Japanese tanto which belonged to Admiral Sir William Henderson (active 1896). The hilt consists of two pieces of plain wood, glued together to form the two edges of the grip and with a flattened surface each side, the front and back being rounded. An ivory or bone collar is fitted through which a retaining peg (mekuzi) may pass; no guard (the hilt has not yet been removed from the tang). The blade is very slightly curved, single edged with a riged back of gable section. The collar (habaki) is of wood.

The blade is flat and of even taper from back to cutting edge. The obverse is nearly straight from the hamon to the yakiba which is narrow - rarely more than 3mm wide. The irregular hamon is waved only slightly and then very gently. Reverse hamon and yakiba as obverse. About a third of the way between the top of the collar and the point there are a few incised marks. The scabbard is made of plain wood, in two parts, glued round the edge. On the reverse near the top are a vertical line of six characters written in ink - the lowest being faded.

When received, this weapon was enclosed in a silk brocade bag covered entirely with embroidery. Attached to the bag is a loop of twisted silk cord, red in colour. An envelope found in the bag has the following written on it: 'This was given, when in Japan, to Captain W H Henderson, R.N in 1896 by a Japanese gentleman. The blade was made by a very celebrated maker of things of the sort. I believe his name is on the case.'

Admiral Henderson entered the Navy in 1845; Lieutenant 1866; Commander 1879; Captain 1886; Rear-Admiral 1899; Vice-Admiral 1904; Admiral 1908; retired 1908; died 1931. Henderson is best remembered as the first editor of the Naval Review 1913-31. He took part in the Witu expedition of 1890 and commanded the Edgar on the China Station 1894-96; it was presumably during this time he received the sword.