Japanese

Wonderful, Original Antique, Japanese Samurai Battle Armour. A Super Pair of Edo Period Samurai Saddle Stirrups, Silver Inlaid & Signed By Yoshihira from Kashu Province. Probably a Daimyo or Seieibushi Samurai of the Maeda Clan, Lords of Kaga

Despite being designed, made and used, for samurai combat and warfare, they can be magnificent works of art in their own right, and created using the finest skills and materials with little or no consideration to the incredible cost involved.
The form of these gorgeous and luxurious stirrups is known traditionally as hato mune (pigeon breast). The stirrups were made in Kashu (now Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture), probably under the patronage of the Maeda clan, lords of Kaga and one of the most powerful families in Japan at the time. This Kaga zougan abumi, is a pair of armoured samurai stirrups, made in iron and of exceptional quality, and bears stunningly beautiful silver inlay of scrolling vines and leaves.

These are truly noteworthy museum grade works of art in their own right. There are a few most similar in the Metropolitan Museum in the USA for example. Absolutely signal examples, perfectly displaying the skill and technical craftsmanship of the highest order, for antique Japanese accoutrements, handmade for a samurai Daimyo clan lord or for a Seieibushi samurai, they were the elite, and the highest ranking of the samurai Made and used as part of his armour saddle fittings, but also for use as much when the samurai was in full armour or in regular daytime wear. The signature, of the maker Yoshihira from Kashu province, is inlaid in pure silver to match the d?cor. Abumi, Japanese stirrups, were used in Japan as early as the 5th century, and were a necessary component along with the Japanese saddle (kura) for the use of horses in warfare. Abumi became the type of stirrup used by the samurai class of feudal Japan Early abumi were flat-bottomed rings of metal-covered wood, similar to European stirrups. The earliest known examples were excavated from tombs. Cup-shaped stirrups (tsubo abumi) that enclosed the front half of the rider's foot eventually replaced the earlier design.

During the Nara period, the base of the stirrup which supported the rider's sole was elongated past the toe cup. This half-tongued style of stirrup (hanshita abumi) remained in use until the late Heian period (794 to 1185) when a new stirrup was developed. The fukuro abumi or musashi abumi had a base that extended the full length of the rider's foot and the right and left sides of the toe cup were removed. The open sides were designed to prevent the rider from catching a foot in the stirrup and being dragged.

The military version of this open-sided stirrup, called the shitanaga abumi, was in use by the middle Heian period. It was thinner, had a deeper toe pocket and an even longer and flatter foot shelf. It is not known why the Japanese developed this unique style of stirrup, but this stirrup stayed in use until European style-stirrups were introduced in the late 19th century. The abumi has a distinctive swan-like shape, curved up and backward at the front so as to bring the loop for the leather strap over the instep and achieve a correct balance. Most of the surviving specimens from this period are made entirely of iron, inlaid with designs of silver or other materials, and covered with lacquer. In some cases, there is an iron rod from the loop to the footplate near the heel to prevent the foot from slipping out. The footplates are occasionally perforated to let out water when crossing rivers, and these types are called suiba abumi. There are also abumi with holes in the front forming sockets for a lance or banner. Seieibushi (Elite Samurai)
Traditionally the highest rank among the samurai, these are highly skilled fully-fledged samurai. Most samurai at the level of Seieibushi take on apprentices or Aonisaibushi-samurai as their disciples.

Kodenbushi (Legendary Samurai)
A highly coveted rank, and often seen as the highest attainable position, with the sole exception of the rank of Shogun. These are samurai of tremendous capability, and are regarded as being of Shogun-level. Kodenbushi are hired to accomplish some of the most dangerous international missions. Samurai of Kodenbushi rank are extremely rare, and there are no more than four in any given country.

Daimyo (Lords)
This title translates to 'Big Name' and is given to the heads of the clan.

Shogun (Military Dictator)
The apex of the samurai, the Shogun is the most prestigious rank possible for a samurai. Shoguns are the leaders of their given district, or country, and are regarded as the most powerful samurai.Beautiful and sophisticated patterns in Kaga zougan have an outstanding, keen feel for designs and such fine expression is supported by the minute methods. The craftsman carves the pattern part on the metallic basis material with a burin (tagane in Japanese), making the bottom wider than the surface (this method is called "ari wo kiru" in Japanese) and inserts and drives in a different metal in the part.
Then, the metallic part for the pattern is pressed and spread inside and does not come off itself. This bonding technology was closely employed especially in Kaga to enable to express variously on the metal for expressive work and gained a high reputation as for the solid work.

