Bidspirit auction | Tanto, 49.8 cm, Japanese Samurai

Tanto, 49.8 cm, Japanese Samurai sword, attributed to Sengoku Warring States period (1465-1573) - Tanto, 49.8 cm, Japanese Samurai sword, attributed to Sengoku Warring States period (1465-1573); Overall length: 498 mm = 49.8 cm = 19.6 inches; Length of the blade (nagasa) only: 290 mm = 29 cm = 11.4 inches; Width of the blade: 24 mm; Weight: 258 g; SORI (curvature): 7 mm; Nakago (tang): two round holes, possibly was cut several hundred years ago in order to make shorter sword, more suitable to fight in close-up battle. TSUKA (handle): absent; SAYA (scabbard): absent; Provenance: Private collection of arms in Florida. Tantō (短刀, ”short blade”): A sword with a blade shorter than 30 cm. Tantō is generally classified as a sword, but its usage is the same as that of a knife. Usually one-edged, but some were double-edged, though asymmetrical.