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Tanto by Oda Kuzan

On Consignment: $5500.00 USD (plus shipping/insurance)

Oda Kuzan was born in Kyushu in 1942 and trained as a tool maker early in his life eventually immigrating to the United States to become a very talented and noted knife maker. He had been friends with Yoshihara-san for many years and sought to become a swordsmith through his old friend. He apprenticed himself to Yoshindo Yoshihara in 1994 at the age of 52 and achieved his license. He continues to work in Tokyo today.

In 2005, the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena California, hosted an exhibition of swords from the Yoshihara tradition. A lovely tanto by Oda-san was displayed that he had crafted in pure masame hada in the Yamato Hosho tradition. It was a fantastic example of a forging style that is particularly difficult to create without gaps in the forging, or disruption of the pattern. It was a remarkably well done work. Unfortunately, the catalog that was produced for this show, excluded this work and some other fantastic pieces produced by other Yoshihara tradition smiths such as Ono Yoshimitsu.

Oda Kuzan also participated in an entertaining Japanese television production in which one of his swords was shot with a .45 caliber handgun, resulting in the bullet being split upon impact with the edge. Subsequently, another “challenge” demonstrated his sword being shot with a .50 caliber Browning Machine Gun. While physics plays a large part in these tests, the fact is that in each test the blade endured incredible amount of punishment and this is a testimony of Oda-san’s skill as a smith.

This Hirazukuri tanto is a beautiful example of Oda Kuzan’s skill. It is forged in a ko-itame hada becoming masame in the ogunome hamon creating flowing sunagashi, kinsuji, and inazuma. There are very long thick ashi reaching toward the edge. The pointed ko-maru boshi has swirling strands of activity. It has a nice copper habaki with a warm, rich patination to bring out the granularity.

It is simply signed, “Kuzan (wo) Tsukuru” and dated “September, 2005”. A very nice sword by a multi-talented contemporary smith that will compliment any collection.

Nagasa: 10 5/8 inches (27.0 cm)

Motohaba: 1 inch (2.55 cm)

Kasane: 7/32 inch (5.5 mm)

 

On Consignment: $5500.00 USD (plus shipping/insurance)