This Shinto period O-wakizashi (long wakizashi) is presented in shira saya. The shira saya (resting mounts) are made of magnolia wood.
The heirloom blade is in original polish showing an active and bright gunome midare hamon and a jihada (grain structure) with clear Nie (Martensite) crystals. The cutting edge (Nagasa) is 510mm with a blade curvature (sori) of 18mm. The tang (Nakago) is signed but the kanji is so corroded as to be almost unreadable. The nakago has a single peg hole (Mekugi-Ana).
The length, shape and style of the blade along with the shape, patina and condition of the tang suggest that this sword is from the early shinto period that ran from 1597-1876.
The wakizashi blade has one main area of concern – a delamination, along with about 2mm loss to the tip of the kissaki. There are scratches and age-related marks elsewhere along the blade. If this were a European blade from the 1600-1700’s it would be described as being in great condition for its age, but for a traditional Japanese wakizashi, the delamination and chip to the kissaki mean that its condition is considered poor.
There were four major historical periods of Japanese sword production, Koto (700-1596), Shinto (1597-1876), Gendai (1877-end of World War II), and Shinsaku (the modern period).
This is a traditionally forged early Shinto period Japanese wakizashi that while less desirable to the seasoned Nihonto enthusiast, remains a fine example of centuries old blade-smithing for a general sword collector.
