YOROI-DOSHI TANTO SIGNED FUYUHIRO SAKU (UK)

[Alex A]

PLEASE READ ALL DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY.

 

I need to say this from the start. I am looking for experienced potential buyers that know what they want and don't kick tyres, so to speak. I'm too busy with work and renovations to get involved with potential sales that lead nowhere. We are limited to shippers in the UK and i reckon im in the last chance saloon with OCS, due to folks seeming keen and asking for shipping quotes then the sale going nowhere. The thing is with OCS, everything is email as a private seller getting a quote, so basically i am wasting their time as well as mine, so please be sure you want the blade. I have quite a few swords i want to sell as i head towards retirement so i want good relations with the shippers. On a plus note, UPS has also agreed to ship swords, which came as bit of a surprise. Ideally, i want a UK sale but i am willing to see what i can do with folks abroad.

 

As for the blade.

 

To explain the blade the best way i can think of, i will explain why i bought it. Its been many years since i trawled websites in search of Yoroi-doshi (armour piercer). They are not as rare as hens teeth but you do come across them from time to time. I saw many labelled as "Yoroi-doshi" that to me at the time thought, really?. They just looked like your average tanto but had a slightly thicker kasane. I had always been after an example that really did look like it was meant for piercing armour, as this one does. Straightish, long, thick with hardened edge both sides. A bit tired now but the kasane still measures 8mm. The nagasa is 27cm and the full length of the entire blade is 35.5cm. It is 2cm wide at the habaki.

 

It is signed "Fuyuhiro saku". To be honest, the real interest was the blade, i was about 10% interested in the mei. It wasn't an expensive blade, so i wasn't really interested in pursuing papers and any additional costs. Its Koto, Mariusz, the previous owner thought maybe it might be 3rd or 4th in the late Muromachi, if genuine?. I received the blade and thought the mei looked neater than it did in the pictures. I spent half an hour looking into it and from memory noticed there were some more obscure "Fuyuhiro", which at the point, thought this could be a rabbit hole and i cant be assed with spending much more time on it, (being honest). The mei may be genuine and it may not be, always assume gimei. The fact is, its Koto and its a genuine antique armour piercer that has seen much history, this was made for one purpose only, battle.

 

Its a nice example of Soshu style with double edge temper Hitatsura hamon with an appearence of tobiyaki that still hangs to the hamon. The polish is old Sashikomi and should not be messed with, should be left as is. The hamon is nioi, dont expect to see elaborate activity, whilst appealing hamon to both sides, i would not describe it as fine art.

 

If your into perfection, this is not the tanto for you. Its in old polish and has a few marks, some under the habaki and one near the pointed end. Must have had a few rust spots at one pont, though now cleaned up. Maybe could be improved with some uchiko but to be honest ive never been bothered as to me its something and nothing for a tanto in its old polish, i just oil it and leave it alone.

 

Tanto comes with shirasaya and silver foil habaki. The shirasaya has marks on it due to people in the past attaching cellotape to the wood, i do wish folks would not do this. The plan was to eventually light sand it, as i have done with others to remove similar marks.

 

I have pictures that Mariusz has taken when he owned it, a file of high res that im sure he wont mind me passing on to any potential buyer.

 

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CONTACT ME IF

1) YOU HAVE NOT ARRANGED FUNDING

2) YOU ARE UNAWARE OF COSTS FROM PAYPAL AND BANK TRANSFERS, THESE ARE YOURS TO COVER.

3) YOU ARE UNAWARE OF THE FEES INVOLVED IN IMPORTING ANTIQUES TO YOUR COUNTRY

4) YOU NEED PERMISSION FROM YOUR SPOUSE OR PARTNER OR ANYONE ELSE WITH YOUR FINANCES AND FINAL SAY.

5) YOUR NOT YET KNOWLEDGABLE ENOUGH TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS BY YOURSELF

6) YOUR OVERLY IMPULSIVE.

 

 

Price is £SOLD and that includes shipping. I doubt you will find better at that price, so not taking offers at this stage as think the price is more than fair. 

[Alex A]

Some pics

[ChrisW]

2cm is quite impressive!

Best of luck in your sale!

