This O-wakizashi (long wakizashi) is presented in shira saya. The shira saya is not typical of the resting mounts one usually sees on heirloom blades, and it is not made of the usual magnolia wood. In addition, the top of the says (scabbard) has a hand engraved copper collar depicting bamboo and a cherry tree and blossom.
The blade shows a gunome midare hamon. The cutting edge (Nagasa) is 526mm with a blade curvature (sori) of 15mm. The tang (nakago) is signed. The nakago has two peg holes (Mekugi-Ana).
The wakizashi blade is in poor polish with delamination in a couple of places and spots of pitting and tarnish along the edge. There are scratches and age-related marks along the blade. If this were a European sword blade it would be described as being in reasonable condition for its age, but for a traditional Japanese wakizashi, the delamination, tarnish and pitting mean that its condition is considered poor.
This is a traditionally forged Japanese wakizashi that while probably not desirable to the seasoned Nihonto enthusiast, remains a fair example of Japanese blade-smithing for a general sword collector.
