export today, with general antiques, furniture, porcelain, clocks, silver and works of art excluded, as we haven't been devoted to that side of the trade since selling our antique export shipping companies in 1992. However, when came to books, it was also another near impossible task to calculate, as it would likely stretch into the hundreds of thousands, {conservatively} if not millions of volumes {actually}.

In over 100 years of shop keeping in Brighton, at the time of his research, 80 of them pre-internet, apparently, we have likely sold over 200,000 books, {vintage and antique books were, and are, our largest selling single item}, 135,000 medals & badges, over 95,000 worldwide swords, knives and bayonets, over 32,000 Japanese samurai swords {for example, around 28 years ago we bought over 150 Japanese WW2 NCO swords in one vast lot, from the grandson of a WW2 British military surplus dealer, who acquired them for scrap in 1946 from the War Dept}. We have sold and exported,, apparently over 28,500 helmets of all origins and types, 27,000 pistols and muskets of all countries, at least 2450 suits of armour, European, British or Japanese, and over 1,500 cannon, both signal and full sized. Believe it or not, apparently, according to their research and calculations, these are potentially conservative figures, and the actual figure could indeed be much higher. However, in 1939 business trailed off a bit {WW2} but old pops, William {Bill} Hawkins went to the Alan West factory on the outskirts of Brighton {due to being too old to serve in the Navy} and engineered Army Tanks for the next 6 years.


So, please enjoy our historical website, and remember, every thing you see that is priced, is available, and for sale, we try to not keep our webstore filled with past 'sold' items.

Being part of the centre of the historic Brighton Lanes, anything up 2,000 to 3,000 people, will visit us here most days {especially on Saturdays} winter and summer, rain or shine.

We issue our unique, certificate of authenticity, with every single item purchased, and in regards to our Japanese items, both weapons and fittings etc. our ability to do this is based on well over a century of experience, as probably the largest military antiques dealers in Europe. We detail within our certificates, their beauty, approximate age, style, either specific or generic history, and the details of their fittings and mounts, and their potential position, use, and status in Japanese samurai history. We will detail the translations, if known, of the kanji (names) chisselled upon the nakago of swords, under their hilt bindings, but purely for information only. Although the myth persists that all Japanese master smiths signed their swords, historically, and factually, it is likely less than 30% of samurai blades were in fact ever signed. This fact is certainly found, and confirmed by us to be the case, due to our family’s 100 plus years experience. For example, it is said one of the greatest master smiths who ever lived, the great Masamune, was, apparently, most reluctant to ever sign his swords. Although this must be relative speculation, as so very few of his swords have been recognised to still exist

Our Certificates of Authenticity are our own unique version of a lifetime guarantee, based on our expertise honed over 100 years, containing a detailed description of any item purchased from our stock. In relation to our samurai weapons, the description with be a combination of our opinion of its style, approximate age and beauty, and for our Japanese samurai swords in particular, that it is an ‘original’, samurai sword, made and used by samurai, both ancient and vintage, within Japan, over the past 700 years, up to the last samurai period in the Meiji era of 1868, as well as up to 1945, if it is a military mounted shingunto sword.

Photos 4 and 5 are part of an editorial in Art and Antiques Weekly Magazine, featuring the story so far {in 1975} of the partner’s former family antiques export company, one of the largest in the world at that time. In 1992 Mark and David retired from the mass wholesale export market and morphed their business into the becoming one of the largest dedicated ‘military antiques’ and specialist book businesses instead, both of the partners true passions.  read more

Code: 22565

A Beautiful Koto Wakazashi, In Superb Original Edo Fittings and Tsuba With a Masamune Signed Blade. The Koto Era Was From 900 to 1595. The Edo Period Was From 1603 to 1868

A delightful sword, bearing the signature Masamune, associated by legend as the finest samurai sword maker in all history.

Masamune is generally regarded as the greatest swordsmith in the history of the Japanese sword. His blades, mostly daggers (‘tanto’), were both strong and beautiful and could cut extremely efficiently. Many of the technological advances accredited to Masamune were practical ones brought about by experience gained during the invasions of Japan by the Mongols in 1274 and 1281
Currently, photo 5 in the gallery, is the Masamune blade signature in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Photo 6 is of the President Truman Masamune wakazashi. Photo 7 is the Victoria and Albert Masamune signature next to our sword's signature. Photos shown for educational purposes only, The museum Masamune's sword sgnature is somewhat similar to our blades signature.

