SWORD, JAPANESE, TANTO DAGGER, SHIRASAYA

W1970.898a-b

Tanto Dagger. Late Koto Period c 1550. Plain wooden scabbard [shirasaya type i.e. storage scabbard], ink attribution on scabbard. and hilt - signed Mura Masa but appears to be a forgery.
Blade Type: TANTO
Mei: Muramasa
Nagasa: 34.5 cm
Sori: 0.3 cm, torii
Sugata: hira tsukuri, mitsu/iori mune
Nakago: 10 cm, two mekugi ana
Hada: very tight itame
Hamon: almost hitatsura, large pointed notare midare muneyaki
Horimono: Omote: koshi bo-hi ni tsure hi

Koshirae
Type: SHIRASAYA
Saya: plain wood with sayagaki: MURA-MASA NAGASA ICHI SHAKU ICHI SUN SAN BU ARU KORE DAI SAN JU MAI
Tsuka: plain wood to match scabbard

Overall length: 51.5 cm
The ink inscription sayagaki states name of maker, length of blade and its value. It was normal for an appraiser to sign a sayagaki, however as this inscription is unsigned, it raises suspicion as to the authenticity of the blade. The inscription reads: ‘Muramasa, (the maker) Length: 1 shaku, 1 sun, 3 bu. Value: 30 pieces (of gold)’.

Ref; TROTTER, George, Japanese Swords and Fittings in the Western Australian Museum, Werstern Australian Museum, Perth 1989, No.3, page 12.

From sheets
Tang/ Haagari; Length[nagasa] 10cm; Filemarks/veryslight Kattesagari; Back[mune]/hira; Hole [M ekugi ana] /two; Signature[mei]/ katanamei: MURAMASA
Blade double edged, 5 drawings down centre [sacred sword symbol of Japan], other side engraved. Blade unmarked. Buddhist priest's ceremonial sword.

Department:

History Department

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data

Accession Number:	W1970.898a-b
Accession Date:	18 Apr 1967

Material

Wood	b - scabbard

Wood

Measurement

length	515mm	mounted

length	345mm	blade

length	100mm	tang

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Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/content/W1970.898a-b
Accessed 13 Aug 2024

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