A kinko menuki showing a coiled water dragon, made in copper with gold plating. It is sized for a tanto, the short-bladed dagger, rather than for a full katana hilt. Condition is listed as used.

Tanto-size menuki are smaller than those cut for a katana or wakizashi, so this piece belongs with a Texas collector who is finishing a tanto koshirae and needs a fitting that will sit correctly under the shorter hilt wrap. The coiled water dragon is a subject that reads well at a small scale, and the gold plate over copper gives it some contrast against the ito. The supplier gives no signature or dimensions, so the photographs are the reference for size and the state of the plating. It also stands on its own as a small example of dragon-subject metalwork in a fittings collection.

Key features

• Kinko menuki, coiled water dragon
• Copper with gold plate
• Tanto size
• Used condition

A menuki is a sword fitting, not a firearm, and ships to your door in Texas.