Japanese Smith-Made Tanto with Good Quality Mounts

This is an attractive tanto with an unsigned (mumei) blade of the flat, non-faceted (hira-zukuri) style that measures 13 3/4" long from point to the tip of the tang, and has a 9 3/4" cutting edge.  The temper line (hamon) is straight and of medium thickness (chu-suguha) with a large rounded turn-back at the point (o-maru).  The temper line has a bright cloudy border (nioi).  The steel has a bright gray patina throughout, but with a few visible surface blemishes (kizu) along the face of the reverse side.  The tang (nakago) has horizontal file marks (kiri) and a single peg hole (mekugi-ana).  The hilt (tsuka) has a small oval brass guard (tsuba) with a decorative stippled cloud motif, while the pommel (fuchi) and ferrule (kashira) have a star-filled sky over water motif.  The two grip ornaments (menuki) depict wavy clouds.   Two copper guard spacers (seppa) and a copper blade collar (habaki) are also present.  The white rayskin (same) grip is lightly worn throughout, with some of the underlying wood visible, and the brown cloth binding (tsuka-ito) is intact, but pilled along its length.  The wooden (saya) has an attractive mother-of-pearl dust infused black lacquer finish, again evoking a starry night sky, which has flaked in a few areas.  A matching set of knife (kozuka) and skewer/pick (kogai) are present in their slots at the mouth of the scabbard.  This is a handsome tanto, with a set of good quality period mounts, and would make a fine addition to a collection of edged weapons.