Of all the techniques, "Abumi" (stirrup) has been a synonym for Kaga zougan and well known for the scrupulous technique making sure that the metallic parts of Kaga zougan never come off, in addition to its excellent novel designs and beauty.  read more

Code: 23043

An 1886 Japanese Company Grade Type 19 Kyu-Gunto Officer's Sword Used Up To WW2. Used In 4 Wars, Sino Japanese War, The Russo Japanese War, WW1 & WW2

Company Grade Type 19 Kyu-Gunto having a single suspension mount on the nickeled steel scabbard

The blade is plated steel as is common on these Type 8 and Type 19 swords. The black polished horn grip and the hilt decoration on this sword indicating this was a sword for a junior Army Officer.

Company grade army officer’s parade sabre featuring brass hilt with pierced floral pattern
in the guard; knuckle bow joining the pommel with integral backstrap. A chrysanthemum in
relief is on the side and upper rear of the backstrap. Black polished horn grip with triple strands of alternating straight and twisted brass wire wrap.

Chrome-plated single-edged blade. Original
nickel-plate scabbard with single carry ring. Scabbard with some loss to the nickel plating. Guard
excellent with pleasing patina
Patterned after their Western martial counterparts, these kyu gunto swords were used for parade and
dress events by Army officers. Though they are by no means scarce, prices for original
WWII era swords and daggers have been rising steadily as fewer and fewer WWII
veterans survive.

First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)
Control over Korea and influence in East Asia. Japan easily beat China's Qing dynasty.

Japan gained Taiwan and the Liaodong Peninsula, proving its new modern military was strong.
Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)
Competing power over Manchuria and Korea.
Japan shocked the Western world by eventually defeating the Russian Empire on both land and sea.
Japan took control of Korea and railway rights in Manchuria, cementing its status as a global military power.

Imperial Japan entered World War I on August 23, 1914, joining the Allied Powers against Germany under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Japan seized German territories in China and the Pacific, sent a naval squadron to the Mediterranean, and emerged at the Paris Peace Conference as one of the world's major military powers

Second Sino-Japanese War leading to WW2 (1937–1945) Total economic and territorial control of China.
Full-scale invasion following the 1931 seizure of Manchuria. It led to brutal campaigns, massive casualties, and large-scale occupation. This conflict merged directly into World War II and dragged on until Japan's final defeat

The blade has numerous areas of old pitting
Overall in scabbard around 33.5 inches long.  read more

Code: 26340

A Late 19th Century Most Attractive Hand Carved Japanese Samurai Style Export Sword From the Late Edo to Taisho Period. Decorated Throughout With Takebori Carved Figures of Armoured Samurai & Nobles In Court Dress

A very decorative original antique Japanese sword depicting as a representation the samurai tachi of old. Meiji period, circa late`19th century, fully carved faux ivory {bone} mountings {called koshirae}, with hand carved figures of Japanese armoured samurai with court cap hats and jingasa. Made in the late Meiji to Taisho period as a most decorative and attractive samurai style sword, with a Japanese Hocho Tetsu {cutler's} blade.

Of course this was not a traditional sword mounting for conflict, but when Japan was opening up to the world, after being a closed feudal society for almost 400 years, and the wearing of the samurai sword was forbidden in public, starting with the Haito edict. These swords were made for the newly opening Victorian, British, export market, and Europe's fascination with the ancient samurai warriors of Japan.

Thus samurai style swords and dagger fittings, such as this, were made especially for the early steam ship visitors from Europe, that arrived from the early steamship trade that started in Victorian England, through companies such as Thomas Cook & Co.

The tachi is a Japanese term referring to the traditional weapon, the slung sword, of the samurai.

The Haitōrei was one of a series of steps taken by the government to abolish the traditional privileges of the samurai class. The first Haitōrei of 1870 prohibited farmers or merchants from wearing swords and dressing like samurai. This measure was in part an effort to restore public safety and order during the tumultuous period immediately after the Meiji Restoration and during the
Boshin War.

In 1871, the government issued the Danpatsurei Edict, allowing samurai to cut their top-knots and wear their hair in the Western manner. However, this was not required, simply allowed and encouraged. Universal military conscription was instituted in 1873, and with the creation of the Imperial Japanese Army, the samurai lost their monopoly on military service. The hereditary stipends provided to the samurai by their formal feudal lords (and assumed by the central government in 1871) were likewise abolished in 1873. The prohibition on wearing swords was controversial with the Meiji oligarchy, but the argument that it was an anachronism not in keeping with the westernization of Japan won out.

On March 28, 1876 the Haitō Edict was passed by the Daijō-kan. It prevented former samurai, now known as shizoku, from carrying swords.

