Japanese

A Most Attractive 500 Plus Year Old Samurai Battle Katana With All Original Edo Mounts,

Shibui mounted in all its original Edo period mounts and saya. Higo iron fushigashira mounts, decorated with takebori gold aoi leaves. Tetsu round tsuba with pierced kozuka and [gilt copper filled] kogai hitsu-ana. The original Edo saya lacquer is simply beautiful, in two shades of black with an intricate fine rainfall pattern within the design. The menuki under the Edo silk binding, are patinated takebori flowers with pure gold highlights. The blade has a beautiful undulating hamon pattern of considerable depth.
Shibui is a term that effectively translates to ‘quiet’ , it is a reference to a sword that has a relatively subdued look as it concentrates on high quality yet subtle elegance, as it is a sword entirely concentrating on combat and less on flamboyant display. Of course all samurai swords were designed for combat, often despite being mounted as works of art, often with fantastic quality fittings worthy of Italian Renaissance jewels, such as the European equivalent work by the Italian master Cellini, but they would be for samurai eager to display their status in the elite hierarchy of the samurai class, such as daimyo. The swords mounted shibui were for the samurai of far more serious nature, dedicated to their more basic standards of bushido, the art of the ultimate warrior, with little or no interest in displays of rank. A samurai of the highest skill but preferring the anonymity of almost being invisible to unwanted attention.

Samurai endured for almost 700 years, from 1185 to 1867. Samurai families were considered the elite. They made up only about six percent of the population and included daimyo and the loyal soldiers who fought under them. Samurai means one who serves."

Samurai were expected to be both fierce warriors and lovers of art, a dichotomy summed up by the Japanese concepts of bu [to stop the spear] exanding into bushido (the way of life of the warrior) and bun (the artistic, intellectual and spiritual side of the samurai). Originally conceived as away of dignifying raw military power, the two concepts were synthesised in feudal Japan and later became a key feature of Japanese culture and morality. The quintessential samurai was Miyamoto Musashi, a legendary early Edo-period swordsman who reportedly killed 60 men before his 30th birthday and was also a painting master. Members of a hierarchal class or caste, samurai were the sons of samurai and they were taught from an early age to unquestionably obey their mother, father and daimyo. When they grew older they may be trained by Zen Buddhist masters in meditation and the Zen concepts of impermanence and harmony with nature. The were also taught about painting, calligraphy, nature poetry, mythological literature, flower arranging, and the tea ceremony. 40 inches long overall. 28.5 inch long blade, from tsuba to tip., The blade is in super condition for its age, with just a few wear marks, and pit marks on the mune back edge near the boshi. The saya lacquer has some natural age craking at the base  read more

Code: 24217

A Japanese Edo Period Processional or Ceremonial Pole Arm Yari

Set on a very good mother o'pearl decorated haft. With a over lacquered blade cover. A yari on it's pole can range in length from one metre to upwards of six metres (almost 20 feet). The longer hafted versions were called omi no yari while shorter ones were known as mochi yari or tae yari. The longest hafted versions were carried by foot troops (ashigaru), while samurai usually carried a shorter hafted yari. Yari are believed to have been derived from Chinese spears, and while they were present in early Japan's history they did not become popular until the thirteenth century. The original warfare of the bushi was not a thing for "commoners"; it was a ritualized combat usually between two warriors who may challenge each other via horseback archery and sword duels. However, the attempted Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281 changed Japanese weaponry and warfare. The Mongol-employed Chinese and Korean footmen wielded long pikes, fought in tight formation, and moved in large units to stave off cavalry. Polearms (including naginata and yari) were of much greater military use than swords, due to their much greater range, their lesser weight per unit length (though overall a polearm would be fairly hefty), and their great piercing ability. Swords in a full battle situation were therefore relegated to emergency sidearm status from the Heian through the Muromachi periods. Ceremonial yari were used for parades of Daimyo travelling through regions or traditional public ceremonies in the Edo era. MOP losses to haft.  read more

Code: 19524

A Superb Nobukuni Signed Mount Fuji Shinto Samurai Katana, Signed Nobukuni Saku, With Mount Fuji Hamon and The Wave Fuchi Kashira.

