A tanto in mounts Meiji era (1868-1918), dated 1869 Hirazukuri, iorimune forged in ayasugi hada mixed with ko-itame hada and with a suguha tempered edge, the tang ubu with one hole and kesho file marks, signed Gassan Sadakazu tsukuru and dated Meiji ninen tsuchinoto shoto (Tenth month, 1869), 10 7/8in (27.6cm) long The wood ribbed saya stained reddish brown and decorated with a lengthy poetic inscription in black lacquer, fitted with a Goto-school kozuka decorated with blossoming chrysanthemums in iro-e takazogan on shakudo nanako ground, the frame gilt, the tsuka fitted with a shakudo nanakoji fuchi-gashira decorated with autumn grasses in gold and silver takazogan, signed Ontaiken Mototoshi and with a kao, and gilt menuki formed as Choryo and Kosekiko, fitted with a simple oval shakudo tanto tsuba