However, we believe its fair to say our beauty is unlikely to have been made by 'the' Masamune, otherwise it would be absolutely priceless, which naturally, it isn't.

The wakazashi is beautifully presented with fine original Edo mounts and fittings, including, a delightful iron plate tsuba decorated with shallow takebori chisseling of a samurai helmet kabuto, embellished with pure gold and silver, and a samurai armour arm piece, a sode. The reverse side of the tsuba is chisselled with a samurai war bow and an arrow, also embellished with pure silver. The kashira is patinated shakudo with a gold seated samurai holding a kusari, a sickle form weapon, observing a hawk in flight. The fuchi, is also shakudo, with takebori sheaths of wheat next to a flowing river. The menuki, bound beneath gold silk tsukaito, are patinated shakudo of deep takebori in the form of bundles of flower stems, with pure gold decorated flower heads and fruits, and set upon the traditional samegawa giant rayskin.

The saya is ishime lacquer in a beautifully rich, russet colour, with polished carved black buffalo horn fittings and a kozuka pocket holding a shakudo kozuka with a deep takebori gold dragon on a nanako ground. The blade has an old, aged polish, showing a fine suguha hamon and near flawless without any trace of combat damage, with a double copper double interlocking habaki {always a nice indicative sign of quality}.

Yet, is it not a wonderful thing to say one owns a Masamune wakazashi, without any of the incredible expense and heaviest of burdens, of having to pay an insurance premium, of around £500,000 a year, for the priveledge of owning an original and real Masamune.

The complete Kyoho Meibutsu Cho (including the two addendum books) list 61 authenticated Masamune being in existence in the 1700s. Surely some unauthenticated swords by him exist/existed, but it can only be hopeful conjecture. It is now believed less than 20 of his masterworks are likely to still exist.

The USA has two (potentially). One in the Truman Library, presented to President Truman by Gen. Walter Krueger, who was in turn gifted the sword by a Japanese noble (likely to gain favour). The Truman Masamune is possibly the "Mori Masamune" wakizashi, just by looking at the dimensions and photographs. The other (if it still exists) is the legendary Honjo Masamune, which was voluntarily surrendered from a private collection to the Japanese police by a member of the Tokugawa family (who chose to give them up instead of register them). It was then handed off to US occupation forces by the Japanese police and it's whereabouts are unknown currently.

Another exists in Austria, which was gifted to Albrecht von Roretz as part of a lot of swords for working to establish modern hospitals in Japan during the late 1800s.

These are the only ‘recorded’ Masamune blades to leave Japan, and none were battlefield trophies.

The British Museum list that they have a sword signed Masamune in their collection, however it is not photographed, so it is felt it is not an original, and thus, like ours that also isnt.

Another is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, acquired in 1912, it is photographed and also bears an attribution by the Ho’nami family of sword appraisers as being by Masamune, however although it is reasonably believed by many to be ‘the’ Masamune, it may be just of the period.

At a friendly chat we had with Chris Fox and Victor Harris {of the British Museum} in our gallery some years ago, in regards to how much an original would achieve if it appeared on the open market, and importantly, was agreed throughout to be genuine, the theoretical sum of 100 million pounds plus was considered as realistic.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/64-131

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/36521-truman-library-sword/

Victoria and Albert collection, sword accession number M.20:1 to 4-1912. Although not on display.  read more

Code: 26342

A Most Attractive Koto Wakizashi Attributed to Kanemune of Etchu, 1532 WIth Japanese Attribution Papers

Uda school blade with bo hi to both sides. Fine sugaha hamon with mokume hada. Edo period Goto school mounts in shakudo patinated copper and gold depicting carved shi shi lion dogs. Menuki of shakudo and gold dragons. Iron Edo tsuba of fan formed windows, with Amidayasuri. NTHK certificated in 2003 as attributed to Kanemune of Etchu by a previous owner. The founder of the Uda School is considered to have been Kunimitsu. He was originally from the Uda district of Yamato Province. He worked around the Bunpo Era or 1317 at the end of the Kamakura Era. All of the succeeding smiths of this school used the kanji character â"Kuni", in their signatures. At some point he moved to Etchu Province so even though the Uda School had its foundation in the Yamato tradition, it is considered to be one of the wakimono schools from this region together with such schools as he Fujishima and Chiyozuru. Together these three schools are often referred to as the kita kuni mono.


