ribendao

didn't buy it. Ended up selling for $2,200 before auction fess lol.

I really do it. Especially the o kissaki. But it looks like its gonna go for at least $1,200 and i'm not sure if that will be good deal or not. Either way, Ill try to wiggle in there as cheap as possible.

Thanks JP. It does look nice though either way.

Thinking about bidding on this wakizashi but I suspect it is gimei. Looks like most of Tadayoshi's blades have straight hamon unlike the wavy one this has. If it is a legit mei I might have to bid on it. What do you guys think?

Yeah I think it might be Gimei. All of Kunihiro's other signatures are written as Hizen Ju Fujiwara Kunihiro. Plus this blade looks like someone cleaned the rust off the side of the nagako that has the signature. This is the other side of the nagako...

Thanks Dave. I've already taken an Uchico, Choji, and a cloth to the blade and it helped a little. I was just hoping there was another method that would take it just a tiny step further. I'll try alcohol and a coarse cloth but that's probable as far as I will take it. Ill keep it nice and oiled. Thank you.

Thanks guys. So that means the swordsmith's name was Kunihiro? When was he active? Can I assume the blade is from at least the early Meji period since Hizen stopped existing around the beginning of Meji?

Can any one translate this mei on this wakizashi? The nagako seems kind of weird. Thanks in advance!

Kind of a stupid question but would scrubbing the blade with a toothbrush and choji oil be of any benefit/harm? I know your not suppose to use anything extremely abrasive on the blade, but a toothbrush should clean of the surface dirt and rust without doing any damage, right?

one more

Here are a couple higher quality pictures.

Yeah unfortunately I can't figure out how to post higher quality images to this website. The flaw/crack I'm talking about is in the second picture.

So this is an update to a post I made a week or two ago about a wakizashi that I bought from an online estate auction. It finally arrived yesterday and I got some pictures of the naked blade. I knew the blade was in rough shape but it looks like it has some cracks in the steel. I have the cracks pictured below. What kind of flaw is it and is it fatal? Also what time period do you guys estimate the blade is from? The blade's total length is 26.5 inches and is 21.5 inches from the ha-machi to the end of the kissaki and still has a somewhat visible hamon.

Thanks guys. You all pretty much confirmed what I had suspected. I wouldn't mind if it was a little rusted but the possible hagire you guys pointed out has pretty much steered me away from this blade for sure.

Wow cool. I had no idea there was such a market for bronze castings. Ill have to keep my eye out for these. Also cool story about Yoshitsune & Benkei. Never heard that one before.

A couple more photos:

I've seen this blade for sale. I really like the way the blade curves but its not in great shape. What time period do you guys think its from? You think it can be cleaned up? Worth a buy come payday? Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks!

So I bought a Wakizashi at an online estate sale auction the other day and they had the below statue for sale as well. The estimated value was less than $1,000 but it ended up selling for $13,000! This just got me curious at why it was so valuable. I primarily collect Nihonto but this got me thinking about expanding a little. Anyone know what's so special about this statue? Thanks!

Thanks JP. These pictures are from the auction. Once I get the sword in the mail I will take pictures of the naked blade and post again.

Thanks Brian. The fact that its not fake is the most important I guess. Ill hold on to it and appreciate it for a while then sell it if a good opportunity arises.

Thanks Gwyn. You make a good point about the shirasaya and I can't think of a good reason at the moment. What about the Kissaki and Yokote look off to you? This was the only Japanese sword for sale in the auction and it does look like it has been neglected some.

So this is the first time I bought a Nihonto without consulting you guys first. Its in a little bit of rough shape but only appears to just be surface rust. What do you guys think? Legit Nihonto? Do you think you can tell the time period from the blades characteristics? Do you think it will be cleanable. I paid around $560 shipped, so I'm hoping I didn't overpay by too much. Thanks!

Ah you are right. I looked closer and it is 名.

Thanks again for all the info. I feel more confident in the sword now.

Great! My biggest question is how would the menuki get this worn look while the rest of the handle and paint seems to be in such good shape? Seems counterintuitive to me.