A Wondrous Quality 18th Century Gilt Bronze Hilted Royal Naval Officers Sword of Hunting Hanger Form

Due to its superlative quality it was likely formerly the the property of a duke, prince, or an aristocrat of the highest status. It is also very similar to the the Walpole-Suckling Hunting Hanger Sword believed Carried by Capt. Horatio Nelson, sold by Sotheby's special treasures sale in 2003, see photo 10 in the gallery.

Originally intended for use in the boar or stag hunt, but most usually used in the early part of the 18th century by British senior officers in the Royal Navy. There are many portraits of Queen Anne period Naval admirals and the like carrying their hunting swords while in service aboard ship, as it was the perfect size for close combat use, aboard a well and profusely rigged man o’ war.
In the gallery is a portrait of Admiral Benbow holding his very similar hunting sword, another of Admiral George Churchill with his same sword, and once again with his same hunting sword Admiral Sir Cloudsley Shovell.

In the seminal works, 'Swords for Sea Service' by May and Annis, shown in photographed plates 80 and 81, are two other 18th century hunting swords used by noted naval officer's, one by Galfridus Walpole, said to have been used by Nelson and the other sword of Admiral Don Francisco Xavier Winthuysen, that was surrendered to Commodore Nelson at the Battle of St Vincent in 1797

Finest gilt bronze hilt engraved and cast throughout of scenes of hunts. With sharkskin grip, cast repousse decorated shell guard, knuckle bow and pommel, decorated with full relief very finely engraved blade with hunting scenes of wild boar. The wild boar is the ancestral species of the domestic pig. It is native across much of Central Europe
Unlike the Romans for whom hunting boar was considered a simple pastime, the hunting of boars in Medieval Europe was mostly done by nobles for the purpose of honing martial skill. It was traditional for the noble to dismount his horse once the boar was cornered and to finish it with a dagger. To increase the challenge, some hunters would commence their sport at the boars mating season, when the animals were more aggressive. Records show that wild boar were abundant in medieval Europe. A charging boar is considered exceptionally dangerous quarry, due to its thick hide and dense bones, making anything less than a kill shot a potentially deadly mistake. Hunting dogs have been used to hunt boar since ancient times. Boar hunting dogs are loosely divided into two categories, bay dogs, and catch dogs.
Bay dogs harass and harry the boar, keeping it cornered in one place and barking loudly. This behaviour is known as "baying" or keeping the boar "at bay". The bay dogs' barking alerts the hunters to the bay, so that the hunter may catch up and kill the boar.the clergy demanding tribute from commoners in the form of boar carcasses or body parts. In 1015 for example, the doge Ottone Orseolo demanded for himself and his successors the head and feet of every boar killed in his area of influence.

In this period, because of the lack of efficient weapons such as guns, the hunting of boars required a high amount of courage, and even the French king Philip IV died from falling off his horse when charged by a boar.

The sword is in fine condition for its age. It lacks the small quillon end  read more

Code: 21041

A Fabulous Solid Silver Mounted 'Naval' Captain or Admirals Sword, Near Matching Admiral Don Francisco Xavier Winthuysen's Sword, That Was Surrendered to Commodore Nelson at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797

Superb French hunting hanger with carved hilt with fancy solid silver crossguard and mounts bearing French hallmark with pair of carved grip plates held with fancy flower head silver rivets and engraved silver rim edging. With superbly engraved blade bearing stunning mystical talismanic and cabbalistic engravings including the portrait bust of an Ottoman Grand Sultan. It was written centuries past that a fine blade might be engraved with; "a talisman to make one beloved, to defeat the ill wishes of all enemies". They could be a number or combination with a cabbalistic meaning known only to the owner and the magician who sold him the spell. The number might be, for example, 1441, thought to be a combination of the number 7, a specifically lucky number,

From a collection of very fine surrendered swords from senior officer's of French and Spanish warships that fought against Nelson's fleets.


An incredibly similar sword surrendered to Commodore Nelson at the battle of St Vincent 1797 that of Rear-Admiral Don Francisco Xavier Winthuysen the Spanish admiral who died aboard the San José that sword is now in Norfolk museum collection. See photo 9 in the gallery that shows the extremely similar French silver hilt mount close-up of the Spanish Admiral’s sword in the Norfolk Museum unpolished that shows it may have been made by the same French maker.
We also show the sword surrendered to Nelson at the battle of St Vincent, and standing next to Nelson painted by Sir William Beechy
Sir William Beechey (1753 - 1839)
Location:Norwich Castle.