Since remaining works by Kunimitsu are non-existent, his students, Kunifusa and Kunimune, are generally thought to be the true founders of this school. Both of these smiths studied under Norishige of the Etchu Province and they were active around the Koan Era (1361). The works of these early Uda smiths followed the style of the Yamato Den particularly in the areas of sugata and hamon. We rarely have swords with papers for our swords mostly came to England in the 1870's long before 'papers' were invented, and they have never returned to Japan for inspection and papers to be issued. However, on occasion we acquire swords from latter day collectors that have had swords papered in the past 30 years or so. this is one of those. It is important to bear in mind, that due to the revered status that Japanese swords achieve for most of their working lives in Japan, that the condition they survive in can be simply remarkable. One can see just how remarkable it can be, by comparing the condition of this fine sword that was made around the same time as the early Tudor period of King Henry the VIIIth to any equivalent aged, surviving, early Tudor period sword, from any country outside of Japan, and that comparison will show just how fine any Japanese sword’s state of preservation, from the same era, truly can be.

28 inches long overall in saya, 21.5 inch long blade tip to tsuba.  read more

Code: 23596

A Most Beautiful Original Edo Period Shinto Samurai Wakizashi by Echizen ju Kozuke no Kami Fujiwara Kanesada, A Sword Maker Deemed Saijō Ō Wazamono (Supreme Grade), Ō Wazamono (Excellent), Yoki (Ryō) Wazamono (Very Good)

Signed over both sides of the nakago, Echizen ju Kozuke no Kami Fujiwara Kanesada 1680.

If you only had a single Japanese samurai short sword in your collection you would have to go a very long way to find a better example than this beauty. Bearing in mind it's beautifully signed, of stunning quality, in amazing condition, and, its almost 350 years old.

A good and rated sword smith. A swordsmith, Kozuke no Kami Fujiwara Kanesada is listed as one of just 65 Swordmakers that produced a swords of three of the high grades of quality blades, ōwazamono, ryōwazamono, or wazamono. Excellent, very good and good. Wazamono is a classification of Japanese swords and swordsmiths used in Japan to identify historic blades of exceptional quality. According to the first edition of Kaiho Kenjaku (懐宝剣尺) published in 1797, There are 163 Wazamono swords in total, grouped into four categories based on their quality. Twelve swords are classified as Saijō Ō Wazamono (Supreme Grade), twenty-one swords are classified as Ō Wazamono (Excellent), fifty swords are classified as Yoki (Ryō) Wazamono (Very Good), and eighty swords are classified as Wazamono (Good).

This rating is based on a book compiled by Yamada Asaemon V (山田浅右衛門吉睦), an official sword cutting ability examiner and executioner of the Tokugawa shogunate, and is an authoritative index of cutting ability of Japanese swords. The list of ratings concerning swordsmithing differs between Kaiho Kenjaku (懐宝剣尺) published in 1797 and the reprinted edition published in 1805, and the major revised edition of Kokon Kajibiko (古今鍛冶備考) published in 1830. Add up the number of sword smiths in each edition: Saijo Ō Wazamono 15, Ō Wazamono 21, Yoki Wazamono 58, Wazamono 93, and 3 grades mixed 65. The list of swordsmiths described below is the swordsmiths described in the first edition of Kaiho Kenjaku. The blade of shinogi-zukuri form, slightly undulating suguba of nioi with pronounced nie, indistinct tight mokumehada, the ubu nakago with kiri yasurime and one mekugi-ana, signed Echizen no ju Kozuke no kami Fujiwara Kanesada; koshira-e: the saya (scabbard) of roiro lacquer; ovoid iron stuba , shakudo fuchigashira with geese and reeds in gilt metal relief. The blade is in very good polish, the lacquer on the saya also very good and the original. Superb condition tsukaito silk hilt wrap .
Blade 48.5cm (19 1/8in) from tsuba to tip .  read more

Code: 23481

A Majestic Edo Period, 425 Year Old, Samurai Wakazashi Of Museum Quality. With a Pure Layered Gold Habaki of the Ryojin, The "Dragon King," & Fuchigashira With His Pure Gold Servants The Sea Turtles

A most splendid samurai sword, the secondary sword of likely a daimyo, clan lord, around 425 years old. The blade bears a wonderous hamon of incredible activity with the Shinto Osaka school designs of gunome midare ba, with crab claws. it has just been expertly cleaned and conserved and looks spectacular.

