Osorakuzukuri-shaped tanto signed Hyoshinshi Hideyo Nyudo

[Keichodo]

This interesting and highly collectable shin-shinto Osorakuzukuri shaped tantō is signed Hyōshinshi Hideyo Nyūdō氷心子秀世入道 and dated Kaei sannen sangatsu nichi (a day in March of 1851) 嘉永三年三月日. Hideyo is rated Jō-saku and this tanto is accompanied by a NBTHK Hozon paper.

 

Price: Yen 270,000 (including delicensing out of Japan and shipping to EMS destinations; however, payment to be made by wire transfer only ...sorry about that!) Currently EMS shipments are delayed but there is movement of the backlog.....

 

Details

Nagasa: 18.6 cm
Sori: 0.0
Moto-haba: 24.8 mm
Saki-haba: 21.9 mm
Moto-kasane: 3.7 mm
Saki-kasane: 3.0 mm

 

The hamon is gunome-midare with a tight nioiguchi, the bōshi hakkikake, the jigane looks soft, and the jihada is ko-itame-nagare. On the omote are the hiragana engraved for osoraku おそらく, while the horimono on the ura represent gomabashi.

 

Hyōshinshi Hideyo’s 氷心子秀世 real name was Tamura Kōhei 田村耕平.  He was a student and son-in-law of Suishinshi Masahide 水心子正秀. He also studied under Unju Korekazu 雲寿是一.  His dated blades are from Tenpō (天保 1830-1844) to Ansei (安政 1854-1860) eras.

 

It is a mystery why he added a small stroke to the first kanji of the Suishinshi  (水 → 氷), which reads Hyōshinshi. He also occasionally signed his mei with the additional nyūdō 入道 signifying Buddhist lay priest. His residence was in Edo’s Azabu-Imazato 麻布今里.

 

Robert Hughes (correspond with me at keichodo@yahoo.com) If it sells, a donation to NMB will be made!

[Bugyotsuji]

So this is in Japan?

[Keichodo]

Hi Piers

 

Yes...at my place in Kamakura....along with about thirty other swords....some suits of armor....kabuto....one hundred tsuba....four matchlock rifles, etc.

 

Come on over ..... for a samurai shopping spree....

 

Best,

 

Robert

[Bugyotsuji]

Aw, that I would love to do, some day!  Thanks!

[Ken-Hawaii]

Join the crowd, Piers! If all those swords are this quality, I would need a second mortgage!

[Brian]

That's a great deal, and a lovely tanto.

[ROKUJURO]

Robert,

could it be that you meant to write millimeters in your measurements?

Moto-haba: 24.8 mm
Saki-haba: 21.9 mm
Moto-kasane: 3.7 mm
Saki-kasane: 3.0 mm

[Keichodo]

Thank you Jean!

 

You are absolutely correct!

 

I have to admit my failure....half-asleep in frog pajamas! Now corrected....thank you for the editing.....I will eat my humble pie!

 

Best,

 

Robert

[Death-Ace]

Robert, I definitely would love to visit sometime! I'm currently stationed in Yokosuka. Been to Kamakura a few times. Beautiful place!

 

Beautiful tanto as well!

[Keichodo]

Hi Lev

 

I was in Yokosuka yesterday for a Carl Jr. portobello mushroom burger and a strawberry shake.

 

Let me know when you are coming to Kamakura next time.  I usually have free time on the weekends. M-F I teach at university (now on-line) ....

 

Best,

 

Robert

[BjornLundin]

Lovely tanto, I wish I could afford it now. Any webpage for your other articles? Strange that I missed antique sword shops when I lived in Japan. Then I thought it was more or less impossible to own and have a sword in Japan. Especially for a foreigner.

[Keichodo]

Hi Bjorn,

 

My main occupatipn is education. I teach at Toyo University in Tokyo.  I have been involved in the sword business in Japan since 1986. As I have full-time employment, I usually just engage in sword activities on weekends and holidays including attending the dealer auctions. I have set up a stall at the DTI for twenty-five years but mostly sell to dealers directly.  I don't have the time to run a full on-line operation, so I have yet to use an on-line catalog.  Usually, I discretely sell to customers with direct correspondence and photos especially for higher end juyo level blades... There is a lot of misinformation about owning swords in Japan... I was once told by the police that as a foreigner I could not own a sword in Japan.  When I figured out that was bullshit, I became a dealer just to spite the police....

 

Best,

Robert

[BjornLundin]

Hi Robert, cool I was working as a scientist in Okayama Univ before, did some teaching but mostly to masterstudents. Some day I will have a juyo bizen blade.