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent (14 February 1797) was one of the opening battles of the Anglo-Spanish War (1796–1808), as part of the French Revolutionary Wars, where a British fleet under Admiral Sir John Jervis defeated a greatly superior Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal.

After a rendezvous with Jervis in the Atlantic off Cape St. Vincent on the previous day, Nelson on February 14, 1797, found himself sailing in mist through a Spanish fleet of 27 ships. The Spaniards were sailing in two divisions and Jervis planned to cut between the two and destroy one before the other could come to its assistance. But he had miscalculated, and it became clear that the British ships would not be able to turn quickly enough to get into action before the Spanish squadrons closed up. Without orders from Jervis, Nelson hauled out of line and attacked the head of the second Spanish division. While the rest of Jervis’ fleet slowly turned and came up in support, Nelson held the two Spanish squadrons apart, at one time fighting seven enemy ships. The efficiency of British gunnery was decisive, and he not only boarded and captured one enemy man-of-war but, from her deck, boarded and took a second.

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent won for Jervis the earldom of St. Vincent and for Nelson a knighthood, which coincided with his promotion by seniority to rear admiral. His first action in command of a major independent force, however, was disastrous. In the course of an assault on Tenerife, a grapeshot shattered his right elbow, and back in his flagship the arm was amputated.

Overall nice condition with some age pitting to blade.
Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 24593

A Wonderful, Original, Historical, Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantine Christian Cross In Bronze 7th to 10th Century

A super, small collection of original, historical, Imperial Roman and Crusader's artefacts has just been acquired by us and will be added over the next week or so. This Bronze Cross was hand forged during the Middle Ages in the cradle of Christianity, the Byzantine Empire. In AD 324, the first Christian Roman Emperor Constantine the Great transferred the Eastern Roman Empire capital to Byzantium, which became Constantinople, known as ''New Rome''. The Byzantine Empire became centred on the capital of Constantinople and was ruled by Emperors in direct succession to the ancient Roman Emperors. With the eventual decline of Rome, the Church of Constantinople became the richest and most influential center of the Christian world.
The reign of Justinian the Great in 527-565 marked a blossoming of Byzantine culture with a building program that yielded such masterpieces as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, Hagia Sophia. Justinian, who is considered a Saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, created the authority of this Church, which firmly established Christianity throughout the Empire. This Byzantine Empire would exist for more than a thousand years until 1453 and was one of the most powerful economic, cultural, and military forces in Europe and Asia Minor. This superb cross was most certainly worn by a Byzantine citizen as a statement of faith during this amazing age of early Christendom. Picture in the gallery of an 8th century painting 'Christ is the Crucified, and a King'. The details of the painting are, they say; 'He is robed in majesty; He is fastened to the Cross. He wears the royal purple robes with which His scorners intended to mock Him, but He, Alpha and Omega, the first and last Word, the Primogenitor of those who are being saved, confers His own divine dignity onto the very idea of kingship. He wears the glory that inspired the good thief to plead for his salvation, with the confidence of the One whose Sonship makes that salvation possible'.

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 23253

A Very Interesting & Beautiful French Leather Book on the Royal Marines And French Marines 1815 to I863 Les Marines de la France et de L'Angleterre 1815-1863 by Raymond, M. Xavier

From the Royal Artillery Regimental Library, then transferred to the Royal Artillery Mess in Shoeburyness

An absolute gem of reference work volume comparing two branches of the marines of both nations. Printed by Librairie De L. Hachette Et. Cie, in Paris, in French.

Former Regimental Library and Mess books of military reference and interest are very collectable indeed.

Tri-colour leather with gilt tooled lettering to the spine and gilt stamped compartments, marble and leather sides . A few scuffs to the leather spine, cloth boards lightly rubbed. Marbled endpapers, with a regimental bookplate of the Royal Artillery to the inside cover

7inches x 5 inches  read more

Code: 24426

Ancient Iron Viking Socket Spear. Circa 9th century, Around 1200 Years Old

Like several pieces we acquired often from a Grand Tour of the 1820’s, Viking pieces and artefacts, such as rings and spear heads, acquired in Northern France near Paris, that originated from around the time of the Viking siege of Paris in the early 800’s.
Many historians commonly associate the term "Viking" to the Scandinavian term vikingr, a word for "pirate." However, the term is meant to reference oversea expeditions, and was used as a verb by the Scandinavian people for when the men traditionally took time out of their summers to go "a Viking." While many would believe these expeditions entailed the raiding of monasteries and cities along the coast, many expeditions were actually with the goal of trade and enlisting as foreign mercenaries.

