A Beautiful Koto Wakazashi, In Superb Fully Original Edo Koshirae Including Goto Fittings in Gold & Shakudō (赤銅) Dragon Fuchigashira & Beautiful Tsuba Signed Omura Kanenori.

A beautiful blade with a charming gunome hamon and fine mokume hada which is basically itame hada which has been changed by using hammer blows of varying strength to produce the characteristic 'whorls'. Beautiful black silk tsuka-ito wrapped over shakudo and gold menuki of Samurai Helmets {kabuto} on traditional samegawa {giant ray-skin}. Fine original Edo saya with fine lacquer with a kozuka pocket containing a beautiful shakudo and gold kodzuka decorated with a prunus branch bearing birds perched and in flight over a nanako ground and gold overlaid rear plate engraved with a fallin rain pattern.

The Goto school was the official metalworking lineage for the Shogunate, famous for its strict, classical elegance. The Mino tradition (originating in Mino Province) was known for deep, energetic, and highly realistic carvings. "Mino-Goto" refers to works that combine the elite, formal composition of Goto with the dynamic carving techniques of Mino.These sets often utilize a fine, granular background known as nanako-ji (fish-roe pattern), where thousands of tiny dots are individually punched into the metal to create a dark, stippled texture that makes the central design pop.
Dragons (Ryu or Unryu—cloud dragons) are among the most revered motifs in samurai culture, symbolizing power, protection, and good fortune.

In Mino-Goto pieces, the dragons are usually carved in high relief (takabori), appearing to violently weave in and out of the metal. They are heavily embellished with gold accents (often using a thick foil technique called uttori) to highlight the scales, eyes, and claws against the black shakudo background.


Wakizashi have been in use as far back as the 15th or 16th century. The wakizashi was used as a backup or auxiliary sword; it was also used for close quarters fighting, and also to behead a defeated opponent and sometimes to commit ritual suicide. The wakizashi was one of several short swords available for use by samurai including the yoroi toshi, the chisa-katana and the tanto. The term wakizashi did not originally specify swords of any official blade length and was an abbreviation of "wakizashi no katana" ("sword thrust at one's side"); the term was applied to companion swords of all sizes. It was not until the Edo period in 1638 when the rulers of Japan tried to regulate the types of swords and the social groups which were allowed to wear them that the lengths of katana and wakizashi were officially set.

There are many reasons why people enjoy collecting swords. Some people are drawn to the beauty and craftsmanship of swords, while others appreciate their historical and cultural significance. Swords can also be a symbol of power and strength, and some collectors find enjoyment in the challenge of acquiring rare or valuable swords.

One of the greatest joys of sword collecting is the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of different civilisations. Swords have been used by warriors for millennia, and each culture has developed its own unique sword designs and traditions. By studying swords, collectors can gain a deeper understanding of the people who made and used them.

Another joy of sword collecting is the sheer variety of swords that are available. There are swords in our gallery from all over the world and from every period of history. Collectors can choose to specialize in a particular type of sword, such as Japanese katanas or medieval longswords, or they can collect a variety of swords from different cultures and time periods. No matter what your reasons for collecting swords, it is a hobby that can provide many years of enjoyment. Swords are beautiful, fascinating, and historically significant objects.

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the best 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 experience behind us read more

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