A FINELY MOUNTED AIKUCHI TANTO, the blade of yoroidoshi type, hirazukuri, iorimune and musori with ko-itame hada and hitatsura yaki-ire, ubu nakago with one mekugi-ana and higaki yasurime, unsigned, late 19th century, 16cm. long; in black lacquer scabbard lightly sprinkled with gold hirame, the long silver kojiri formed as a resurgent plum tree, with saya kanamono formed as silver plum blossom, the silver kurikata engraved with orchids, the fuchi-kashira and kuchigane with autumn plants, the menuki formed as long-tailed cockerels in hanashi style on a band of simulated cherry bark, the silver mounts signed Issai, with kao (Tsuchiya Takechika of Tottori in Inaba province, pupil of Yasuchika VI), second half of 19th century