Bingo Mihara sunobe tanto

Mei: Shumei Kanesada
Date: Oei jidai (circa 1393)
Nagasa - 32.9 cm
Moto-haba - 2.8 cm
Nakago: ubu with a Honami shumei to Kanesada
Certification: NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho (Mihara)

The Mihara originated in Bingo Province during the late kamakura period. Although in the region of Bizen, this school followed the Yamato den with the hamon and sugata often typical of that tradition. The Ko-Mihara school was greatly esteemed, with many juyo token from the time of Ko-Mihara Masaie and his students.

This is a wonderful koto hirazukuri tanto from the Chu-Mihara group dating to around Oei jidai (circa 1393). The blade has a completely ubu nakago, with one mekugiana and the typical sunobe tanto sugata of that time period measuring 32.9 cm. The hada is a very dense ko-itame with thick ji-nie. The hamon is bright hososuguha ending in a ko-maru boshi. In addition to the NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho kanteisho, the sword also has an old red-lacquer Honami shu-mei on the nakago. Although somewhat worn, the shumei is still legible as 'Kanesada'. This is a beautiful and flawless koto tanto, in perfect polish with a solid silver habaki and shirasaya.

Price - $5500