Rare Antique Japanese Edo Period Dagger Dirk With Koto Samurai Tanto Blade By Kaneyoshi

This is a highly unique and rare antique Japanese dirk that dates back to the late Edo Period. It features an old Koto samurai tanto dagger blade with a signature inscribed on the tang. The signature is attributed to the swordsmith "Kaneyoshi" from Mino Province. The blade is from the early Muromachi period (Ouei era), which was approximately 600 years ago.

This dirk never has a crossguard and washers (seppa), and the mekugi-ana perfectly matches the mekugi. There is no gap between habaki and (koiguchi). The lower brass hilt mount (fuchi) accurately slides into the upper scabbard mount (koiguchi), which holds it tight and prevents the dirk from slipping out of the scabbard (saya).
All this proves that the dirk was originally made in this rare pattern.

All Japanese pattern dirks always have two elaborately shaped scabbard mounts with two suspension rings. This dirk's scabbard mounts are different shapes and affixed with only one suspension loop of a very unusual, flattened form.
Furthermore, Japanese pattern dirks have a ribbed grip wrapped with brass wire. The handle of this dirk is not ribbed but plain and possibly was braided with silk cord like the hilts of samurai daggers and swords.

This dagger consists of:
1. A beautiful hand-forged steel blade that is signed "Kaneyoshi" on the tang and is pierced by a single mekugi-ana.

2. The wooden handle (tsuka) is bound in white stingray skin and fitted with brass fuchi engraved with flowers.

3. Black lacquered wooden scabbard (Saya), fitted with brass mounts engraved with flowers and set with a brass button with the Japanese heraldic coat of arms "Kamon" of the aristocratic Japanese Tokugawa clan.

The Tokugawa clan is a Japanese dynasty that produced the Tokugawa shoguns, who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1867 during the Edo period. It was formerly a powerful daimyō family. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan through the Matsudaira clan.

The hilt and the scabbard are from the late Edo period.

MEASUREMENTS (approximately):
The overall length of the dirk sheathed: 42.3 cm (16.65 inches).
The overall length of the blade, including the tongue: 36.3 cm (13.29 inches).
Cutting edge length (Nagasa): 26 cm (10.24 inches).
The width of the blade at the edge and back notch: 2.4 cm (0.94 inches).
The thickness of the blade at the back notch (munemachi): 5 mm (0.19685 Inches).

CONDITION: It shows age and use. There are splits on both edges of the scabbard and a missing pommel (Kabuto-Gane). Over centuries of heavy use, the blade lost its original polish and has some scratches. The cutting edge of the blade shows old sharpening. One notch on the spine of the blade looks like a hit with another blade, and one long horizontal scratch on the middle of the blade.
The habaki is squeezed and cannot be removed from the blade. This was done intentionally when the blade was mounted to the dirk furnishing.
Since the blade is not polished and has old sharpening and scratches, the hamon is not visible.
That's about all I can say about the condition of this sword.

We do not accept returns, so please review all 25 photos in the listing, as they are part of the item's condition description.
During my over 50 years of experience handling antique arms and armor, I have seen many Japanese dirks of different patterns, but this is the first time I have seen this design in any collections, shows, or references.
This is a rare example of the late Edo Period experimental prototype pattern of Japanese dirk.