The Viking Age generally refers to the period from A.D. 800, a few years after the earliest recorded raid, until the 1050s, a few years before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, according to Angelo Forte, Richard D. Oram and Frederik Pedersen, authors of "Viking Empires" (Cambridge University Press, 2005). During this time, the reach of the Scandinavian people extended to all corners of northern Europe, and many other nations found Vikings raiding their coasts. The farthest reported records of Vikings were in Baghdad for the trading of goods like fur, tusks and seal fat.

Spears in the Sagas
"Then Thorolf became so furious that he cast his shield on his back, and, grasping his spear with both hands, bounded forward dealing cut and thrust on either side. Men sprang away from him both ways, but he slew many."

- Egil's Saga, Chapter 53

"Gunnar clutches the spear with both hands, and turns on (Thorbrand) quickly and drives it through him, and hurls him down on the ground. Then up sprung Asbrand his brother. Gunnar thrusts at him with the spear, and he threw his shield before the blow, but the spear passed clean through the shield and broke both his arms, and down he fell from the wall."

- Njal's Saga, Chapter 76

"At this brunt Helgi, the son of Hardbien, rushed in with a spear, the head of which was an ell long, and the shaft bound with iron. When Bolli saw that he cast away his sword, and took his shield in both hands, and went towards the dairy door to meet Helgi. Helgi thrust at Bolli with the spear right through the shield and through him."

- The Laxdale Saga, Chapter 55

The spearheads were made of iron, and, like sword blades, were made using pattern welding techniques (described in the article on swords) during the early part of the Viking era . They could be decorated with inlays of precious metals or with scribed geometric patterns
After forming the head, the smith created the tang in the early period, such as for a javelin type spear, or in the later Viking mostly a socket fitting for a regular spear. Sometimes with holes for rivets to grip onto the haft.

However, there is little evidence that tells us the length of the shaft. The archaeological evidence is negligible, and the sagas are, for the most part, silent. Chapter 6 of Gísla saga tells of a spear so long-shafted that a man's outstretched arm could touch the rivet. The language used suggests that such a long shaft was uncommon.

Perhaps the best guess we can make is that the combined length of shaft and head of Viking age spears was 2 to 3m (7-10ft) long, although one can make arguments for the use of spears having both longer and shorter shafts. A strong, straight-grained wood such as ash was used. Many people think of the spear as a throwing weapon. One of the Norse myths tells the story of the first battle in the world, in which Odin, the highest of the gods, threw a spear over the heads of the opposing combatants as a prelude to the fight. The sagas say that spears were also thrown in this manner when men, rather than gods, fought. At the battle at Geirvör described in chapter 44 of Eyrbyggja saga, the saga author says that Steinþórr threw a spear over the heads of Snorri goði and his men for good luck, according to the old custom. More commonly, the spear was used as a thrusting weapon. The sagas tell us thrusting was the most common attack in melees and one-on-one fighting, and this capability was used to advantage in mass battles. In a mass battle, men lined up, shoulder to shoulder, with shields overlapping. After all the preliminaries, which included rock throwing, name calling, the trading of insults, and shouting a war cry (æpa heróp), the two lines advanced towards each other. When the lines met, the battle was begun. Behind the wall of shields, each line was well protected. Once a line was broken, and one side could pass through the line of the other side, the battle broke down into armed melees between small groups of men.

Before either line broke, while the two lines were going at each other hammer and tongs, the spear offered some real advantages. A fighter in the second rank could use his spear to reach over the heads of his comrades in the first rank and attack the opposing line. Konungs skuggsjá (King’s Mirror), a 13th century Norwegian manual for men of the king, says that in the battle line, a spear is more effective than two swords. In regards to surviving iron artefacts of the past two millennia, if Western ancient edged weapons were either lost, discarded or buried in the ground, and if the ground soil were made up of the right chemical composition, then some may survive exceptionally well. As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity. overall 10.25 inches long  read more

Code: 23709

A Most Impressive Original 16th -17th Century Nuremberg 'Black and White' Comb Morion Helmet, The Very Same Form of Helmet As Was Made Famous by the Spanish Conquistador’s in Their Conquest of Central America