These changes in Japanese society and in the social and economic status of the samurai, then part of the four classes, were a major cause of discontent in early Meiji period Japan, and led to a number of samurai-led insurrections, particularly in western Japan and Kyūshū  read more

Code: 26338

A Simply Glorious Bladed 'Katateuchi' 500 Year Old Katana Signed Katsumitsu 勝光. The Bizen Osafune Smiths Renown For Some of The Finest And Most Beautiful Blades To Ever Behold. The Very Form of Katana Used By Musashi, The Greatest Samurai Warrior

The blade on this is katana is truly breathtaking and one of the most beautiful we have had the privilege to own and display for sale amongst our collection.

If the greatest samurai who ever lived, Musashi, had used this sword, it would already have been over 100 years old.

Made and used by samurai, who was an expert in the combat form of two sword combat, that Musashi made famous a century later, and detailed in his iconic biography, The Five Rings

We hope that the photographs truly do this breathtaking sword blade justice.

The blade is not only extraordinarily fine, and with a spectacular hamon, but in superb effectively flawless condition. The fuchi kashira and all the mounts are original Edo period with the Takeda clan kamon, the diamond form flower head of the Hanabishi, made of silvered copper-gold alloy. The hammered iron tsuba is very early, and most rare, made of tamehagane steel by an armourerer and swordsmith, and also in superb condition. The menuki, under the tsuka-ito, on the original samegawa giant rayskin, are shakudo and gold decorated plants.

A katateuchi by the Bizen smith Katsumitsu (late Muromachi period, around the late 15th to early 16th century) is a historical one-handed Japanese fighting sword (uchigatana) often measuring roughly 55 to 66 cm in length, featuring a distinctive short tang (nakago) designed for single-handed grip during the Sengoku period. This sword blade is 68cm.
Defining Features of Katsumitsu Katateuchi Crafted by the Osafune school smiths in Bizen Province (frequently associated with master smiths like Jirozaemonnojo Katsumitsu).

Miyamoto Musashi used and advocated for single-handed striking techniques, and the term katate-uchi (片手打ち, meaning "one-handed strike") describes both a functional sword style and a shorter type of uchigatana designed for one-handed use.

Musashi famously founded the two-sword strategy known as Niten Ichi-ryū, around 100 years after this sword was created, where he wielded a long sword (katana or daitō) and a companion short sword (wakizashi or shōtō) at the same time.
One- Wielding a long sword simultaneously with a short sword forces the practitioner to use the main katana with only one hand. Musashi noted in The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) that training to use a long sword with one hand is essential because situations arise—such as being on a horse or in narrow spaces—where you cannot use both hands.

Late Muromachi / Sengoku era (circa 1490–1529), was an era of intense warfare. This sword is a most fine example of katana originally built strictly for one hand rather than the two-handed grip of a standard katana.
Typically a katana form that was, optimized for rapid drawing and close-quarters combat.

The Katsumitsu of Kashu Province resided in this province, This province was ruled by Maeda clan when Katsumitsu was alive. Maeda clan was originally a retainer of Oda family, who ruled Owari province. (today’s Nagoya area in Aichi prefecture) The first head of the Maeda clan was Toshie Maeda. He became the feudal lord of Kaga Province . It is said that he had a vast rice fief which is called Hyakuman Goku.
The Maeda clan was one of the most powerful lines in Samurai history. Toshie Maeda had a close tie with Oda Nobunaga and Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

The sword is mounted with a most fine Ko-Tōshō Sukashi Tsuba likely Kamakura period, ca. 1185–1333.

The Ko-Tōshō sukashi tsuba is solid iron plate tsuba, an early Japanese sword guard (tsuba) made by swordsmiths (Tōshō) during the pre Muromachi period (1336–1573). These pieces feature simple openwork (sukashi) cut from robust iron plates, blending utilitarian defense pierced with austere Zen-Buddhist symbolism. Made by early swordsmiths and armourers often using tamahagane sword steel

The saya needs a kurigata {sageo cord horn mount that is damaged} restored, a small task but we will attend to it. The saya is black ishime {stone finish in matt black}

Blade 68 cm long, 97 cm long overall in saya  read more

Code: 26326

A Superb, Original, Antique Japanese Shinshinto Period, 19th Century, Samurai's, Secret, Hidden Fan-Dagger, A Kanmuri-Otoshi Form Kakushi Ken, Sensu-gatana

