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Updated: 2 Dec 2024

SOLD

Antique Japanese Sword Tanto Signed by Shimosaka
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate

Original price was: $7,506.70.Current price is: $6,405.72.

DELIVERY TIME : Approx. 1-1.5 months
*There might be delay in shipment depending on countries

SHIPPING TO : USA, Australia, UK, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Hong Kong
*Please contact us prior to purchase if your country isn’t listed.

INCLUDED : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate, Shirasaya Case, Koshirae Sword Mounting, Traditional Sword Carrying Case, Sword Maintenance Kit, Full Exportation Support

Category Tanto ( SHINTO)
Age Early Edo Period (approx. 400 years old) 
Swordsmith Echizenkoku Jyu Shimosaka Kane(Kanesaki): 越前国住下坂兼先
Certificate NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate& Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate
Location Echizen province(today’s Fukui prefecture)
Blade Size Length:25.9  cm (10.2 inches) , Curvature:0.2 cm( 0.08 inches)

Thank you for visiting our website. This sword was sold as each antique Japanese sword is one of a kind. However, we might be able to show you something similar because we have various types of swords available. Also, there are ones that aren’t listed on the website yet. Our customer service will help you find your ideal blade you will cherish for generations. Please feel free to contact us or check the list of swords. We will be more than happy to help you.

SOLD

Antique Japanese Sword Tanto Signed by Shimosaka with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate 

【Description】

This blade was forged by one of Shimosaka’s swordsmiths according to the signature and NBTHK’s appraisal. It also suggested that this blade was most likely to be forged by Echizenkoku Jyu Shimosaka Kanesaki(越前国住下坂兼先). Supposed that Kanesaki forged this blade as NBTHK suggested, it must have been around the Keisho era(1596-1615: early Edo period). You can find the signature of Echizenkoku Jyu Shimosaka Kane but Saki part was cut due to shortening the blade in the past.

The founder of Shimosaka school was the first-gen, Yasutsugu. It was initially founded in Shimosaka town in Shiga prefecture at the end of the Muromachi period(Late 16 century ). During the early Edo period, Yuki Hideyasu, the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, ordered Yasutsugu and his apprentices to move to Kitanosho castle town in Echizen to organize the school.

Echizen Province was famous for forging razor-sharp, practically-designed swords. The Edo government, run by the Tokugawa clan, ordered many blades from the swordsmiths in this province during the Edo period(1603-1868). There were so many swordsmiths originally from the Mino province(Gifu prefecture) in Echizen province, which is known as one of the five great Japanese sword styles MINO-DEN.

There is a beautiful engraving on this blade. Its technique is Ranma Sukashibori, a traditional openwork technique. If you were to order this kind of engraving from a Japanese engraver today, it would cost approximately 10,000 USD. We assume whoever owned this blade in Samurai times must have been wealthy enough to order such intricate design on the blade.]

Kurikara Ken, which is the weapon Fudo Myo-o carried, is engraved on this blade. Fudo Myo-o is one of the objects of worship in Buddhism. According to a theory, it is the incarnation of Dainichi Nyorai (大日如来, Mahāvairocana, the principal image of esoteric Buddhism). You would also find a dragon. It is called Kurikara Ryu (倶利伽羅龍); the figure in which a dragon wraps around the sword that Fudo Myo-o holds in his right hand to cut evil. Fudo My o-o’s sword has been considered to punish sin, cut off worldly desires, and achieve goals. Fudo Myo-o is a motif with miraculous virtues.

While there is a small crack in the Ranma Sukashi part and tiny black rust on Shinogi Ji, this blade was appraised as Tokubetsu Hozon Token. This authentication paper was only given to Japanese swords, especially worth preserving by Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai(the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword).
We will have this black rust polished before sending this Tanto to you. A small crack won’t be considered a serious defect to appreciate this blade.

【 Blade】
Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa)25.9  cm (10.2 inches)
Curvature(Sori)  0.2 cm( 0.08 inches)

 

Hamon
The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process
Jimon(Jihada)
visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process


 

NakagoNakago is the tang of the Japanese sword.

Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged.

Horimono: Horimono is an inscription or sculpture on Japanese swords.

 

Habaki Habaki is the equipment to make the blade not touch its scabbard inside. It prevents the blade from getting rusty and chipped.

