Antique Japanese Nihonto Aikuchi Short Sword - Edo Guardless Rayskin Mount for Sale

Antique Japanese Nihonto Aikuchi Short Sword - Edo Guardless Rayskin Mount For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Antique Japanese Nihonto Aikuchi Short Sword - Edo Guardless Rayskin Mount:
$850.00

This object is from Stephen Strauch’s estate. I know very little about it. He was a collector of swords. As is please view photos carefully.
Historical Background & Overview
Up for absolute sale is an exceptional, authentic antique Japanese short sword dating from the Edo Period or prior. Curated directly from a premier private estate collection of Asian antiquities and historical armor, this set is presented to the market in its honest, unpolished, and untouched estate condition.The handle is styled in the classic utility fashion, left completely unwrapped to fully expose the beautifully textured, non-slip white rayskin (samegawa) beneath.## Fitting & Mount Details
* **The Handle (Tsuka):** A robust wooden core handle wrapped entirely in genuine, prominently textured white rayskin. It is capped with simple, dark metallic hilt fixtures (fuchi and kashira) displaying traditional geometric borders, perfectly fitting the austere aesthetic.
* **The Scabbard (Saya):** A beautifully carved wooden scabbard showcasing an elegant ribbed black lacquered finish. The side of the saya features the iconic precision-cut pocket designed to hold a traditional kozuka (small utility companion knife).
* **The Tang (Nakago):** Unmounting the blade reveals an exceptional, entirely untouched dark chocolate-brown rust patina across the unsigned (mumei) tang. This uniform, stable oxidation serves as definitive proof of its genuine age and traditional hand-forged origins.## Condition Report
* **Blade Steel:** Traditional hand-forged construction with clean geometric lines and a prominent longitudinal ridge (shinogi). The surface displays a bright face with scattered, light age-appropriate surface pitting, micro-scratches, and historic oxidation spots from decades of storage. Free of fatal structural cracks, deep delamination, or modern machine grinder marks.
* **Mountings (Koshirae):** The ribbed black lacquered scabbard remains sturdy and structurally sound with normal handling wear and light hairline lacquer crazing. The rayskin handle is tight and secure. The metal components have a beautiful, dark natural patina.
* **Important Restorer's Note:** This artifact is sold strictly in its "as-found" estate condition. The original dark brown rust patina on the tang must NEVER be scrubbed, polished, or chemically treated, as this oxidation is the vital identifier of its antiquity.## Shipping, Insurance & Legal Compliance
* **Secure Packaging:** The sword will be carefully oiled, wrapped in specialized moisture-barrier padding, and double-boxed to guarantee completely safe, shock-proof transit.
* **Carrier Services:** Ships strictly via tracked domestic carrier services with mandatory full value insurance and direct adult signature tracking confirmation required at delivery.
* **Restrictions:** Absolutely NO international shipping is available for this lot due to strict international customs weapon regulations. Sale is restricted to domestic United States addresses only.
* **Legal:** By placing an offer or purchasing this item, the buyer legally certifies they are at least 18 years of age and are in full compliance with all local, state, and federal laws regarding the acquisition of historical edged antiquities. Related Items: