EvolEd

Yeah I'm not sure how best to photograph something of this shape but if it was once a katana, I'm pretty satisfied with that; gives it more of a story. Thanks so much for responding

Wow. I had no idea that was how much a polish would cost! That's a lot and yes I most definitely would not be spending that much money to do that (or attempting any hack jobs myself). I am not in this to flip swords or look to profiteer either. I just thought I'd expand the human wing of my personal little museum and somehow stumbled onto nihonto. I had no idea it would be this engrossing or require years of patience and planning on purchases. It's kind of insane but I've never been conventional and I'll try and build a very modest diversity of Japanese weaponry. I find them all quite beautiful and unique. I'm not looking for anything at the top of the line but simply pieces that capture some aspect of warfare. I love the armour as much as the blades so there is much to study and search for within the range of affordability. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Regards, Marcus

Thanks so much for welcoming me Michael and for appreciating a different perspective. I think it's crazy how I can own the hip bone of a Jurassic dinosaur, a much rarer event in history, for a fraction of the price of even a lower tier nihonto It doesn't mean that I don't see the beauty in nihonto or that I'll stop searching for a possible new addition but it's a very counterintuitive exercise in rationalization for me personally. Even if we look at stone age tools, they can no doubt vary in preservation as well as the skill level used to manufacture them. I wonder if museum curators covet the handiwork of the best Homo erectus craftsman from France to put on display or are we admiring the work of the most common of commoners and just don't know it? Either way, thank you for your words of encouragement. Regards, Marcus

Hi Geraint, Thank you so much for the information! It is a relief knowing that it is a genuine Edo/Shinto wakizashi. I thought it might be gimei because maybe part of the tang was just cut off. I don't see decorative file marks. The very end isn't as clean as some other suriage blades I've seen so I'm not entirely sure what kind of modifications were made, why, or when. The boshi isn't as narrow as the photo might suggest and slightly curves back but it is on the fainter side and the tip was definitely reshaped at some point. I've been following aoijapan and keeping my eye out for something new but I'll continue to learn more. I'm not sure what the price of polishing would be but I like the sword well enough as is. It wasn't overly expensive and given the fact that I purchased it with basically no up close pictures (in ignorance of the entire field of study that is nihonto) I'd say it turned out better than expected. I'm assuming this is considered a "poorer" sword by elite standards? Coming from a field of collecting where things are preferred natural and old, I had no idea that Japanese swords were preserved to such a degree of precision and maintained in the way they are (I've been oiling it no worries!) That's incredible and I can see why there's such an obsession in the collecting community for perfection. At the same time, it's sad to read that a wakizashi like this is viewed by some in this community (based on other threads) as seemingly unworthy of preservation or admiration. We treat each fossil as a unique snapshot of history; a thing far rarer than any human made creation. Perhaps more people would appreciate swords of this nature if they saw the bigger picture. I have several stone tools from Neanderthals and Homo erectus, and I'm sure craftsmen then varied in skill and access to raw materials. And while the price tag on those pales in comparison to the world of nihonto's elite, they're no less beautiful and judged far less harshly. Thanks again. Marcus

Hi everyone, I am new to the study of nihonto and fully acknowledge that I need to study a lot more before making any further purchases. I come from a background in biology and collecting fossils and was unprepared for such a tremendously steep learning curve! I've also been a lifelong martial artist so naturally I am fascinated with weaponry and since discovered the beauty and depth of nihonto. I have a wakizashi that I purchased through a reputable auction house but have since discovered the incredible detail and knowledge involved with studying and purchasing nihonto. I can spot poor quality fossils, fakes, alterations, etc. but this is something beyond my realm of expertise (but I'm learning!). The following blade was sold as a 17-18th century o-suriage wakizashi. It is mumei and the nakago has mekugi that appear to be punched and not drilled. As far as I can tell, the hamon is choiji and I rather enjoy it but I can't judge the quality of it or whether the blade has been polished recently as it is the first nihonto I've seen in person. There are no major dents, scratches, or fatal flaws as far as I can tell. The nagasa is about 44 cm (17.5") with a total length of about 56 cm (22"); sori ~0.8 cm; hamachi width 2.7 cm; kissaki width 1.8 cm. Boshi is present but hard to photograph. I took these photos with a cell phone but I can try with proper photography equipment if more details are required. I've never photographed a sword and the shape/length prove perplexing! I apologize for the quality of the photos due to size restrictions. I like this wakizashi but I would really appreciate it if anyone could add anything else to its story. I don't mind if it was gimei once upon a time just not shinken And I promise to make more responsible purchases in the future, ideally with papers. For peace of mind (and so I don't feel compelled to immediately purchase a papered wakizashi), I'd just like to know what I actually have here so I can make more educated comparisons in the future. It would be nice if it's not a dumpster fire of a sword as I find it quite pleasant to study but I will leave that up to the infinitely more experienced to judge. Thanks so much for helping someone grow in their fondness for nihonto. Regards, Marcus