The saya is one of the most beautiful we have seen with all its original urushi lacquer of a black base ground decorated with crushed abilone, over lacquered with clear urushi nad then takebori symbols of open ended infinity throughout. It has its all original Edo period shakudo and gold mounts of superlative beauty of the turtles. According to traditional Japanese beliefs, the turtle is a haven for immortals and the world mountain, and symbolizes longevity, good luck, and support. It is the symbol of Kumpira, the god of seafaring people especially. He is said to have lived tens of thousands of years.
Ryujin or Ryojin "dragon god", which in some traditions is equivalent to Owatatsumi, was the tutelary deity of the sea in Japanese mythology. This Japanese dragon symbolized the power of the ocean, had a large mouth, and was able to transform into a human shape. Ryujin lived in Ryugu-jo, his palace under the sea built out of red and white coral, from where he controlled the tides with magical tide jewels. Sea turtles, fish and jellyfish are often depicted as Ryujin's servants.

The tsuba is an absolute gem in shakudo with hammered pure gold onlaid paulownia leaves set in half surface decorated hand carved takebori open fretwork of tendrils. Paulownia is a symbol of good fortune, royalty, and the imperial family in Japan. It's depicted in the seal of the Prime Minister and used in various government emblems. The menuki are birds of paradise and shakudo and gold flying in clouds and match the very same design on the kodzuka, a bird of paradise, of gold and shakudo, utility knife, stored in the traditional kozuka saya pocket.

Samurai have been describes as "the most strictly trained human instruments of war to have existed." They were expected to be proficient in the martial arts of aikido and kendo as well as swordsmanship and archery---the traditional methods of samurai warfare---which were viewed not so much as skills but as art forms that flowed from natural forces that harmonized with nature.
An individual, in certain circumstances, apparently didn't become a full-fledged samurai until, some say, he wandered around the countryside as begging pilgrim for a couple of years to learn humility. Again this may be part of the myth. However, when all his training was completed a samurai trainee that achieved samurai status and received a salary from his daimyo, paid from taxes (usually rice) raised from the local populace, he truly became the very best at his art in the world of sword combat

Swords in Japan have long been symbols of power and honour and seen as works of art, which is exactly what they are.

In Japan the term samurai evolved over several centuries

In Japanese, they are usually referred to as bushi (武士,) or buke (武家). According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning 'to wait upon', 'accompany persons' in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau. In both countries the terms were nominalized to mean 'those who serve in close attendance to the nobility', the Japanese term saburai being the nominal form of the verb." According to Wilson, an early reference to the word samurai appears in the Kokin Wakashū (905–914), the first imperial anthology of poems, completed in the first part of the 10th century.

Originally, the word samurai referred to anyone who served the emperor, the imperial family, or the imperial court nobility, even in a non-military capacity.It was not until the 17th century that the term gradually became a title for military servants of warrior families, so that, according to Michael Wert, "a warrior of elite stature in pre-seventeenth-century Japan would have been insulted to be called a 'samurai'".

In modern usage, bushi is often used as a synonym for samurai

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the very best and highly esteemed specialist dealers, in any field, all around the world, is simply a piece of paper,…however, ours is backed up with the fact we are the largest dealers of our kind in the world, with over 100 years and four generation’s of professional trading behind us. The current two partners alone, combined together, have over 96 years of professional experience within the trade.

Overall the condition is excellent for age, with just a few small marks withing the lacquered saya urushi,  read more

Code: 25752

A Wonderful Late Koto to Early Shinto Period Samurai Katana In Superb Condition Circa 450 Years Old. Superb Original Full Suite of Original Edo Koshirae, Including Gold and Shakudo Goto School Mounts & Signed Tsuba

The blade is absolutely stunning in very fine polish, and showing a beautiful billowing, very deep hamon of extraordinary fine quality. Goto gold and shakudo fuchi kashira of deep takebori chrysanthemums and tendrils. Gold menuki of hawks, and a complimentary signed mokko form iron plate tsuba with a hawk in flight with gold highlights. Original Edo tsuka-ito and blade polish, and original Edo saya with fabulous original ishime pattern urushi lacquer of top quality, with minor age bruising and a saya jiri mount of pierced openwork.

