Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō)

Blade inscribed by Gassan Sadakazu Japanese
 Fittings (except menuki) inscribed by Nomura Katsumori Japanese
 Menuki inscribed by Seii Japanese

Not on view

In 1876, the Japanese government issued an edict abolishing the wearing of the sword in Japan. Sadakazu is one of the few swordsmiths to continue working after that date. He kept the craft alive by making replicas of ancient blades. The blade of this dagger is made in the style of Umetada Myoju, a swordsmith active in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. The inscription indicates that Sadakazu did the engraving himself. The fittings are by Katsumori, a student of Kanō Natsuo (1829–1898), the last great maker of sword fittings.

Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (<i>Tantō</i>), Blade inscribed by Gassan Sadakazu (Japanese, Setsu (now Osaka), 1834–1918), Steel, wood (rosewod), copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, silver, Japanese

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Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (<i>Tantō</i>), Blade inscribed by Gassan Sadakazu (Japanese, Setsu (now Osaka), 1834–1918), Steel, wood (rosewod), copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, silver, Japanese
Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (<i>Tantō</i>), Blade inscribed by Gassan Sadakazu (Japanese, Setsu (now Osaka), 1834–1918), Steel, wood (rosewod), copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, silver, Japanese
Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (<i>Tantō</i>), Blade inscribed by Gassan Sadakazu (Japanese, Setsu (now Osaka), 1834–1918), Steel, wood (rosewod), copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, silver, Japanese
Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (<i>Tantō</i>), Blade inscribed by Gassan Sadakazu (Japanese, Setsu (now Osaka), 1834–1918), Steel, wood (rosewod), copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, silver, Japanese

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