This fabulous and unique 350 year old sword, by a high rated master swordsmith. A most substantial and incredibly impressive sword in superb condition, with likely the most desirable and rarest form of hamon pattern.

It has a most rare, superb hamon that shows a superb horizon and incredibly desirable Mount Fuji hamon, a hamon temper line that depicts seperate various views of the horizon with the snow topped Mount Fuji. The original Edo period Fuchigashira hilt mounts are carved iron, Higo style engraved with the representation of the crashing wave pattern that traditionally accompanies Mount Fuji, as can be seen the the world famous painting by Hokusai, 'The Wave' with Mount Fuji in the background.

The pierced early edo iron tsuba is further complimentary with pierced clouds. Fully restored blue silk tsukaito binding, and the whole of the swords mounts have been cleaned and conserved to as good as new, with gilt dragon menuki beneath the silk ito.

In the most ancient swords, all hamon were of the straight-edge variety. Irregular patterns started to emerge around the 1300s, with famous smiths such as Kunimitsu, Muramasa, and Masamune, among many others. By the 1600--1700s, hamons with various shapes in them became very desirable, such as trees, flowers, clovers, pillboxes, and many others. Common themes included juka choji (multiple, overlapping clovers), kikusui (chrysanthemums floating on a stream), Yoshino (cherry blossoms on the Yoshino River), or Tatsuta (maple leaves on the Tatsuta River), and one of the most desirable of all, just as this sword has, was the design Fujimi Saigyo (Priest Saigyo viewing Mount Fuji)

Mount Fuji is a composite volcano, capped with snow, growing larger as layer upon layer of lava and ash built up on its slopes. Like its geologic history, Mount Fuji’s sacred history has also developed over time as different religions, beliefs and myths have added new layers. Since ancient times, the mountains of Japan have been revered as sacred places, giving rise to a tradition of beliefs and rituals that scholars call sangaku shinko, meaning “mountain creed.” When Shinto, the native religion of Japan, emerged sometime before the sixth century A.D., it wove this mountain creed into a wider veneration of nature. According to Shinto belief, natural features such as trees, lakes, streams, rocks and mountains are the dwelling places of spirits called kami, which hold influence over human affairs and respond to human prayer and ritual. Kami are believed to be concentrated in mountain areas, and shrines have been erected to mark sacred spots. The introduction of Buddhism from China in the sixth century further developed the practice of mountain worship as Buddhists, who viewed mountain climbing as a metaphor for the spiritual ascent to enlightenment, adopted Shinto sacred mountains as pilgrimage destinations. In the ninth century, a religious sect called Shugendo arose that based its doctrine and practice on mountain climbing itself, believing that practitioners could commune with deities on mountain summits and thereby obtain supernatural powers.

The name “Fuji” most likely came from an indigenous Ainu word meaning “deity of fire”—not surprising for a volcano that erupted often. In about 800 A.D., a shrine was built near the base of the mountain with the hope of placating the god that caused the volcano’s eruptions. Fuji later became regarded as the dwelling of the Shinto goddess Konohana Sakuya Hime, “the Goddess of the Flowering Trees.” Today, she is still the principal deity of the sacred mountain, revered in Shinto shrines at Fuji’s base and summit, including the one originally built for the older fire god, and honored in a fire ceremony at the end of each year’s climbing season. Buddhists found in Fuji an inspiring symbol of meditation and called its summit zenjo, a Buddhist term describing a perfect meditative state. Buddhists also came to regard Fuji as the abode of the Buddha of All-Illuminating Wisdom. In the 14th century, Shugendo practitioners established the first climbing route to lead pilgrims to Fuji’s summit.