Cherished for its infinite versatility, urushi is a distinctive art form that has spread across all facets of Japanese culture from the tea ceremony to the saya scabbards of samurai swords

Japanese artists created their own style and perfected the art of decorated lacquerware during the 8th century. Japanese lacquer skills reached its peak as early as the twelfth century, at the end of the Heian period (794-1185). This skill was passed on from father to son and from master to apprentice.

The samurai were roughly the equivalent of feudal knights. Employed by the shogun or daimyo, they were members of hereditary warrior class that followed a strict "code" that defined their clothes, armour and behaviour on the battlefield. But unlike most medieval knights, samurai warriors could read and they were well versed in Japanese art, literature and poetry.
Samurai endured for almost 700 years, from 1185 to 1867. Samurai families were considered the elite. They made up only about six percent of the population and included daimyo and the loyal soldiers who fought under them. Samurai means one who serves."

Samurai were expected to be both fierce warriors and lovers of art, a dichotomy summed up by the Japanese concepts of to stop the spear expanding into bushido (the way of life of the warrior) and bun (the artistic, intellectual and spiritual side of the samurai). Originally conceived as away of dignifying raw military power, the two concepts were synthesised in feudal Japan and later became a key feature of Japanese culture and morality.The quintessential samurai was Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary early Edo-period swordsman who reportedly killed 60 men before his 30th birthday and was also a painting master. Members of a hierarchal class or caste, samurai were the sons of samurai and they were taught from an early age to unquestionably obey their mother, father and daimyo. When they grew older they may be trained by Zen Buddhist masters in meditation and the Zen concepts of impermanence and harmony with nature. The were also taught about painting, calligraphy, nature poetry, mythological literature, flower arranging, and the tea ceremony.

It has been said that part of their military training, samurai were taught to sleep with their right arm underneath them so if they were attacked in the middle of the night and their the left arm was cut off the could still fight with their right arm. Samurai, it has been said, that if they tossed and turned at night were cured of the habit by having two knives placed on either side of their pillow.

Samurai have been describes as "the most strictly trained human instruments of war to have existed." They were expected to be proficient in the martial arts of aikido and kendo as well as swordsmanship and archery---the traditional methods of samurai warfare---which were viewed not so much as skills but as art forms that flowed from natural forces that harmonized with nature.

Long 29 inch blade, overall in saya 40.3 inches long

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of trading  read more

Code: 24998

A Beautiful Edo Period Akasaka School O Sukashi Tsuba Decorated in Cut Silhouette With Clouds, Stars and Moon.

Early in the 17th century, tradition says, a dealer of Kiōto, named Kariganeya Hikobei, practised the designing of openwork iron guards in a new and refined style and had them made by a group of skilled craftsmen. From among these men he selected one Shōgunal capital, and settled with him at Kurokawa-dani in the Akasaka Japanese text district. Shōzayemon took the name of Tadamasa and continued his work on Kariganeya’s designs, dying in 1657. His son (or younger brother) Shōyemon, who succeeded him, calling himself Tadamasa II and adopting Akasaka as a surname, died in 1677 and was in turn succeeded by his son Masatora (d. 1707), by Masatora’s son Tadamune, and thence by four generations all called Tadatoki, the last living on into the middle of the 19th century. The first Tadatoki seems to have removed to Kiōto with his father’s pupil Tadashige and there to have founded a western branch of the school. Besides these a number of pupils, all called Tada-…, are recorded.

The earlier Akasaka guards closely resemble the pierced work of the Heianjō and Owari workers (Group III). Later productions display a number of striking features, such as clean-cut fret-piercing in positive silhouette of designs leaving little of the iron in reserve, the addition of a slight engraving finish, a rounded or rather tapered edge to the guard, and, in some of the more recent specimens, the semi-circular enlargement of each end of the tang-hole, as if to take a plug (not supplied) of abnormal size. Enrichments of other metals are entirely absent.  read more

Code: 25445

A Simply Fabulous Samurai's Loyalty, Ritual-Exchange, Wine Bowl, A Sakazuki of Hiramaki-e Pure Gold Lacquer. Signed Yoyusai (1772-1845)