A fantastic antique samurai Sensu-gatana conversation piece. Wide and attractive blade with clip back return false edge, overall bright polish and no age pitting. Edo period secret bladed fan-tanto,19th century, with carved wood and bi-colour lacquered fittings, in black and golden yellow, beautifully simulated to look like a traditional Japanese folded fan.
A photo in the gallery from Edo Japan of a seated high ranking samurai holding his tachi and war fan. Another samurai standing also with fan and daisho through his obi. Samurai sometimes disguised their blades as inoffensive items, such as cleverly made walking sticks or other common objects such as fans. Their ancestors, the classical warriors, overlooked nothing which could be used as a weapon. Also, deprived of their swords by law in the Meji era, late 19th century samurai had to rely even more on their own ingenuity and resourcefulness for protection against thieves, hoodlums, bandits and intrigue.
There is no way to know if the blade is signed on the tang as most fan daggers of this type, just as this one had the blade nakago sealed in place, so there was no telltale visible mekugi blade affixing peg.

A Japanese war fan is a fan designed for use in warfare. Several types of war fans were used by the samurai class of feudal Japan and each had a different look and purpose. One particularly famous legend involving war fans concerns a direct confrontation between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima. Kenshin burst into Shingen's command tent on horseback, having broken through his entire army, and attacked; his sword was deflected by Shingen's war fan. It is not clear whether Shingen parried with a tessen, a dansen uchiwa, or some other form of fan. Nevertheless, it was quite rare for commanders to fight directly, and especially for a general to defend himself so effectively when taken so off-guard.

Minamoto no Yoshitsune is said to have defeated the great warrior monk Saito Musashibo Benkei with a tessen.

Araki Murashige is said to have used a tessen to save his life when the great warlord Oda Nobunaga sought to assassinate him. Araki was invited before Nobunaga, and was stripped of his swords at the entrance to the mansion, as was customary. When he performed the customary bowing at the threshold, Nobunaga intended to have the room's sliding doors slammed shut onto Araki's neck, killing him. However, Araki supposedly placed his tessen in the grooves in the floor, blocking the doors from closing. Types of Japanese war fans;
Gunsen were folding fans used by the average warriors to cool themselves off. They were made of wood, bronze, brass or a similar metal for the inner spokes, and often used thin iron or other metals for the outer spokes or cover, making them lightweight but strong. Warriors would hang their fans from a variety of places, most typically from the belt or the breastplate, though the latter often impeded the use of a sword or a bow.
Tessen were folding fans with outer spokes made of heavy plates of iron which were designed to look like normal, harmless folding fans or solid clubs shaped to look like a closed fan. Samurai could take these to places where swords or other overt weapons were not allowed, and some swordsmanship schools included training in the use of the tessen as a weapon. The tessen was also used for fending off knives and darts, as a throwing weapon, and as an aid in swimming.
Gunbai (Gumbai), Gunpai (Gumpai) or dansen uchiwa were large solid open fans that could be solid iron, metal with wooden core, or solid wood, which were carried by high-ranking officers. They were supposedly used to ward off arrows, as a sunshade, and to signal to troops. 12 inches long overall. approx 7 inch blade. The black lacquer is in nice condition, with natural age wear, the golden yellow lacquer has some natural, dark, handling age colour staining.  read more

Code: 26322

A Most Superb And Rare Early Koto Period Shikome-Tessen, with Fine Quality Concealed Blade Bearing a Stunning Hamon & Hada A Hidden High Ranking Samurai's, {Such as a Daimyo, or Kumigashira 組 頭} Samurai Tanto War Fan, Called a Shikome-Tessen

A fantastic, original, and very rare, late Muramachi hira-zukuri 16th century samurai concealed weapon war fan, a samurai tanto {dagger} disguised as a folded fan, called a shikome-tessen, that has a fabulous, traditional tanto blade concealed within with midare hamon.

The kumigashira 組 頭 mounted warriors held the highest rank below the daimyo lord, commanding all the hirashi, mounted samurai for their lord.

A narrow thrusting and cutting blade with a stunning hamon and hada. It was also a perfect dagger for an assassination, thus a disarmed samurai, visiting or negotiating with a daimyo lord of an opposing clan, would seem to be completely harmless and of little threat, but armed with an innocent looking shikome-tessen, he would be as dangerous and formidable as if he was armed with his daisho.

Early Edo period secret bladed tanto, with carved wood and multi coloured urushi lacquered fittings, of black, with gold-over-black tortoishell pattern lacquer edge trim, in a beautiful, traditional Japanese folded samurai tessen war-fan form.

Samurai carried the tessen in their belt (obi) or bosom during the feudal era, particularly in formal settings or locations where carrying swords (katanas) was strictly prohibited.

It allowed nobles and warriors a legal means of self-defense that did not immediately trigger alarm.
Beyond combat, war fans were occasionally used by commanders on the battlefield to signal troop movements.