A most similar morion, was in the great historical collection of arms armour from the armoury of Fortress Hohenwerfen near Salzburg, Austria, that was augmented by H.I.R.H. Archduke Eugen. A collection that was sold, and entered the collectors market and various museums, in 1927, which contained some Nuremberg and Augsberg 'black and white' morion helmets such as this. Morion is a type of open helmet used from the middle 16th to early 17th centuries, such as by the Munich Town Guard, usually having a flat brim and a crest from front to back. Its introduction was contemporaneous with the exploration of North, Central, and South America. Explorers like Hernando de Soto and Coronado may have supplied them to their foot soldiers in the 1540s. The iconic morion, though popularly identified with early Spanish explorers and conquistadors, was not in use as early as the conquest of Mexico by Hernan Cortez or Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Incas in South America. Thirty to forty years later, it was widely used by the Spanish, but also common among foot soldiers of many European nationalities, including the English; the first English morions were issued during the reign of Edward VI. The crest or comb on the top of the helmet was designed to strengthen it. Later versions also had cheek guards and even removable faceplates to protect the soldier from sword cuts.

The morion's shape is derived from that of an older helmet, the Chapel de Fer, or "Kettle Hat." Other sources suggest it was based on Moorish armor and its name is derived from Moro, the Spanish word for Moor. The New Oxford American Dictionary, however, derives it from Spanish morrion, from morro 'round object'. The Dictionary of the Spanish Language published by the Royal Spanish Academy indicates that the Spanish term for the helmet, morrion, derives from the noun morra, which means "the upper part of the head". A somewhat similar example is in the Metropolitan Museum in New York accession number 14.25.508

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 22718

A Superb Original Imperial Roman Legionary's "Whistling" Sling Bullet Circa 1st to 2nd century AD.

Identical to the few found at an archaeological dig at a Roman Fort site in southwestern Scotland a few years ago, and one of a very small collection of fine original sling bullets of antiquity we acquired.
Over 1,800 years ago, Roman troops used "whistling" sling bullets as a "terror weapon" against their barbarian foes, such as were in Scotland and the Celts in England, according to archaeologists who found the cast lead bullets at a site in Scotland.

Weighing about 1 ounce (30 grams), each of the bullets had been drilled with a 0.2-inch (5 millimeters) hole that the researchers think was designed to give the soaring bullets a sharp buzzing or whistling noise in flight.

The bullets were found recently at Burnswark Hill in southwestern Scotland, where a massive Roman attack against native defenders in a hilltop fort took place in the second century A.D. These holes converted the bullets into a "terror weapon," said archaeologist John Reid of the Trimontium Trust, a Scottish historical society directing the first major archaeological investigation in 50 years of the Burnswark Hill site.

"You don't just have these silent but deadly bullets flying over; you've got a sound effect coming off them that would keep the defenders' heads down," Reid told Live Science. "Every army likes an edge over its opponents, so this was an ingenious edge on the permutation of sling bullets."

The whistling bullets were also smaller than typical sling bullets, and the researchers think the soldiers may have used several of them in their slings — made from two long cords held in the throwing hand, attached to a pouch that holds the ammunition — so they could hurl multiple bullets at a target with one throw.

"You can easily shoot them in groups of three of four, so you get a scattergun effect," Reid said. "We think they're for close-quarter skirmishing, for getting quite close to the enemy." Onasandrius wrote the 1st C. BC, in his book "Strategy". "The Sling is the deadly weapon used by light infantry because lead is of the same colour as the air and therefore not visible, thus the impact is unexpected and not only smites hard, but the bullet penetrates deeply into the victims flesh". Used by Roman auxiliary troops like Greeks, Sicilians, North Africans, but after the Roman conquest of the Balearic Islands elite slingers were always the Balearic that fought in the legions of Julius Caesar.

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 23794

A Superb Shinto Period Samurai Katana By Bizen Osafune Sukesada, Named By The Swordsmith, Likely For its Original Samurai Owner

Circa 1650. This beautiful Katana is most intriguing in that it is not only signed by one of the great schools of samurai swordsmiths but also inscribed as to whom is was made for, we we have yet to translate, as the kanji are difficult to interpret
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Fully matching suite of stunning koshirae all decorated with the gold imperial chrysanthemum, including the superb tsuba. Superb habaki blade collar with fabulous mirror bright shakudo patina, with gold lines. isime urushi lacquer saya.

