WAK

If someone does have any experience with this sort of dialect, I am prepared to pay for the time and research in order to reveal its details and hopefully origins, short of that, I have thought of having an XRF done on the steel to at least reveal its composition, or if anyone knows of someone somewhere that may specialise I may consider the international post to have this work done. I find it hard to believe the item would be junk, looking at the item objectively, I would not have thought you would go to the lengths of making an item that fits the Wakizashi class almost perfectly by its dimensional stats alone, let alone bothering to write a sayagaki just for the pure hell of it, someone put the time to complete the project, I wont relegate to a garden pruner until all my avenues have been positively exhausted.

I have been wondering the same Steve, I have looked at the different dialects down from Old Japanese to modern and still cannot find anything, Mumbo jumbo?? it certainly is odd. I don't really have the experience to make any further comment, the steel does look to be tempered, but without being in polish any real features are too hard for my inexperience to distinguish anything, you can see the cross work marking from what looks like a foundation polish. Its looking to be a fake, possibly from what era and location is anyone's guess. If nothing conclusive comes forward from members, I may just keep it as a practice polish blade, and another lesson in my never ending education.

How rude of me, I did look for the introductions thread, obviously not well enough before posting in translation assistance. Complete novice I am, with an interest in Japanese functional art form. I have had an interest in Nihonto for about ten years after reading all the books in my public library on sword smithing and forging, I found a website in Australia on Nihonto and was captivated by the craftsmanship of the ancient/antique craft, ouch expensive and waaay out of my price range. So I left it alone from my eyes so to not cause myself grief, I read more about Japanese history and am still reading and researching today, in the process I must have watched James Clavells "SHOGUN" 6 times over, the learning never seems to end. Years ago I think around 3 I saw a little wak on the bay( groan sigh) well it looked about right so I entered into bid, won from the US around $600. Wow pretty poor condition, no papers nothing flashy but I had my first sword. Just need to find out what this writing on the Saya translates to, I would love to have it restored, my wife loves it and wants to see it restored as well, first things first, albeit I have already put the cart before the horse with the initial novice purchase, it is simply addictive to those passionate about metalwork and history. This hobby like most I have is not an exercise to be taken lightly, costly mistakes are but a mouse click away and for the inexperienced it will bleed your savings in a flash. Anyways Hi to all from Western Australia, I will look and read and I doubt I will say too much as I find that is the best for learning without putting your feet into places you do not have the experience to be in.

I hope someone can shed some light on this. From a little wakizashi I bought about 3 years ago, I was thinking about a polish but as its a mumei I would like to see if the sayagaki can help. Yes I have tried but I cannot find any real correlation to the Japanese alphabet or other symbols to help myself. I don't really have a commercial intention, this is my first Nihonto buy, which was an impulsive novice driven purchase, there is not really much more to go on as it is in pretty poor condition. Please see pics attached. Pic with tape measure along length to show form. Some measurements. Nakago = 118mm Nagasa = 496mm Thickness at Mune machi = 6mm Mune machi to Ha machi width = 22mm Thickness at back of Yokote = 4.5mm Width at Yokote = 18.5mm Overall Length 614mm. Please forgive me if my terminologies are incorrect. Thanks in advance for any help.