114
144
355
98
109
358
104
80
97
66
64
74
102
96
107
348
99
105
82
90
86
116
141
135
143
68
146
332
62
76
83
354
139
77
103
137
142
147
140
63
117
94
125
69
70
92
71
67
78
145
136
128
111
131
343
75
110
106
89
132
88
108
134
118
87
322
119
100
126
95
122
133
79
382
113
127
85
91
72
130
129
121
65
84
228
Tanto (1929.17.6)
JapanTanto from Japan, Asia. Collected by Robert Walter Campbell Shelford. Given to the Museum by Mrs. Shelford in 1929.
This is a fine tanto (dagger) with a T-sectioned, reinforced point for piercing armour and a razor sharp blade for more conventional slashing.
This example dates from the late 18th or early 19th century and possesses some of the features of longer swords normally absent from tanto such as the ray-skin hilt, metal fittings and tsuba (circular hand-guard). The saya (scabbard) is particularly attractive, bearing three ornate arrowheads in blue and gold lacquer overlaid over the standard black background. A clever lacquer texturing technique has been used to produce a black, leather-like effect.