A photo in the gallery from Edo Japan of a seated high ranking samurai holding his tachi and war fan. Another samurai standing also with fan and daisho through his obi. Samurai sometimes disguised their blades as inoffensive items, such as cleverly made walking sticks or other common objects such as fans. Their ancestors, the classical warriors, overlooked nothing which could be used as a weapon.
The blade nakago sealed in place, so there was no telltale visible mekugi blade affixing peg.
A Japanese war fan is a fan designed for use in warfare. Several types of war fans were used by the samurai class of feudal Japan and each had a different look and purpose.

One particularly famous legend involving war fans concerns a direct confrontation between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin at the fourth battle of Kawanakajima. Kenshin burst into Shingen's command tent on horseback, having broken through his entire army, and attacked; his sword was deflected by Shingen's war fan. It is not clear whether Shingen parried with a tessen, a dansen uchiwa, or some other form of fan. Nevertheless, it was quite rare for commanders to fight directly, and especially for a general to defend himself so effectively when taken so off-guard.

Minamoto no Yoshitsune is said to have defeated the great warrior monk Saito Musashibo Benkei with a tessen.

Araki Murashige is said to have used a tessen to save his life when the great warlord Oda Nobunaga sought to assassinate him. Araki was invited before Nobunaga, and was stripped of his swords at the entrance to the mansion, as was customary. When he performed the customary bowing at the threshold, Nobunaga intended to have the room's sliding doors slammed shut onto Araki's neck, killing him. However, Araki supposedly placed his tessen in the grooves in the floor, blocking the doors from closing. Types of Japanese war fans;
Gunsen were folding fans used by the average warriors to cool themselves off. They were made of wood, bronze, brass or a similar metal for the inner spokes, and often used thin iron or other metals for the outer spokes or cover, making them lightweight but strong. Warriors would hang their fans from a variety of places, most typically from the belt or the breastplate, though the latter often impeded the use of a sword or a bow.

Tessen could be folding fans with outer spokes made of heavy plates of iron which were designed to look like normal, harmless folding fans or solid clubs shaped to look like a closed fan. Samurai could take these to places where swords or other overt weapons were not allowed, and some swordsmanship schools included training in the use of the tessen as a weapon.
The tessen was also used for fending off knives and darts, as a throwing weapon, and as an aid in swimming.
Gunbai (Gumbai), Gunpai (Gumpai) or dansen uchiwa were large solid open fans that could be solid iron, metal with wooden core, or solid wood, which were carried by high-ranking officers. They were supposedly used to ward off arrows, as a sunshade, and to signal to troops.

Another most interesting fan tanto is in a museum collection in Boston Mass. USA

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston;
The deceptive 'Knife in Fan-Shaped Case'—or fan tanto, as it was typically known, with “tanto” meaning a short blade that may either be single- or double-edged in Japanese culture—was found in the desk during an inventory of the galleries shortly after Isabella Stewart Gardner’s death in 1924. The inventory provides little additional information. The hilt (or handle) of the knife is disguised as the base of the fan’s sticks and rivet; the sticks and leaves of the fan in folded position form the knife’s scabbard.
Japanese, Knife in a Fan-Shaped Case, 19th century. Lacquered wood with metal blade
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston. Isabella kept this in her desk in the Macknight Room

An appearance of a samurai fan concealed tanto in Victorian culture can be found in the 1879 French novel 'Le Crime de l’Opera' by Fortuné de Boisgobey.

The story features a scene in which a blackmailer is assassinated in an opera box by one of three masked ladies with a “Japanese fan-dagger, or poniard so made as to be concealed under the form of a fan.”

Two pictures in the gallery, one of a woodblock print of a samurai holding a tessen between his teeth in a pre-combat pose, and a Victorian photograph of a Meiji samurai seated with his tessen war-fan.

This Shikome-Gessan is 11.5 inches long overall. approx 7 inch blade.

https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/isabellas-folding-fan-deception

Woodblock print from The Lanes Armoury library Collection
by Utagawa Kunisada幅日本版画

Utagawa Kunisada (also known as Toyokuni III) was a leading 19th-century ukiyo-e master famed for his dynamic kabuki actor prints (yakusha-e) and warrior scenes.  read more

Code: 26315

A Beautiful Antique Edo Period 1598-1868 Tanto Signed Satsuma ju Yoshizane

In all original Edo period mounts fittings and saya, stunning ishime stone finish lacquer to the saya in pristine condition.
Kozuka utility knife also signed with maker's signature. See photo 10 in the gallery

Pair of menuki of gold embellished flower sprays, iron silver inlaid kashira, gilt and nanko fuchi.

