Muromachi Sunnobi-tanto koshirae

[sc72]

I've seen illustrations (...old Edo prints) of samurai from around 1300 (since wakizashi did not yet exist) who, with their armor, carried a sword and a tanto dagger, which I presume was a sunnobi-tanto, that is, longer than usual.

My curiosity was drawn to the hilt of these daggers, which often featured a white sawagane without a "tsuka-ito" but with a wide tsuba. These are symbolic illustrations, or perhaps they were worn like this in Muromachi?

I'm interested in this because I'm preparing a hilt for my 14th-century sunnobi tanto and am unsure whether to make it with or without a wide 7 cm diameter tsuba (since the hilt, without a tsuka-ito, is made only of ray skin and decorated with two large menuki).

[sc72]

Or maybe it's just a matter of taste? Would even with the aikuchi hilt be good for a big Muromachi with a 35 cm of nagasa?

[sc72]

The tanto blade is still more than 3cm "high", so it's like that of a sword, and a 7cm tsuba wouldn't be excessive, assuming you want to mount the tsuba without doing without it.

[Charlie C]

Hi Stefano,

 

I believe that many 拵え for 短刀 before the edo era actually didn't have tsuba on them, needless to say a big one. This website gives a nice description.

 

https://nikido69.sakura.ne.jp/militaria/militaryarms/arms/katana01b.htm

 

Best,

C. C.

[Robert S]

It's really an aesthetic decision, but my sense always is that if it has a tsuba, it's more intended to be taken as a ko-wakizashi, and if it doesn't it's more intended to be taken as a sun-nobi tanto.  Given the period I'd lean toward the latter.  The set of uses of a wakizashi is typically different than those of a tanto, with the wakizashi nominally serving as a "second sword", while the tanto is more a utility knife/last option defensive weapon.  I have a sun-nobi tanto in koshirae with no tsuba but which includes a kogatana and split kogai which doubles as chopsticks.  The whole thing really is a Japanese swiss army knife!

[Tim Evans]

In the Downloads section in Free Nihonto Books there is Token Zukou [Pictorial Study of Japanese Treasury Swords] Volumes 1 and 2 that have fairly accurate drawings of tanto type koshirae from shrines, temples and private collections that date to 14th century. I would be skeptical of the accuracy of old Edo prints for references on that time period. There are some old scrolls that may be helpful, such as the one used by Sasano in Tosogu no Kigen. 

Edited November 19, 2025 by Tim Evans
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