blade 28.25 inches long, overall 41 inches long including saya.  read more

Code: 24955

A Beautiful Samurai Shinto Kirin Based Tanto Fabulous Signed Blade by Echizen Ju Yasutsugu

With an armour or even helmet piercing blade. The whole tanto is completely remarkable in that it is likely to have been completely untouched since the day it was made, it has all its original fittings from the Edo period including the tsukaito wrap on the hilt and the lacquer on the saya, the Saya is decorated with a stylised Kilin to match the fittings, the blade is stunning and shows fabulous deep choji hamon, this is a truly exceptional tanto,

The blade is extra thick at the base and shows its penetrating qualities and ability to cut through metal armour or even the iron plates of a helmet, this is a beautiful and remarkable tanto. The fuchigashira mounts are pure gold over shakudo of Kirin or Qilin, in deep takebori relief carving. The menuki are also Kirin, of shakedown inlaid with swirls of pure gold. The Kirin in Japanese, qilin (in Chinese: 麒麟; pinyin: qílín) is a mythical hooved chimerical creature known in Chinese and other East Asian cultures, said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler. It is a good omen thought to occasion prosperity or serenity. It is often depicted with what looks like fire all over its body. It is sometimes called the “Chinese unicorn” when compared with the Western unicorn. The Japanese kirin looked more like the Sin-you lion-like beast. Some later Japanese netsuke portray a Kirin that has wings that look like the Central Asian winged horse with horns or the Sphinx. Or they become increasingly dragon-like like Chinese Qilins.
The Kirin / Qilin can sometimes be depicted as having a single horn as in the Western tradition, or as having two horns. In modern Chinese the word for “unicorn” is 独角兽 “du jiao shou”, and a Qilin that is depicted as a unicorn, or 1-horned, is called “Du jiao Qilin” 独角麒麟 meaning “1-horned Qilin” or “Unicorn Qilin”. However, there are several kinds of Chinese mythical creatures which also are unicorns, not just Qilin. Qilin generally have Chinese dragon-like features.
Most notably their heads, eyes with thick eyelashes, manes that always flow upward and beards. The bodies are fully or partially scaled, though often shaped like an ox, deer or horse’s, and always with cloven hooves. In modern times, the depictions of Qilin have often fused with the Western concept of unicorns.
In legend, the Qilin became dragon-like and then tiger-like after their disappearance in East Asia and finally a stylised representation of the giraffe in Ming Dynasty. The identification of the Qilin with giraffes began after Zheng's voyage to East Africa according to recent scholarship. The modern Japanese word for giraffe is also kirin, which bears the same derived ideas. 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.  read more

Code: 24942

A Good Shinto Aikuchi Tanto Samurai Dagger with a Fine Blade

The blade has a fine Hamon with a full, back edge temper, and a running itami grain hada. With giant rayskin bound hilt 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.
Overall length in saya approx 16 inches, blade 11 inches.  read more

Code: 20925

A Fabulous 500 Year Old Koto Period 'Dragon' O-Wakazashi or Chisa Katana With Original Edo Period Suite of Goto School Dragon Fittings. Worthy of Any Museum Collection, or A Single Statement Piece to Display Its Extraordinary Beauty and Condition

Koto period blade, around 500 years old, with a deep and most elegant curvature, mounted with an original, Edo period, wonderful suite of Goto school sword fittings in shakudo and pure gold, of fuchikashira, kozuka, kogai and menuki, all with finest decor of Dragons in superb takebori displaying fine detailing. They are all matching fittings, and it also has a very fine ‘dragon in clouds’ signed tsuba, in iron, and pure gold embellishments,.

The tsuba is signed, and the tsuka hilt has a gold silk wrap. The saya is brown ishime stone finish lacquer with buffalo horn kurikata and mounts. The blade is , beautiful with a typical Koto period narrow hamon.