Blade in full traditional stone polish showing a delightful notare hamon.

Tanto are generally forged in hira-zukuri style (without ridgeline), meaning that their sides have no ridge line and are nearly flat, unlike the shinogi-zukuri structure of a katana. Some tanto have particularly thick cross-sections for armour-piercing duty, and are called yoroi toshi. Tanto first began to appear in the Heian period, however these blades lacked artistic qualities and were purely weapons. In the Early Kamakura period high quality tanto with artistic qualities began to appear, and the famous Yoshimitsu (the greatest tanto maker in Japanese history) began his forging. Tanto production increased greatly around the Muromachi period and then dropped off in the Shinto period. Shinto period tanto are quite rare. Tanto were mostly carried by Samurai; commoners did not generally carry them. Women sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken in their obi for self defence. It was sometimes worn as the shoto in place of a wakizashi in a daisho, especially on the battlefield. Before the 16th century it was common for a Samurai to carry a tachi and a tanto as opposed to a katana and a wakizashi.

.  read more

Code: 23506

Huge & Impressively Bladed 400 Year Old Samurai Tanto Signed Omi Kami Minamoto Kagehiro. Shinto Period From The Province of Settsu

A beautiful and large samurai dagger, with fine 'status' blade. Squared sukashi tsuba in iron, pure gold inlaid shakudo fushi, decorated with a constellation of stars and celestial bodies, that are inlaid with gold over a nanako ground, with a carved and polished buffalo horn kashira.
Pure gold and shakudo menuki of takabori crabs. Fine shakudo kozuka decorated in relief with mount Fuji, two piece habaki. Wide blade without ridge line flat sided with suguha hamon. A most impressive and sizeable tanto.
It has its original Edo period lacquered saya scabbard in rich dark brown urushi lacquer, with a kozuka {utility knife} of shakudo, decorated with a fishermen within a small boat, with Mount Fuiji in the distance. The kozuka blade is very nicely signed.

Shakudo is a billon of gold and copper (typically 4-10% gold, 96-90% copper) which can be treated to form an indigo/black patina resembling lacquer. Unpatinated shakudo Visually resembles bronze; the dark color is induced by applying and heating rokusho, a special patination formula.

Shakudo Was historically used in Japan to construct or decorate katana fittings such as tsuba, menuki, and kozuka; as well as other small ornaments. When it was introduced to the West in the mid-19th century, it was thought to be previously unknown outside Asia, but recent studies have suggested close similarities to certain decorative alloys used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. The lacquer surface of the saya has some age bruising etc. due to its vintage.  read more

Code: 22206

A Good Shinto Aikuchi Tanto Samurai Dagger With a Fine & Beautiful Polish Blade. Around 400 years Old. All Original Edo Period Koshirae

The blade has a fine Hamon with a full, back edge temper, and a running itami grain hada. With giant rayskin bound hilt grip and black speckled dark red lacquer saya. Flying geese kozuka, carved buffalo black horn fittings. Shinto period, circa 1620.

Tanto first began to appear in the Heian period, however these blades lacked artistic qualities and were purely weapons. In the Early Kamakura period high quality tanto with artistic qualities began to appear, and the famous Yoshimitsu (the greatest tanto maker in Japanese history) began his forging. Tanto production increased greatly around the Muromachi period and then dropped off in the Shinto period. Shinto period tanto are quite rare. Tanto were mostly carried by Samurai; commoners did not generally carry them. Women sometimes carried a small tanto called a kaiken in their obi for self defence.It was sometimes worn as the shoto in place of a wakizashi in a daisho, especially on the battlefield. Before the 16th century it was common for a Samurai to carry a tachi and a tanto as opposed to a katana and a wakizashi. all the fittings and lacquer are original Edo period, the old saya lacquer has some usual wear marks, and the kozuka small utility knife handle has a small area of age denting.

As once told to us by an esteemed regular visitor, Victor Harris, to us here in our gallery, and the same words that are repeated in his book;

“In these textures lies an extraordinary and unique feature of the sword {all samurai edge weapons are called swords, despite however small} - the steel itself possesses an intrinsic beauty. The Japanese sword has been appreciated as an art object since its perfection some time during the tenth century AD. Fine swords have been more highly prized than lands or riches, those of superior quality being handed down from generation to generation. In fact, many well-documented swords, whose blades are signed by their makers, survive from nearly a thousand years ago. Recognizable features of the blades of hundreds of schools of sword-making have been punctiliously recorded, and the study of the sword is a guide to the flow of Japanese history.”
Victor Harris
Curator, Assistant Keeper and then Keeper (1998-2003) of the Department of Japanese Antiquities at the British Museum. He studied from 1968-71 under Sato Kenzan, Tokyo National Museum and Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords
Overall length in saya approx 16 inches, blade 11 inches.  read more

Code: 20925

The Lanes Armoury, View Europe’s Leading Original Samurai Sword Gallery. Plus, 1000’s of Other Magical & Rare To Find Ancient and Vintage Wonders. Another Historic Collection Acquired This Week, Including Amazing, Historical, Royal Naval Collectables

View online and in our gallery, hundreds and hundreds of original antique and ancient samurai swords, armour, and spears.

