Special ordered signed and dated tanto by Horii Toshihide with elegant koshirae.
Horii Toshihide was born with the name of Horii Kanekichi in 1886, but made swords using several different names. In 1905, He began is swordmaking career under Hori Taneaki, during which he used the name Kaneaki. During this period, both Taneaki and Kaneaki were sponsored by Takease Oko, whom was the founder of the Nihon Token Hozon Kai (NTHK). In 1912, the NTHK bestowed Kaneaki the "Hide" 秀 character, thus changing his name to Hideaki. In 1933 with the birth of the Prince Akihito, out of respect for the new born prince Hideaki removed the AKI 昭 character and added TOSHI 壽, thus becoming Toshihide 壽秀. He continued to work until his death in 1943 (age of 58). He was considered as one of the most important smiths during the Taisho and Showa eras. During WW2, Horii Toshihide made many tanto for Japanese navy officers, and therefore many of the tanto were lost at sea.
The blade is in very good polish with no flaws. The hamon is a ko-nie deki suguha. The jigane is a well grained ko-itame hada with jinie. The blade is housed in a nice shirasaya with a silver habaki. Acompanning the blade is a very nice elegant aikuchi koshirae in black laquer with gold mons, the mekugi is a screw style mon in silver.
This blade was special ordered by "Kunizo Hara" (原邦造). Kunizo Hara was president of the Dai Hyaku (The 100th) Bank and president of the Aikoku Life Insurance Company. Also served as governor of the Metropolitan High-Speed Transportation Corporation, an executive officer of the Tobu Railway Company, the Japan Air Transportation Company, the Dai Nippon Airplane Company, and Japan Air Lines (1953).
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