Old wakizashi hira-zukuri style - opinions wanted

[Jorgensen]

Dear Sir's,

 

Recently I aquired this tanto/wakizashi and would like your skilled opinions on school and smith. I know who the maker is, but I would like your opinions based entirely on the blade. Later I will of course announce the name of the smith to be discussed. There is utsuri clearly visible.

 

What I can say, is that I was very surprised how light the blade is.

 

Why does the one (the old one) mekugi-ana has this irregular shape??

 

Blade length : 36.5 cm

Sori : 0.5 cm

Width at the hamachi : 3.4 cm

Kasane : 0.50 cm

 

(there is turnback on boshi on both sides, just cant get it on the pictures!)

 

I look forward to hear your comments. Thank you.

[Kai-Gunto]

Cus of the pitting the mekugiana got irregular. I think the hole blade was heavy rusted once.

[Jorgensen]

Thomas, thanks for your input. I understand your point, but please check those close-up pictures of nakago and see if it changes your mind. To me it still looks like the irregular shape is not caused by the rust

[pcfarrar]

If you can see utsuri on this blade I'd say its most likely tsukare-utsuri.

[Veli]

Hello Jimi!

 

It is not uncommon to see keyhole-shaped or semicircle+square shaped mekugiana in older blades.

 

Based on the sugata alone, I would say this is a Muromachi era blade.

 

BR, Veli

[Marius]

What I can say, is that I was very surprised how light the blade is.

 

You shouldn't. It is a polished down sword, that has lost a lot of "meat". As Peter has rightly remarked, what you think is utsuri is just the core steel showing.

[Brian]

I think this one was once very pitted, and then polished down a lot, judging by the lack of machi and thickness of the blade.

It's an old soldier that is now retired

 

Brian

[Jorgensen]

Thanks for your comments. It appciated.

 

Since no one have given a guess on school/smith, I can tell its a Nambokucho Nobukuni blade. Yamashiro tradition. Has all the characteristics and shape of Nambokucho Soshu works.

 

It is signed, but very, very hard to see and decipher in hand and impossible to catch on photo because of the heavy rust on nakago.

 

Your comments on this are welcomed.

[Marius]

Since no one have given a guess on school/smith, I can tell its a Nambokucho Nobukuni blade. Yamashiro tradition. Has all the characteristics and shape of Nambokucho Soshu works..

No one, even the best members of shinsa panels can give you a guess without seeing the blade in hand. You expect people to pinpoint a smith (!) from those pics you have posted? They show sugata, hadori, but no hamon or hada.

 

If you have the blade in hand and it seems that you know what it is, why do you try to elicit any opinions? Why not send it to shinsa? It is a koto, it should get hozon....

[Jorgensen]

Hi Mariuz,

 

I know it was a difficult task based on the pictures, but as we have very skilled members here on the board, I was asking on this, because I wanted to see if any would agree with me on the facts I have and to have a good conversation and healthy education.

 

Terrible sorry, if this are about to be misunderstood. I do write in the first post that I know the school and smith and would announce this.

 

I most likely will get it papered. Just want a polishers opinion on the blade if polish can be improved, what can be done and cannot be done.

[Marius]

Jimi,

 

you have made the right decision to show it to someone who is qualified (a good polisher). I do not think this blade will take another polish, but maybe some "touch up".

 

People here on this forum give their opinions based on pictures - that is the nature of an internet forum. But, the better the pics, the more meaningful the opinion (stating the obvious). Whether polish can or cannot be improved is a matter that has to be decided by the polisher.

 

BTW, do you know the school and smith from a paper? If so, is this paper reliable? I presume not, since you want to get it papered (again?)

[cabowen]

The shape is consistent with Nanbokucho Soshu.

[Jorgensen]

Mariuz,

 

It sure will not take another ground polish, but that is not needed. But a good Shiage / touch up would be good if possible. You're right people are judging from the pictures and I did not expect anything, but much can be said from shape and nakago alone and was curious what people would suggest. My intention is to have a good educational debate.

 

The blade is not papered. I will have to decide if I will let it go for paper, but probably will. First goal is the opinion about touch up from polisher. The blade was all greyish without much details when I bought it, but some oil and uchiko really made miracles for it.

 

Chris, thanks for your opinion on shape of this retired old soldier as Brian said it