Being descendant of the Ichimonji Line they were also known to have made some of the finest swords. This is where they really shine, swordsmiths such as Yozosaemon Sukesada were known to make masterpiece blades that outshone the vast majority of the time period. In fact Yozosaemon is considered one of the representative swordsmiths of the Era, going hand in hand with names like Muramasa of the Soshu/Sengo Tradition and Kanemoto of the Mino Tradition. Sukesada swords were also popular with those in high ranks and we see many tachi and longer katana being made, these were often of exceptional quality and were quite deserving of their Jchimonji lineage. Sukesada swords would spread throughout Japan, with their home forges being in Bizen province. This however ; would not last. The great flood of the Yoshii River around 1590 signalled a death toll to the Sukesada line. This flood hit Bizen province hard and wiped out nearly all of the Sukesada forges, leaving only several offshoots of the Sukesada family swordsmiths to carry out the tradition, such the Shinto period Yokoyama Sukesada family swords. The Sukesada tradition struggled to survive and eventually died out partway through the Shinto Era as it never really came close to reaching the Majesty and quality of its predecessor and mainline schools. The great flood essentially marked the end for one of the Koto Era's greatest sword making traditions.

The blade has a fabulous hamon, with some thin, naturally aged light edge delamination thinning around the top of the hi on either side. . 27.5 inch blade from tsuba to tip.  read more

Code: 24820

A Simply Fabulous Samurai's Loyalty, Ritual-Exchange, Wine Bowl, A Sakazuki of Hiramaki-e Pure Gold Lacquer. Signed Yoyusai (1772-1845)

A Sakazuki cup, a footed Circular Wine Cup of pure gold lacquer signed Hira Yoyusai decorated with the symbols of the highest ranking samurai, an Imperial court cap, a pole arm and General's war fan. Sakazuki is a ritual of exchanging sake cups as a means of pledging loyalty. The word itself refers to ceremonial cups used on special occasions like weddings, tea ceremonies, etc. There are currently two known versions of the sakazuki ritual.
Worthy of any museum grade collection of the finest Japanese Ob'ject D'art. Edo period (19th century), signed Yoyusai (1772-1845). A footed, circular cup of pure gold lacquer in gold hiramaki-e on fundame ground. Decorated with an Imperial court cap, a war fan, a pole arm and a tied sack. Likely commissioned for a notable of the highest rank, such as a daimyo lord or member of the Japanese nobility. In the period Kwansei, 1789 to 1801 C.E., Koma Kwansai, Inouye Hakusai, and Hara Yoyusai were the most famous artists, the first of whom was foremost in the delicacy of his work, but was comparatively unknown. Nakayama Komin was a distinguished lacquerer who worked in Edo and learnt the art from Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845). Yoyusai and other 19th-century lacquer artists including Koma Kansai and Zeshin, Nakayama Komin turned to famous early masterpieces of Japanese lacquer for inspiration. A superbly executed piece of finest artwork, showing remarkable skill for the minutest detail. Hiramaki-e, in Japanese lacquerwork, gold decoration in low, or flat, relief, a basic form of maki-e. The pattern is first outlined on a sheet of paper with brush and ink. It is then traced on the reverse side of the paper with a mixture of heated wet lacquer and (usually red) pigment. The artist transfers the pattern directly to the desired surface by rubbing with the fingertips, a process called okime. In the next step (jigaki), the pattern that has been transferred is painted over with lacquer usually a reddish colour. A dusting tube is used to sprinkle gold powder on the painted design while the lacquer is still wet. When the lacquer is dry, superfluous gold powder is dusted off, and a layer of clear lacquer is applied over the gold-covered design. When dry, it is polished with powdered charcoal. A second layer of lacquer is added, allowed to dry, and given a fingertip polish with a mixture of linseed oil and finely powdered mudstone.

The hiramaki-e technique, which dates from the latter part of the Heian period (794-1185), was preceded by togidashi maki-e, a technique in which not only the design but the whole surface is covered with clear lacquer after the sprinkling of metal powder; the lacquer is then polished down to reveal the design. During the Kamakura (1192-1333) and Muromachi (1338-1573) periods, hiramaki-e tended to be overshadowed by takamaki-e (gold or silver decoration in bold relief). It came fully into its own only in comparatively modern times. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1574-1600), hiramaki-e artists often left the sprinkled gold powder unpolished in a technique called maki-hanashi (left as sprinkled). A very beautiful piece by the master or an homage to Yoyusai bearing his name.