The habaki is silvered copper.

The Gotō School of sword-fittings makers was founded in the fifteenth century by Gotō Yūjō, who is said to have been patronized by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1435–1490). The work of the Gotō masters is characterized by painterly designs carved in high relief on a ground of shakudō (an alloy of copper and gold chemically treated to turn a rich blue-black), finished in nanako (tiny circles punched regularly over the surface to give it a granular appearance) with colourful accents in gold and silver. The succeeding generations of Goto masters continued to work in these soft metals and concentrated on the smaller sword fittings, such as kozuka (the handle of the small utility knife fitted into a slot on the back of a sword scabbard), kōgai (a skewer-like hairdressing tool carried in the front of the scabbard), and menuki (a pair of grip ornaments secured by the handle wrappings). The production of the stouter sword guards, or tsuba, was left to other masters. While earlier generations had not signed their work, the Gotō masters in about 1600 began to authenticate the work of their predecessors; the attributions usually were engraved on the backs of the pieces themselves. These attributions bear testimony to the keen interest in early sword fittings as status symbols for high-ranking samurai.
Chisa katana have been in use as far back as the 15th or 16th century. The swordi was used by the personal samurai guard of the daimyo clan lord, especially used for close quarters fighting within, say a castle, and also to behead a defeated opponent and sometimes to commit ritual suicide. The wakizashi was another one of several short swords available for use by samurai including the yoroi toshi, tand 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, chisa katana and wakizashi were officially set.

Kanzan Sato, in his book titled "The Japanese Sword", notes that the wakizashi may have become more popular than the tanto due to the wakizashi being more suited for indoor fighting. He mentions the custom of leaving the katana at the door of a castle or palace when entering while continuing to wear the wakizashi inside. Wakizashi were worn on the left side, secured to the obi waist sash. Although they appear to be likely a relative expensive luxury compared to other antique swords from other nations, they are in fact incredible value for money, for example a newly made bespoke samurai style sword blade from Japan will cost, today, in excess of £11,000, take up to two years to complete, will come with no fittings at all, and will be modern naturally with no historical context or connection to the ancient samurai past in any way at all. Our fabulous original swords can be many, many, hundreds of years old, stunningly mounted as fabulous quality works of art, and may have been owned and used by up to 30 samurai in their working lifetime. Plus, due to their status in Japanese society, look almost as good today as the did possibly up to 400 years ago, or even more. Overall 29.5 inches long and the blade is 21 inches long.  read more

Code: 23491

The Lanes Armoury, Europe’s Leading Original Samurai Sword Specialists & Gallery. Plus 1000’s of Other Magical & Rare To Find Ancient and Vintage Wonders. Another Historic Collection Acquired This Week Including Amazing Medieval Swords & Antiquities

Including a small exclusive & original collection of Medieval small pendant crosses of the Christian Knights, a magnificent Knights Templar, Knights of Jerusalem sword, made by their armourer, and a very rare 4000 to 5000 year old Stone Age, Neolithic era War Hammer. The Neolithic period lasted from around 4300 BC down to 2000 BC, so some 6000 years before present. Neolithic means 'New Stone' and so this period is sometimes called the New Stone Age. Famous Neolithic sites in Britain include Avebury, Stonehenge, and Silbury Hill. 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. Some collected by their ancestors hundreds of years ago. And this week has been particularly fascinating for the diversity and beauty of our finds, including a late 1500's Cuirassier's close helmet, possibly captured from the city of Genoa in 1602, and a small collection of original, Elizabethan to King Charles 1st period, working toy wheel-lock form pistols.

After more than 50 years personal experience by Mark, in our galleries, since 1971, and David’s 40 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.

We are also now offering a handmade bespoke frame or casing service. Created by a local specialist we have known for over 40 years, in fact it was founded by one of our former company directors. See the gallery for an example of a lidded box display casing just created for an item acquired from us for one of our esteemed regulars.