A Sakazuki cup, a footed Circular Wine Cup of pure gold lacquer signed Hira Yoyusai decorated with the symbols of the highest ranking samurai, an Imperial court cap, a pole arm and General's war fan. Sakazuki is a ritual of exchanging sake cups as a means of pledging loyalty. The word itself refers to ceremonial cups used on special occasions like weddings, tea ceremonies, etc. There are currently two known versions of the sakazuki ritual.
Worthy of any museum grade collection of the finest Japanese Ob'ject D'art. Edo period (19th century), signed Yoyusai (1772-1845). A footed, circular cup of pure gold lacquer in gold hiramaki-e on fundame ground. Decorated with an Imperial court cap, a war fan, a pole arm and a tied sack. Likely commissioned for a notable of the highest rank, such as a daimyo lord or member of the Japanese nobility. In the period Kwansei, 1789 to 1801 C.E., Koma Kwansai, Inouye Hakusai, and Hara Yoyusai were the most famous artists, the first of whom was foremost in the delicacy of his work, but was comparatively unknown. Nakayama Komin was a distinguished lacquerer who worked in Edo and learnt the art from Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845). Yoyusai and other 19th-century lacquer artists including Koma Kansai and Zeshin, Nakayama Komin turned to famous early masterpieces of Japanese lacquer for inspiration. A superbly executed piece of finest artwork, showing remarkable skill for the minutest detail. Hiramaki-e, in Japanese lacquerwork, gold decoration in low, or flat, relief, a basic form of maki-e. The pattern is first outlined on a sheet of paper with brush and ink. It is then traced on the reverse side of the paper with a mixture of heated wet lacquer and (usually red) pigment. The artist transfers the pattern directly to the desired surface by rubbing with the fingertips, a process called okime. In the next step (jigaki), the pattern that has been transferred is painted over with lacquer usually a reddish colour. A dusting tube is used to sprinkle gold powder on the painted design while the lacquer is still wet. When the lacquer is dry, superfluous gold powder is dusted off, and a layer of clear lacquer is applied over the gold-covered design. When dry, it is polished with powdered charcoal. A second layer of lacquer is added, allowed to dry, and given a fingertip polish with a mixture of linseed oil and finely powdered mudstone.

The hiramaki-e technique, which dates from the latter part of the Heian period (794-1185), was preceded by togidashi maki-e, a technique in which not only the design but the whole surface is covered with clear lacquer after the sprinkling of metal powder; the lacquer is then polished down to reveal the design. During the Kamakura (1192-1333) and Muromachi (1338-1573) periods, hiramaki-e tended to be overshadowed by takamaki-e (gold or silver decoration in bold relief). It came fully into its own only in comparatively modern times. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1574-1600), hiramaki-e artists often left the sprinkled gold powder unpolished in a technique called maki-hanashi (left as sprinkled). A very beautiful piece by the master or an homage to Yoyusai bearing his name.

5" diameter across 1.33 inches high

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 22989

Fabulous 800 Year Old Ancient Ancestral, Museum Quality, Sword, Chokutō (直刀, 'Straight Sword', 10th Century Kofun Style, Mounted In WW2 Officer's Katana Fittings A Wonderful & Rare Historical Rarity From The The Mongol Invasions & The Kamikazi Typhoon

Possibly this swords ancestral blade was used in combat during the time of the great Khan, {Kublai Khan} and his attempted two Mongol invasions of Japan, in 1274 and 1281.

During WW2, which for Japan started in 1936, families of great standing or with samurai backgrounds and ancestry were permitted to allow their son's to wear military mounted swords, but, containing ancient ancestral blades, usually of great significance to the family's history. This is one of those swords. This swords officer's ancestry clearly went back almost a thousand years, thus he must have had great status within Japanese society. It was once estimated only 1 in 100 had such historical swords to carry in combat, while serving their divine emperor Hirohito in WW2, but an original 13th century chokuto sword would have been likely to have been used by fewer than one in a hundred thousand officer's.

A 13th Century original Koto samurai sword blade in the ancient 1300 year old ancient samurai sword style. Ancestral Japanese officers sword, an early Koto period bladed katana, with a stunning and rare blade form, of a near straight blade in the ancient chokuto style.
A straight, single-edged Japanese sword used from the Kofun era through the middle of the Heian period (around 794 to the 10th century) before curved swords like the tachi became standard.

