Sword blade tang

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This long sword, katana, has a blade in ancient form with a bevelled back edge. The tang which enters the hilt of the sword and becomes the handle is inscribed on both sides, with the date on one side and the maker on the other.

This tang is signed Mutsu no suke Hiromoto (1778-1843), who worked at Edo. He was a pupil of Suishinshi Masahide and other famous smiths. The tang is dated on the reverse. The blade is made from layers of tempered steel, welded and folded back upon themselves. The repeated process produces thousands of layers of steel.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-002-219-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1905.461
• Date: 1828
  
• Material: Sword
  
• Dimensions: 36.00" L
  
• What: Sword
  
• Subject: Weapons / swords and daggers
  
• Who:
• Where: Japan
  
• Event:
• Description: Sword, with curved steel blade half double-edged, and a shark skin hilt with bronze mounts chased with sea-dragons: Japan, 1828
  
• References:
• Translations:
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