A Fabulous Antique Japanese Shikomi-zue 仕込み杖, "Prepared Cane" Traditional ‘Hidden Sword’ Edo Period Likely A Shinto to Shin-Shinto Era Bladed Sword Cane

The blade is in the ancient Japanese sword form known as ‘ken’, this is the shape of the earliest samurai swords, in use around 1000 years ago, it is very straight with a ko kissaki. Very nice blade in very beautiful polish, with 'rain pattern' habaki that is named neko-gaki {cat scratch}

In the 1870's the Meiji Emperor disbanded the fuedal samurai order and banned the wearing of the sword. This created much unrest between the samurai and the government and some samurai moved to carrying shikomi-zue hidden sword. Therefore, via a circuitous route, they still remain armed, but with their katana hidden from view. But by that way they felt, least in part, their honour remained intact. With a long and most elegant blade. In ninjutsu shikomi-zue became quite popular, as it provided the night warriors with what they needed most – versatility, secrecy and mortality. The walking sticks were popular among all the classes and carrying it caused no suspicion. Combined with the impersonation skills, shikomi-zue was really a formidable sword of protection surprising the enemy most suddenly. This is possibly one of the nicest of it's types we have seen. The blade is an earliest straight, single edged, ancient style ‘Ken’ form of a long blade, with elegant dimensions. The stick is fully and superbly hand carved and finished in ishime lacquer to simulate a natural course wooden walking cane .

This piece absolutely reminds us of the world reknown iconic fictional blind samurai Zatoichi. He does not carry a traditional katana, instead using a very well traditionally made shikomi-zue (cane sword) just as this sword is. Zatoichi's cane sword, his weapon was forged by a master bladesmith and is of superior quality, just like this rare, fine traditional bladed example. We show an 1817 Japanese print by Hokusai of his depiction of an all black clad warrior so called assassin climbing a rope, with what appears to be his shikomi-zue hidden sword stick.

Zatoichi (Japanese: 座頭市) is a fictional character created by Japanese novelist Kan Shimozawa. He is an itinerant blind masseur and swordsman of Japan's late Edo period (1830s and 1840s). He first appeared in the 1948 essay Zatoichi Monogatari (座頭市物語), part of Shimozawa's Futokoro Techō series that was serialized in the magazine Shōsetsu to Yomimono. Secretly, he is very highly skilled in swordsmanship, specifically Muraku-school kenjutsu and iaido along with the more general sword skills of Japan, as well as sumo wrestling and kyujutsu. He uses a well-made shikomi-zue (仕込み杖, "prepared cane" or cane sword)

The cane in total is 36 inches long, the blade 22.25 inches long

Code: 25394