5" diameter across 1.33 inches high

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery  read more

Code: 22989

A Fabulous, Museum Quality Piece Sunobi-Tanto or Ko-Wakizashi, With Stunning Quality, Soten, Shakudo and Gold Takebori Dragon Fittings,

. Blade signed Takeshige, circa 1700. A very fine original samurai weapon, for a samurai of very high rank and status, it is a weapon that straddles two forms of classification a very long tanto, sunobi-tanto extra long samurai dagger or a ko-wakazashi, an extra short wakazashi the samurai’s shoto, short sword.

The complete koshirae mounts of, fushi, kashira, menuki and tsuba are Soten school, one of the most beautiful and exceptional quality forms of the schools of sword fitting makers, and all are depicting in deep takebori, the dragon in pure gold, over shakudo, patinated, hand nanako ground, copper.
The chisseling of the dragon’s features has been created in such stunning detail, and they are all true works of art in all respects.

Nanako Ji: "fish roe ground" A surface decoration produced by forming very small raised bosses by a sharply struck punch or burin called 'nanako tagane'. Shakudo is the metal most often used, but copper and gold are quite often employed. The harder metals, shibuichi, silver and iron are rarely decorated in this way. The size of the dots vary from 0.04" to 0.008" (25 to 125 and inch) and the regularity of the work is marvelous as the dots must be spaced entirely by touch. The dots are usually arranged in straight lines or in lines parallel to the edge of the piece being decorated, but sometimes in more elaborate patterns. Used on guards since the Momoyama period although the technique existed since much earlier periods. Usually done by specialist 'nanako-shi', but sometimes done by the maker of the guard himself.

The blade has A very attractive undulating hamon with distinct Shinto period yakideshi a hamon pattern change as it approaches the habaki and all the blade is in nice bright polish. The blade has a few natural old age pitting marks as can be expected and one around the length of a small grain of rice, around 5 inches from the tip. The saya is decorated in beautiful black sprial ishime stone finish lacquer.

O-Tanto or Sunobi Tanto
The Tanto that varied from the traditional size were called Sunobi-Tanto or O-Tanto. These were larger versions of the Tanto which featured blades usually measuring between 13 to 14 inches long. It was close to the size of the Ko-Wakizashi, which is a shorter version of the Wakizashi. However as this blade is even longer that the usual 14 inches, that is why it can be considered as a transitional weapon that has a foot in both camps so to speak. Because of its often small size, the Samurai warriors were able to conceal the Tanto in their clothing. It was also the Shoto or small sword in the Daisho and was paired with the Tachi. This was before the Samurai chose to use the Wakizashi over the Tanto as an auxiliary sword.
The Wakizashi was a Samurai warrior’s backup weapon that was used for close-quarter battles. Aside from this, the sword was a Samurai warrior’s tool for beheading a defeated opponent. It was sometimes used for committing Seppuku, a ritualistic suicide.

In addition, the Wakizashi was one of the few short swords available to the Samurai warrior. Another sword they might use was called a Chisa Katana, effectively a short Katana perfect for use within buildings castles etc. and the prerogative of the personal full time bodyguard of a Daimyo lord, who were the usually the only samurai permitted to be armed in his presence day and night.

Because the sword was the main battle weapon of Japan's knightly man-at-arms (although spears and bows were also carried), an entire martial art grew up around learning how to use it. This was kenjutsu, the art of sword fighting, or kendo in its modern, non-warlike incarnation. The importance of studying kenjutsu and the other martial arts such as kyujutsu, the art of the bow, was so critical to the samurai a very real matter of life or death that Miyamoto Musashi, most renowned of all swordsmen, warned in his classic The Book of Five Rings: The science of martial arts for warriors requires construction of various weapons and understanding the properties of the weapons. A member of a warrior family who does not learn to use weapons and understand the specific advantages of each weapon would seem to be somewhat uncultivated. European knights and Japanese samurai have some interesting similarities. Both groups rode horses and wore armour. Both came from a wealthy upper class. And both were trained to follow strict codes of moral behaviour. In Europe, these ideals were called chivalry; the samurai code was called Bushido, "the way of the warrior." The rules of chivalry and Bushido both emphasize honour, self-control, loyalty, bravery, and military training

The blade tsuba to tip 15.25 inches, full length 22 inches.  read more

Code: 22884