AN EXTREMELY RARE KUBIKIRI ('HEAD-CUTTER') TANTO... Lot 35

AN EXTREMELY RARE KUBIKIRI ('HEAD-CUTTER') TANTO IN KOSHIRAE Japan, early Edo period (1615-1868) The blade: Katakiriba-zukuri and maru mune, the cutting edge is on the inside curvature (extreme uchi-sori), and there is no kissaki. The hamon is gunome notare with nioi, the hada is itame with some mokume. The mounting: The iron tsuba of maru-gata form with two hitsu and carved with flowers and bamboo near a stream, the gold habaki with file marks and dew drops, the black saya of leather, the tsuka covered in rayskin and wrapped with black textile. NAGASA 27.5 cm, LENGTH 57 cm (the koshirae) Condition: The blade is in excellent condition with minor wear. The mounts are in good condition with some wear, minuscule nicks, few small losses. Provenance: Czech private collection. The term kubikiri is traditionally translated as 'head cutter'. This style of tanto may have been carried by attendants of high-ranking samurai whose job was to remove the heads of dead enemies as trophies of battle.