Description

Circa 18th century AD A shoto or short sword of traditional form with single-edged blade and scabbard; the Mino school blade slightly curved, with brass habaki frog and curved kissaki point, with undulating hamon tempering line to the blade; the tsuba guard cast with two voids and engraved with reeds and waterfowl; the hilt bound with silk cord, the lower collar with running horses to one face and grazing horse to the other, each with gilt eyes; the hilt cap with a scene of figures on a bridge, gilded; the scabbard of lacquered wood with cast bronze fittings, discoid plate to the outer face with leaf motif; silk cord binding to the upper end; the blade apparently cut down from a good quality 16th-17th century sword and re-hilted in the 19th century. 765 grams, 64 cm overall (blade length 47 cm") (25") From an important West Country collection.

Condition

Very fine condition.