【Signed】Kozuka Knife Tsuba Sword Fitting Martial Arts 【Inoue Shinkai】

★Product Information★

[Description]
This kogai features a tsuba made of raw copper with the inscription Inoue Shinkai and a design of lions and peonies.
Kogai are a type of sword fitting, used for carving wood or as an emergency weapon. They are equivalent to today's utility knives or letter openers.
From the Edo period onwards, they came to be considered decorative items to enhance the appearance of sword mountings (koshirae).
In addition to their value as daily necessities, kogai are also highly regarded as works of art due to the exquisite craftsmanship and decoration applied by metalworkers.
As this is not a real sword, no registration or notification is required.
The small blade of a kogai is classified as a sword fitting, and because its blade length is short, a Firearms and Swords Registration Certificate is not necessary.
This kogai does not have a blade and functions like a letter opener, incapable of cutting anything other than paper, so please consider it a safe work of art.

Inoue Shinkai is a master craftsman, counted among the three great masters of Osaka Shinto along with Tsuda Echizen no Kami Sukahiro and Awata-guchi Ikkansai Tadatuna, and is also known as Osaka Masamune.
Inoue Shinkai's Japanese swords are very expensive and difficult to obtain, and due to their popularity, there are also many fakes, which is concerning. I encountered this kogai and have cherished it until today.
In my experience, kogai do not appear on the market very often.
After purchasing, I requested an appraisal from a trusted antique dealer, who confirmed that the joinery (a technique combining different metals such as gold and shakudo) was well-executed and the age was appropriate, thus authenticating it, albeit unofficially.
The Chinese lions are likely gilded rather than solid gold, but the dealer stated that the surface is gold.
However, this is not an official appraisal from an organization like the Japan Art Sword Preservation Association, so please make your decision based on all the images, and only consider purchasing if you understand and are satisfied.

[Condition]
Inoue Shinkai was active in the early Edo period. As this is an old item that has passed through many years, please purchase with an understanding of rust and scratches.

[Length]
21.5cm

*Please note that this is a amateur measurement, so there may be some errors.

[Weight]
40g

[Shipping]
The item will be wrapped in bubble wrap for protection against water damage and breakage, and shipped anonymously via Yu-Packet Post.

[Notes]
Immediate purchase without comments is acceptable, but to prevent trouble, we would appreciate it if you could check our profile before purchasing.