★Product Information★ 【Description】 This kozuka (small knife handle) features a signature of Inoue Shinkai and is made of copper with a design of lions and peonies. Kozuka is a part of sword fittings, used for carving wood or as a weapon in emergencies. It's similar to a cutter knife or a paper knife of today. As it is not a real sword, registration and notification are not required. After the Edo period, it came to be regarded as a decorative item to enhance the appearance of the koshirae (sword mounting). In addition to its value as a daily necessity, kozuka are also highly valued as works of art because they are decorated with the finest techniques of metalworkers. Inoue Shinkai, along with "Tsuda Echizen no Kami Sukehhiro" and "Awata Guchi Ikkanshi Tadatsuna," is one of the three great swordsmiths of "Osaka Shinto" (new swords of Osaka) and is also known as "Osaka Masamune." Japanese swords by Inoue Shinkai are expensive and difficult to obtain, and due to their popularity, there are also forgeries, which is concerning. However, I have cherished this kozuka until today. From what I have seen, I don't think kozuka are very common. After purchasing it, I asked a reputable antique dealer to authenticate it, and they confirmed that the construction using waritsugi (a technique of combining different metals such as gold and copper) is good and the age is appropriate, so I was able to get a tentative authentication. The kara-jishi (Chinese lion) is probably not solid gold, but is estimated to be gold-plated, and they said the surface is gold. However, this is not a paid appraisal from an organization like the Japanese Sword Preservation Society, so please consider this only if you have viewed all the images and are satisfied and understand. 【Condition】 Inoue Shinkai was active in the early Edo period, and as this is an old item that has passed through time, please purchase it with an understanding of rust and scratches. 【Length】 Total length: 21.5 cm 【Weight】 40g 【Shipping】 We will wrap it in bubble wrap to prevent water damage and breakage, and ship it anonymously via Yu-Packet Post. 【Remarks】 You can purchase it immediately without a comment, but to prevent any trouble, please check the profile before purchasing.