For those of you that are serious maritime collectors, we have the privilege to have acquired a superb and historical 20th century Royal Naval sword, that has just arrived, a stunning named officer’s sword of former member of the tragic HMS Hood’s ships company. HMS Hood was an Admiral-class battlecruiser and the largest warship in the Royal Navy for 20 years. Affectionately known as "The Mighty Hood," she served as a potent global symbol of British power. During World War II, a fatal shell from the German battleship Bismarck struck her in May 1941, causing a catastrophic explosion that claimed 1,415 lives. Probably the most infamous sinking of a British warship in history. A naval tragedy almost beyond comprehension for the people of Britain at the time. On May 24, 1941, HMS Hood and the battleship HMS Prince of Wales intercepted the German battleship Bismarck and cruiser Prinz Eugen in the Battle of the Denmark Strait. During the engagement, a single shell from the Bismarck pierced Hood's armour and detonated her internal magazines. The ship broke apart and sank in just minutes. Tragically, there were only three survivors from a crew of 1,418

A KIA officer whose brother was also part of the Hood’s crew, who was lost at sea in its last great combat sinking. Both brothers were lost at sea in WW2, one on the Mighty Hood, the other, who had earlier transferred off the Hood, to serve as Lt. of a submariner crew, was also lost at sea, in its own tragic sinking off the Italian coast.

At the moment it is being no expense spared cleaned and conserved for future posterity. We are considering adding this sword to be a part of our family collection.

Including lots of other unique treasures, such as, a fabulous, early, and large, polished rock crystal quartz witch ball, with breathtaking internal clarity and patterns.

Our weekly emailer was due out this weekend, however, we were absorbed in the arrival of another collection that consumed all our time sadly, so it will be sent out early this coming week {with some fabulous new pieces}

This week a stunning collection of many superb pairs of 18th century flintlock pistols, and brass barrelled blunderbusses, they will be added to the site over the next week or so after cleaning and museum grade conservation.

Also, to be added this coming week, an 18th century naval midshipman’s dirk, a naval brass barrelled blunderbuss with spring bayonet, a Royal Naval Trafalgar sea service flintlock, a Crimean War sea service percussion pistol, and pair of naval ships captains brass barrelled flintlock pistols, plus, another small collection of original James Bond, Ian Fleming, 1960's Ist editions, added recently, and numerous original WW2 German combat awards, taken as war booty by one of Lt Commander Ian Fleming's 'Red Indians', the 30 Assault Commando's, operation in 'behind the lines' clandestine ops in occupied France. Also, a fabulous Napoleonic 1st Empire library clock designed on the bookcases in Napoleon's palace the Palais Des Tuileries. {This beauty was just sold after one day online}. And, an incredible 500 plus year old samurai sword from one of the great swordsmith lines of the Mino-Den, with an incredibly rare 'Summer Lightning' hamon, only created by the great master swordsmiths. {Also sold the same day it was put online}
Just the other day we further acquired a fabulous, and rare, SOE secret agent's WW2 suitcase transceiver. As used by the legendary, clandestine operatives and heroines of WW2, Odette Churchill and Violette Szabo.

Just the other week one visiting couple from the States, a retired Yale professor and his wife, very kindly remarked:

" We have just spent five weeks travelling the UK, visiting all the great tourist sites, museums and castles, but, nothing, simply nothing, was as amazing and fascinating as the collection your store, congratulations, well done, and keep up the good work"


Thanks to us being so long established here in Brighton we are contacted or visited every day by private families interested in selling their long past collected antiques and antiquities.
Artefacts of all kinds, from all eras and all nations are offered to us every single day. Some collected by their ancestors hundreds of years ago. And this week has been particularly fascinating for the diversity and beauty of our finds.

After more than 55 years personal experience by Mark, the elder partner, in our galleries, since 1971, and David’s 45 years since 1981, we are also regarded by many as Europe’s leading original samurai sword gallery, and probably the leading samurai sword specialists in the world, outside of Japan.
With hundreds of original ancient and antique samurai swords to view and buy online, or, to journey to our world famous gallery in Brighton on a personal visit, 6 days a week.