Authentication PaperNBTHK TOKUBETSU Hozon Certificate for the blade& Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate

 NBTHK, also known as Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai (the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), is one of the oldest Japanese sword appraising organizations in modern-day Japan. They authenticated the blade on Feb 19th in the second year of Reiwa(2020). They appraised it as Tokubetsu Hozon Touken, the blade especially worth preserving for Japanese society. This blade also comes with Tokubetsu Kicho certificate, an old form of authentication paper. The purchaser will receive these original certificates as well. We can also translate what is written into English and make a PDF file for your record if you request.

 

Registration Number :  Hyogo 76241
 The Board of Education in Hyogo prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword . In order to obtain this paper, the sword needs to be traditionally hand forged. With this paper, its owner can legally own an authentic Japanese sword in Japan. This paper will need to be returned to the board of education when the sword being shipped abroad but you can receive a copy of it. 

 

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【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.

Japanese Sword& Export Process
The Japanese swords we deal with are hand-forged edged swords made in Japan. It was made from the traditional carbon steel called TAMAHAGANE(玉鋼). Samurai Museum is familiar with the proper legal procedure for an antique/ authentic Japanese sword to be exported from Japan. We have sent more than 300 Japanese swords to amazing owners who appreciate its historical value.

Each Japanese sword is registered under the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Board of Education in Japan.They issue a registration paper for each Japanese sword for its owner in Japan to legally possess it. The Japanese sword with its registration paper means it was traditionally hand-forged in Japan.

To legally export the sword from Japan to other countries, we will have to apply for its permit to the Agency for Cultural Affairs(Bunkacho) and return the original registration paper to the Board of Education. It normally takes around 2-4 weeks to receive this permit after submitting required documents. And we would like you to expect at least 1-1.5 months for your order to arrive at your given address after you ordered. For more detailed info, please click here.

It is allowed for residents in Japan to own authentic Japanese swords without a special license as long as they come with registration papers. Please feel free to contact us if you are a resident of Japan, whether temporarily or permanently. We will also assist you when you leave Japan and need to obtain the export permit.

【Payment Method】
  We accept payment through Stripe(Credit card), PayPal, Apple Pay or ChromePay, all of which are secure payment methods. If you prefer other payment method, please contact us. After confirming your payment, we will apply for an export permit. You may either pay in JPY, USD, AUD, EUR or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate. 

【Shipping】
  We have shipped authentic Japanese swords to the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, UK, Germany , France and Hong Kong. If you don’t live in these countries and like to order, please contact us first before making a purchase. We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can send antique Japanese swords by either EMS or FedEx(Canada).

  We normally ship by EMS(Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. When we receive an order from the Canada we will use FedEx instead as EMS temporarily stops shipping from Japan to those countries due to COVID-19.

  We will send you a tracking number for your order as soon as we hand it to the post office/FedEx. We will put 100 % insurance on the shipping document without any extra charge. Based on the total amount, there might be a duty tax or other fee for you to pay, depending on the countries. We use package cushioning to protect the item and put it in a PVC pipe, which is one of the most secure packages because of its durability.

  It will normally takes 5-14 days for the item to arrive at your given address after we dispatch it. Time of delivery is estimated as accurately as possible by the carrier but does not take into account any delays beyond our control such as by inclement weather, post office holiday seasons.

  *Please keep in mind that due to the spread of COVID-19, there might be delays in shipping. If you like to know the detail about shipping, please feel free to ask us.

【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision. It is essential for us to know that you are happy with your choice of a sword. and we are prepared to use the best of our ability to serve you.

The Art of Nihonto(Japanese Sword)
Samurai’s history is a profound, eloquent legacy of ancient Japanese warriors in which millions of people worldwide are being fascinated. If you like to find out the art of Nihonto, please click here.

A Guide to Japanese Sword Maintenance
After acquiring an genuine Japanese sword, it is also important to know how to take good care of it. Here is the special video for you. Mr. Paul Martin, Japanese sword expert, shows you how to give proper maintenance to your sword. When you purchase a Japanese sword from us, you can get a Free sword maintenance kit, which appears in this video.

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MORE ANTIQUE JAPANESE SWORD FOR SALE

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