A FINELY MOUNTED AIKUCHI TANTO, the blade of broad takenokozori form with nashihada and gonome hamon of ko-nie, ubu nakago with one mekugi-ana, unsigned, late 19th century, 16.7cm. long; in brown lacquered scabbard simulating tree bark, with copper kojiri depicting a cicada on a pine tree, saya- kanamono formed as a bean pod, a small silver maggot emerging, the kurikata formed as a large copper chestnut and two smaller gilt ones, signed Hideoki, 19th century, the fuchi and kuchigane engraved with Tekkai and Chokaro sennin watching the latter's magic mule, the copper kashira formed as two monkeys, the menuki as a gilt fugu fish and a silvered squid, the last signed Naochika (hilt binding replaced) and with a copper kozuka depicting Empress Jingo and Takeuchi no Sukune, dated September 1870