By train we are just under an hour from Victoria Train Station in London.

It has been said that the Hawkins family, have, in their sword dealing history, handled, bought and sold more original Japanese swords than any other sword dealers outside of Japan since World War I, trading over 100 years, numbering well into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of samurai weapons and artefacts. In one single acquisition alone, in the early 1960’s, David senior {the current partner’s father} purchased, in one collection, over 500 original antique and vintage Japanese swords, and Mark helped to disassemble each and every one of them, and was in charge of stringing together the tsuba sword guards into string mounted loops, 20 at a time. In those days tsuba were more collectable than swords. It was one of Mark’s very first introductions to the workings of the wonderful works of art that make up a complete samurai sword.

He can still remember listening to the very first hit of the Beatles ‘Love me do’ on the radiogram, in late 1963, while stringing together 25 loops of 20 tsuba, before he started school that early morning.

Our close family association with the legendary samurai sword continues unabated. In fact we still know of no better and varied original samurai sword selection, for sale under one roof, anywhere in the world today, outside of Japan, or possibly, even within it. Hundreds of antique pieces for sale to choose from, and some up to an incredible 800 years old.

Why is The Lanes Armoury probably the worlds most popular, original Japanese samurai gallery?
Well, we believe that not only are we the oldest still thriving store of our kind outside of Japan, but we have an entirely historical view of all our samurai artefacts, be they armour, helmets, swords, spears or accoutrements,

We place each piece within its historical context, a unique, holistic view if you like, never concentrating on such as simply the minutiae of blade detail alone {that has never been our forte} but of the entire sword as a work of art, and an example of the worlds highest craftsmanship, and thus it’s potential place within all of over 1000 years of samurai history.

Can they be expensive?
Well, they certainly can appear so, however up to 70% of our completely fitted swords may still be half the price of just a newly made sword blade alone, commissioned from one of the few still remaining fine sword smiths in Japan, and ours could well be up to 500 years old, completely and stunningly fitted in fabulous quality original antique mounts, and potentially used in the past by up to 30 samurai within their own working life and history. And yet, they can still look as good as new.

A samurai sword for example, is in many respects, more the sum of its parts, although always dated by its blade’s vintage, each sword can have amazing koshirae mountings of equal beauty to the blade, displaying the skill of likely the most talented artisans in sword making history, and representing the most intriguing and certainly one of the most popular forms of ancient hand to hand combat in the world today.

For example one of the greatest films ever made in the history of cinema is Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 “Seven Samurai”. A groundbreaking epic of such influence on modern cinemas it is said to inspired more films in its genre than any other film ever made. A well deserved masterpiece of cinema, based entire on a simple single event of legendary samurai combat.

Still today, more incredible films in the genre are made involving the legendary samurai sword than any other, such as some of the billion dollar epics made by the Marvel Universe, that still enthral the worlds movie watching audiences.

There is no other country in the world that continually used the very same form of weaponry, in hand to hand combat, for over 800 years. A samurai sword of around 800 years of age, would be just as recognisable and as usable to any 19th century samurai, or even current exponent of samurai martial arts, if he were alive today.

As once told to us by an esteemed regular visitor to us here in our gallery, Victor Harris, in order to study and discuss our extensive collection, and he used the same words that are repeated in his book below;

“In these textures lies an extraordinary and unique feature of the sword - the steel itself possesses an intrinsic beauty. The Japanese sword has been appreciated as an art object since its perfection some time during the tenth century AD. Fine swords have been more highly prized than lands or riches, those of superior quality being handed down from generation to generation. In fact, many well-documented swords, whose blades are signed by their makers, survive from nearly a thousand years ago. Recognizable features of the blades of hundreds of schools of sword-making have been punctiliously recorded, and the study of the sword is a guide to the flow of Japanese history.”
Victor Harris
Curator, Assistant Keeper and then Keeper (1998-2003) of the Department of Japanese Antiquities at the British Museum. He studied from 1968-71 under Sato Kenzan, Tokyo National Museum and Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords

Finally, a visit to The Lanes Armoury is considered and remarked upon, by near every single visitor to our store, numbering thousands of people every day, that is is an unforgettable experiance, and every samurai sword buyer is afforded the best possible attention, not just for the time that they may view, choose, and buy a sword, but for as long as they own the sword. We are available for every aspect of ownership to its new owner, essentially, forever. Our world renown 5 Star service knows no time limit.

And be assured, every single item, from a cap badge to a 800 year old ancient samurai sword, to an Ancient Greek solid gold crown, will be accompanied with our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Based on over 100 years and four generations of experience.  read more

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