KUBIKIRI TANTO

(BOKUWARI or HANAKIRI TANTO)

The Kubikiri tanto dated from the Meiji to early Showa eras. It is a period when most sword makers and koshirae artists had little work making traditional swords. The term “kubikiri” is traditionally translated as “head cutter”. The kubikiri (kubigiri) is a Japanese tanto with an unusual form. The cutting edge on a kubikiri is on the inside curvature (extreme uchi-sori) while most are of the kiri-ha shape and have no kissaki (point).

There were several possible uses and many belief s about kubikiri. It may have been carried by attendants to high ranking samurai whose job was to remove the heads of dead enemies as “trophies of battle”. The function of kubikiri when carried by attendants may be true in ancient times but had gradually changed in later eras when it would have been mainly a ceremonial sword used possibly as a badge of rank. It is also referred to as bokuwari tanto that means wood splitter. Another function of kubikiri in the ancient times is to cut charcoal for sumi or incense for incense game and tea ceremony. Some people even call this style of tanto as a “doctor’s knife.” Kubikiri was supposedly not used offensively because there is no point or kissaki. It was therefore carried by those persons of stature who were entitled to wear a sword but were non-combatants. It is believed that kubikiri tanto was made for the rich class as tools for trimming bonsai and other gardening work (ikebana). Lastly, kubikiri were used by forestry officials for taking trimmings or cuttings for propagation. Regardless of its purpose, this style of tanto is extremely rare in Western collections.

FAN TANTO

Fan style mounts were widely produced during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries as tourist items. Tanto in koshirae imitated a folded Japanese fan which are not particularly uncommon. The majority of this tanto have poor quality blades. Most have rather low grade blades, although some good quality blades are found mounted in this manner. Legend has it that this style of mounting was intentionally modeled to be used by women and retired samurai as well as doctors, monks and others who want to conceal carrying a weapon.

KEN TANTO

Ken proves to be one of the rarer styles of tanto. Ken tanto have double edged blades and were mainly made as Buddhist ritual implements. It is understood that it is not unusual to find them mounted and used as tanto. Some ken style tanto were made from cut down yari.

It was during Koto, Shinshinto and Gendai eras when ken tanto were produced and gradually fewer were made during the Shinto period. In fact, few tanto of any other styles were made during the Shinto era. Ken blades may have parallel edges or double concave shapes as above. Some of the top sword smiths in history made ken as offerings to different temples. It is common to find ken with a vajra (double thunderbolt) style hilt in keeping with their use as Buddhist ritual implements.

Buddhist Ritual Ken
YARI TANTO

Yari (Japanese lance heads) are occasionally found mounted as tanto. The tang (nakago) is drastically shortened to fit into a tanto size tsuka (handle). This means that if the yari was originally signed by the swordsmith, that the signature (mei) is most likely lost. Small yari tanto were sometimes carried as dirks (kwaiken) by women or as armor piercing tanto by samurai. Yari tanto will normally have a triangular cross-section as distinct from ken tanto which have a diamond cross-section. Also yari tanto will have a reduced “shoulder area” where the blade enters the tsuka and normally have no habaki (blade collar). Yari tanto vary in quality. Some were made by swordsmiths and will have hada and hamon, others were mass produced for foot soldiers and have no hamon. The hi (groove) on the flat side of the yari will possibly be colored with red lacquer.

PISTOL TANTO

Single shot pistols in tanto koshirae are relatively rare. Portuguese were responsible for introducing the matchlock gun into Japan in the 15th Century. Most pistol tanto dated from the late 18th and 19th Centuries.

It may not be a weapon worthy of a samurai. The Japanese, however, readily adopted the gun as a weapon of both military combat and personal defense. Pistol tanto were carried as weapons of personal defense. They are single shot pistols with fold down triggers and were not very reliable. Some scholars consider them a fad item for the wealthy of the period.

HACHIWARA

Looks can be deceiving for a Hachiwara. It is not actually tanto as they are not a sword, but rather a forged iron bar designed as a defensive weapon against swords. They are sometimes called sword breakers or helmet breakers. The blades approximately 12 to 15 inches in length are normally of square cross-section with a hook next to the grip. The mounts are commonly of carved wood or carved cinnabar lacquer. Some hachiwara were made by noted swordsmiths and may be signed.

SAW BLADE TANTO

This item is by far the most unusual, it is a saw blade mounted in handachi style koshirae. The forged blade is 9.75 inches long and the brass mounts appear to be original to the blade. There are different guesses as to what the purpose of this item since it is unknown. It is speculated that is a tanto of a fire fighter from the late Edo period. It could also be a pruning saw for bonsai or a carpenter’s or cabinet maker’s saw. Finally, it is believed to be an arborist’s saw for pruning trees.

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