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 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 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.

Finally, a visit to The Lanes Armoury is considered and remarked upon, by near every single visitor to our store, 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

Code: 24230

A Superb Edo Period Samurai Jingasa War Hat Helmet

A Jingasa Ichimonji Gasa, circa 1800. The clan mon [family crest] is very distinctive indeed.
A lacquer over cloth and paper constructed helmet, as is traditional of the era. The most used and famous are the various round jingasa that are basically flat with just a small raised central part. Akemi Masaharu calls this type ichimonji gasa (straight-line hats), hira gasa (flat hats) or nuri gasa (lacquered hats). The vast majority of these are made in what Akemi Masaharu calls the dry lacquer technique. This would involve gluing layers of cloth and / or paper together into a wooden mould, perhaps with some thin wood or bamboo strips as reinforcement, until a sufficient thickness was obtained, then lacquering. An alternative was to make them from coiled twisted paper strings, with each turn sewn to the next with another string. When lacquered, the whole structure was stiffened sufficiently to hold its shape. In both cases the result is a lightweight basic shape that could be individualised with decorations in lacquer. Not all of these are made in this way.

Most ichimonji jingasa are black lacquered on top with the owner’s, or his lord’s, kamon in gold on the front. No liner. Areas of lacquer surface cracking as usual for antique lacquer helmets of this type  read more

Code: 21744

A Powerful Long & Formidable Samurai Antique Shinto Period Katana Signed Blade, of Shumada Kami Taira Yoshisuka, With an Incredible Yadome no Jutsu, Arrow Defensive Blocking Mark & Matsushiro Sinano School Koshirae

All original Edo period mounts and black lacquer saya, and a very good mokko shaped tsuba engraved with leaves and flowers with lines of silver inlay. Menuki of dragons. Fully matching suite of mounts to the tsuka and saya, Matsushiro Sinano school, Signed blade, Shumada Kami Taira Yoshisuka.
The hada is very nicely visible in the excellent polish and around one inch from the habaki the obverse blade face has deflected a blow from an enemy arrow, and created a tiny circular impact point surrounded with incredible hada grain rippling. Please note that unique phenomena, in the photograph, where a the fast travelling projectile has been deflected by the blade from its samurai target and the instant pressure wave incurred in micro seconds has created a miniature tsunami of steel sent out from the impact point for just a few millimetres and created an oval misshaped hada grain all of its own, within the natural hada grain of the blade. A visual record of the samurai’s extraordinary skill and ability to intercept an arrow in mid flight, and something even a nihonto {samurai sword} specialist might only see once in a lifetime. Below the photograph of impact, we show, in the same photo, an antique Japanese woodblock print of the very same action being performed by a samurai, the ‘Yadome no Jutsu’ blocking himself from the impact of arrows, with his sword blade, while being consumed by a hail of enemy yadome {arrows} in flight, while his faithful steed is being impaled by the deadly hail.

This is an amazing thing to see, in that the arrow impact was remarkably deflected, and otherwise the arrow would without doubt have penetrated the body of its samurai, and likely it would have been a fatal wound. Impacts to blades such as this are much revered and honoured, and if possible not removed in later blade polishing.

There is a move in samurai sword combat that is designed to deflect an incoming arrow, which must have been incredibly difficult to execute. The technique is called 'yadome' or 'yadome no jutsu' - the art of cutting or blocking arrows. There are stories of it in Sengoku Japan (and older), it must have required very impressive skill. In the Heike Monogatari (Tale of the Heike), one of the most famous examples of arrow cutting is described:

"Then Gochi-in Tajima, throwing away the sheath of his long naginata, strode forth alone on to the bridge, whereupon the Heike straightaway shot at him fast and furious. Tajima, not at all perturbed, ducking to avoid the higher ones and leaping up over those that flew low, cut through those that flew straight with his whirring naginata, so that even the enemy looked on in admiration. Thus it was that he was dubbed Tajima the arrow-cutter. Some katana can be light and finely balanced to reflect the stature of the samurai who wielded it in combat, others, such as this one, was most certainly for a mighty samurai, either to use on foot in full armour, or in armour on horseback. This is the stature of a sword that could be used against a foe, similarly adorned in full armour, and its power would easily be perfectly suitable against armour in the melee of battle.

