Original 18th Century Japanese Edo Period Handmade Tanto Short Sword with Copper Decorated Lacquered Fittings U.S. Navy Years of Manufacture: 1894-1895

Years of Manufacture: 1894-1895

stamping on the ricasso

though after comparing with other examples

and barrel are all marked on the left side with 20

but it is definitely a correct period can for this mask

Original 18th Century Japanese Edo Period Handmade Tanto Short Sword with Copper Decorated Lacquered Fittings U.S. Navy Years of Manufacture: 1894-1895Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased at a recent military show, this is a very nice Japanese Tanto (), which literally means short sword. These could be in any number of different shapes, depending on the requests of the person who ordered it. The blade length of a tanto is typically between 15 and 30 cm (5. 9 to 11. 8 inches), or 1 Japanese shaku, an ancient measurement. The blade of this example is in the typical Hira Zukuri ( flat shape),