The chokuto (直刀, "straight sword") is a straight, one-edged Japanese sword that was produced prior to the 10th century. Its basic style is likely derived from similar swords of ancient China. Chokuto were used on foot for stabbing or slashing and were worn hung from the waist. Until the Heian period such swords were called tachi (大刀), which should not be confused with tachi written as 太刀 referring to curved swords.

The chokutō in various styles including these styles declined around the end of the Asuka period (593－710), and only the style called the hōtō-tachi (方頭大刀), in which the decoration on the tip of the handle was rectangular parallelepiped, survived from the Nara period (710－794)

Chokutō typically come in hira-zukuri and kiriha-zukuri tsukurikomi (blade styles) which make them very distinct from later tachi and katana which rarely use these forms. Swords of this period are classified as jōkotō and are often referred to in distinction from Japanese swords.

Chokutō as a weapon died out by the middle of the Heian period, in the 10th century. And as a weapon, it was completely replaced by the Japanese sword, which is known today for its deep and graceful curves. The first sword with this curve was called Kenukigata-tachi (ja:毛抜形太刀), which was made by improving Warabitetō (ja:蕨手刀) used by Emishi in Tohoku region. And Kenukigata-tachi evolved into tachi, which became the mainstream of Japanese swords for a long time.

However on rare occasions the Chokuto style was made in later centuries to represent for its samurai owner the truly ancient style of Japanese samurai's sword, possibly for a samurai whose ancestors had been as such in the 10th century, and he wished to emulate and demonstrate his connection to his earliest samurai ancestor.

The wars and conflicts this sword could potentially seen service are;
Kennin Rebellion (1301 / 1401? listed as 1301 or 1201): A brief regional uprising against the Kamakura shogunate's authority.

Hatakeyama Shigetada Rebellion (1205): A localized purge and battle as the ruling Hōjō clan eliminated powerful rival samurai houses within the shogunate.

Wada Rebellion (1213): A fierce internal conflict in Kamakura led by the Wada clan against the dominant Hōjō regency.

Jōkyū War (1221): A decisive civil war where the Imperial Court under retired Emperor Go-Toba tried to overthrow the Kamakura shogunate; the shogunate won, cementing samurai supremacy over imperial governance.

Miura Rebellion (1247): A violent purge that destroyed the powerful Miura clan, further concentrating power in the hands of the Hōjō family.

Mongol Invasions (1274 & 1281): Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty attempted to conquer Japan twice, attacking Kyushu. Samurai forces repelled the landings in the Battle of Bun'ei and the second invasion, aided heavily by coastal defenses and the famous kamikaze typhoons.

The Mongol invasions of Japan were two failed military campaigns launched by Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty in 1274 and 1281 CE to conquer the Japanese islands.

The First Invasion (1274)
Kublai Khan sent a fleet of roughly 900 ships and nearly 30,000 troops from Korea.
The fleet attacked the islands of Tsushima and Iki before landing at Hakata Bay on Kyushu.
Japanese samurai fought fiercely, but the Mongols had better group tactics and primitive explosives. However, a massive nighttime storm destroyed much of the Mongol fleet and forced a retreat back to Korea.

The Second Invasion (1281) After conquering the Southern Song Dynasty, Kublai Khan launched a much larger armada of around 4,400 ships and 140,000 soldiers.

The Japanese built stone coastal walls around Hakata Bay, which blocked the invaders from landing easily. Weeks of messy beach and ship battles followed.
A powerful typhoon struck the coast on August 15, 1281, and smashed the Mongol fleet against the rocks
The typhoons that saved Japan were called kamikaze or "divine winds". The high cost of defending the country drained the Kamakura Shogunate's money and led to political weakness.

Overall condition;
The ancient 800 year old blade is in superb condition for age showing a superb hamon, and hada grain, with just some areas of light surface thinning that is far less that one should expect for a blade so ancient. The WW2 officers mounts are very good, with its leather combat covered metal saya , and its tsuka is very good, with just some age wear to its ito and the samegawa beneath. The tsuba is the early pre war pierced sukashi type, with some small, old, field repairs to one side.

In the MET, The Metropolitan Museum in New York, there is an incredibly similar blade, Title: Blade for a Straight Single-Edged Sword (Chokutō)

Date: 7th century or earlier exhibit number 06.310.6, We show our 13th century chokuto blade next to the 7th century samurai chokuto blade in the MET in New York, as photo 10 in the gallery.  read more

Code: 26343