Samurai have been describes as "the most strictly trained human instruments of war to have existed." They were expected to be proficient in the martial arts of aikido and kendo as well as swordsmanship and archery---the traditional methods of samurai warfare---which were viewed not so much as skills but as art forms that flowed from natural forces that harmonized with nature.
An individual didn't become a full-fledged samurai until he wandered around the countryside as begging pilgrim for a couple of years to learn humility. When this was completed they achieved samurai status and receives a salary from his daimyo paid from taxes (usually rice) raised from the local populace. Swords in Japan have long been symbols of power and honour and seen as works of art. Often times swordsmiths were more famous than the people who used them. The rise in popularity of katana by samurai is believed to have been due to the changing nature of close-combat warfare. The quicker draw of the sword was well suited to combat where victory depended heavily on fast response times. The katana further facilitated this by being worn thrust through a belt-like sash (obi) with the sharpened edge facing up. Ideally, samurai could draw the sword and strike the enemy in a single motion. Previously, the curved tachi had been worn with the edge of the blade facing down and suspended from a belt.

As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity. 28.25 inch long blade from the tsuba to tip.  read more

Code: 23061

A Most Beautiful Koto Era Sengoku Period Katana Circa 1480 Signed Norimitsu , All Original Edo Period Mountings

In super condition for its great age, with all it's original Edo period mounts and saya.

Shakudo and pure gold decorated fuchi kashira decorated with takebori shishi mythical lion dogs with a gold dragon entwined around its neck on a nanako and rattan pattern crosshatching. The kashira has geometric patterns and copper curlicues. The tsuka is wrapped in black silk binding over golden sinchu rabbits with flowers. The tsuba is a superb geometrically pierced sukashi, a Koto period piece, on a circular iron plate. The blade is signed Norimitsu but not unusually the signature region is faded through age so it is difficult to read although highligted in white powder on the tang. The blade has a very good and clear hamon, and a very elegant funbari graduating curvature and it has been polished several times over 500 years so it shows a little completely understandable light surface thinning to one small area see blade photos.

It has a silvered engraved habaki blade collar.
Original black Edo period ishime black stone lacquer around 200 years old to the saya and in very nice condition, slight wear marks but super overall.

The Sengoku period Sengoku Jidai, "Warring States period") is a period in Japanese history of near-constant civil war, social upheaval, and intrigue from 1467 to 1615.

The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the feudal system of Japan under the Ashikaga Shogunate. Various samurai warlords and clans fought for control over Japan in the power vacuum, while the Ikkō-ikki emerged to fight against samurai rule. The arrival of Europeans in 1543 introduced the arquebus into Japanese warfare, and Japan ended its status as a tributary state of China in 1549. Oda Nobunaga dissolved the Ashikaga Shogunate in 1573 and launched a war of political unification by force, including the Ishiyama Hongan-ji War, until his death in the Honnō-ji Incident in 1582. Nobunaga's successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi completed his campaign to unify Japan and consolidated his rule with numerous influential reforms. Hideyoshi launched the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592, but their eventual failure damaged his prestige before his death in 1598. Tokugawa Ieyasu displaced Hideyoshi's young son and successor Toyotomi Hideyori at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 and re-established the feudal system under the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Sengoku period ended when Toyotomi loyalists were defeated at the siege of Osaka in 1615.

The Sengoku period was named by Japanese historians after the similar but otherwise unrelated Warring States period of China. Overall 35.25 inches long, blade 25.5 inches long  read more

Code: 23948