[Hokke]

Hmmmmm.....

 

Well, Ill have to take a look in my account and see if there is enough there or maybe borrow from friends., although I dont what the total will come out to after all the fees and charges are applied.  Do we even know the tarriff for the US right now that might apply? Im sure my wife will have something to say, so I should probably run it by her first since she knows more about nihonto than I do and I dont know much about these tanto. My new years resolution was to make fewer snap decision purchases and really think about them since that has gotten me in trouble in the past. Hell I just put some tyres on my truck and I think I spent too much, so eveytime I see them, I have to kick them. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry bro, had to do it........Good luck with the sale, personally, I think it looks better than you described it. 

 

 

[Alex A]

No worries, lets just say my patience is wearing thin, with selling stuff in general.

 

For anyone wanting a Koto armour piercing tanto, with interesting hamon and at a reasonable price, this is worth considering.

 

I dont like to see stuff go but you cant hang onto it forever, always other priorities.

 

PS, the file is massive with loads of pics, it sends ok via watsapp, for anyone interested.

 

Cheers

[Brian]

Provenance (Marius) can't be faulted either, whatever comes through his hands was carefully selected.

[ROKUJURO]

1 hour ago, ChrisW said:

2 cm is quite impressive!.....

No, it is quite slender. This is the MIHABA if I understood correctly.

[Alex A]

Moto-habe = 2cm.  These blades were meant for punching through armour, i guess they didn't need to be wide, so slender is common.

 

As for the kasane measurement. Will try and find my callipers later, not so accurate doing it with a ruler. Reckon its a bit thicker than the measurement i gave earlier, we will see.

 

Also, when i get time i will add a few of the higher res images off the file.

[Marius]

If I may chime in - the photos do not do this blade justice. It's a terrific tanto, and for this price... Fantastic deal. Soshu-style tantos are not exactly easy to find. 

[Alex A]

Thanks Mariusz, 

 

Just been looking over it again, and agree. In hand, has a presence, you know it was meant for business.

 

As Calabrese pointed out and as just noticed under the light, it is better than i described it. I tend to be modest with descriptions, its a nice tanto. May sound ridiculous, but didnt buy it to study it and have not spent much time with it, simply wanted a Yoroi-doshi of its form.

 

Will have stick with the ruler for kasane, 8mm

 

A few random pics from the 75 Mariusz took, all on a file. Thanks

 

 

[anguilla1980]

I can confirm that UPS will ship swords no problem. I have one entering the US via UPS today, and the process for the shipper was standard fare. I've been able to track everything and respond to UPS with my tax ID upon request, etc., and all inspections/holds were processed without issue thus far. - I thought to mention it since you said you may be selling others from your collection in the future as well. To assist, if you do happen to use UPS for a US buyer, the correct classification is "HS Code 9706.10 (Antique Japanese sword, made more than 250 years ago)". I know you don't have UPS stores there in the UK, but hopefully walking the parcel into any UPS affiliate, they should know how to do this process with ease. Sometimes, making UPS labels on their website doesn't always allow for using the right customs code, and it's not always clear how many copies of the shipping invoice need to be printed, signed, and kept vs. included with the parcel. 

[Alex A]

Thanks Alex, i do remember being a bit confused over the number of invoices, seemed a bit weird at the time. Cheers

[Alex A]

On hold pending payment. cheers

[Alex A]

Sold, thanks

[Lewis B]

The yoroi-doshi arrived exactly as described. Alex was an absolute pleasure to deal with. 

 

Marius thought it was 3rd or 4th gen Fuyuhiro, with the possibility of it being gimei. After doing much research I am leaning towards shoshin. The jitetsu and deki is a good match for late work by the 3rd gen swordsmith in Wakasa, (only he and 2nd gen signed sanmei), so Marius' hunch was spot on. The muneyaki to hitatsura with connected tobiyaki Yaki-ire is a sign the sword was made by an experienced and competent smith. Very proud to be the new owner of this honest, workhorse of a blade. 

 

I think this blade will look amazing under a macro lens. 

[Alex A]

Glad you are giving it the time it deserves Lewis and happy its gone to a good home.

 

Cheers