This Shinto period wakizashi is presented in shira saya. The shira saya (resting mounts) are made of magnolia wood and bear a Japanese label. I can not read Japanese so am unable to translate the kanji.
The heirloom blade is in original polish showing a gunome hamon and a jihada (grain structure) with clear Nie (Martensite) crystals. The cutting edge (Nagasa) is 446mm with a blade curvature (sori) of 13mm. The tang (Nakago) is unsigned. The nakago has a single peg hole (Mekugi-Ana). The shape, patina and condition of the tang suggest that this sword is from the middle to late Edo period that ran from 1603-1867.
The wakizashi blade has small areas of corrosion. There are scratches and speckles of tarnish elsewhere along the blade. If this were a European blade from the 1700-1800’s it would be described as being in great condition for its age, but for a traditional Japanese wakizashi, the condition is considered poor.
The two-piece blade collar (habaki) depicts clouds and rain. This was a high status habaki.
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 Shinto period Japanese wakizashi that while not for the seasoned Nihonto collector, is a fine example of centuries old blade-smithing for a general sword collector.
