Very interesting sword!

[Nickupero]

A beautiful Ubu-Nakago Wakizashi in mounts (tsuka and Saya are new) with old Komainu menuki, and it has been attributed to Daido of Mino. What is particularly interesting about this sword is its massive size, the width and thickness is incredibly large, far bigger than we are used to seeing. I added a picture of this blade beside a large Ko-mihara katana and you can see the big difference. Looks like Muromachi to Earlier Edo period, the school spanned from late Muromachi to I believe Showa period. It is very healthy condition and I will be uploading some better full-blade images soon.

[Nickupero]

a few more... those real nice shots of the blade will be coming soon. PLEASE Note the double HI on each side, different in to opposite sides but nicely done.

[Nickupero]

And here are those blade shots... just some simple but time consuming cropping was done, no enhancements to the actual photos! You'll note a very dense Jihada which was typical of this school.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Yoroi-doshi perhaps, Nick?

 

Ken

[Jean]

Too long to be a yoroi doshi. Optimized size between 17/22 cm.

[Adrian]

Can this be a broken katana turned into a wakizashi?

[hxv]

Can this be a broken katana turned into a wakizashi?

 

I think not. The hi don't go through the nakago.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[Jean]

As it is for sale, I shall not make any comment, but measurement as well as pictures from above of the mune machi will be welcomed.

 

 

This being said, please refrain from any comments. As a rule, all inquiries must be made by PM, it will avoid me to delete a few posts :D .

 

Thanks in advance.

[Nickupero]

Hi friends, thanks for your interest and apologies Jean.. I mentioned how big of a blade but forgot to include the most important part, the measurements!

The Motokasane measures 0.8 cm/ 0.314 inches, Motohaba measures 3.4 cm /1.34 inches. The nagasa is 39.3 cm / 15.47 inches so it eliminates the possibility of being a Yoroi-doshi Ken, good suggestion though!.

 

Maybe Chris is right, after observing the patina on the Nakago it is mostly likely middle Edo. It has a nice patina and on the close-up of the Nakago seen above the flash made the much of the colour fade.

[John A Stuart]

Mino smiths at times made some really beefy blades and when they did it with wakizashi they were really cleavers of blades. Deadly and sure to cut through light armour or at least be a crushing blow which can leave an opponent helpless to further attack. I moved this as you wished Nick. I have a Jumyo wakizashi that is very similar, also for sale if I may say so. John

[Brian]

Well made and beautiful. I don't think there is anything there at all that suggests it isn't a healthy ubu wakizashi.

Beefy wide blades like this are not unusual as John said, and sometimes even made for dedication or just to own something stout I guess.

Lovely Nick.

 

Brian

[Jean]

Characteristics of Yoroi doshi are to be thick, short, and hence little sori. Mihaba is of course small. It is like a very thick needle to be able to pierce armour.

 

I really like this sword Nick, I always been drawn by this kind of swords (shobu zukuri too) like said John, real cleavers.

[raiden]

As far as I know, this shape is seen on blades from the Late Muromachi period just prior to the Keicho period, through the Keicho Shinto time. Wide hirazukuri wakizashi are seen quite often during this time. The Daido school made very large blades as well(I will post one later on our FB page). A few years ago a large hirazukuri katana went Juyo made by Shiga Seki Kanenori.

[Nickupero]

Wow, Brian, Jean & John posting all together, I'm Honoured Thank you all for your input. If you could post a picture or two John I'd be interested to see your Jumyo.

I was comparing it to that Ko-Mihara Katana and in terms of weight they are about the same, I've seen oversized Wakizashi's before but it is the first time I remember holding one, definitely a different feel.

 

Thanks Mike for your input, that is why I initially suggested it as late Muromachi - Early Edo. Judging from the pictures would you date it that old? I would also be interested to see your Daido, feel free to post a picture or two on this thread.

[John A Stuart]

This wakizashi was made by Kondo Sozaemon. Motokasane 0.8 cm, motohaba 4.0 cm, sakikasane 0.7 cm, sakihaba 3.2 cm, nagasa 40.5 cm You see the dimensions are very similar, but shinogizukuri as yours is hirazukuri. Horimono on one side only of strange design. John

[cabowen]

First time I have ever seen a horimono like that....

 

One could say that from a practical standpoint, it would allow the blade to be pulled out easier in the case of a deep stab I suppose. The cynic in me says though it was probably done to remove some flaws...

[kusunokimasahige]

I like it. A lot !

[Tai1z]

Hi Nick,

As I am beginner and debating whether or not to remove a signature (see thread Mystery Sword) I am wondering if Nihonto are often unsigned and in this case (beautiful work btw) if it is unsigned or signature removed.

 

I think I understand the removal from a commercial POV but personally and from an art history POV, the "forgery" of a signature occurred for a curious reason in a quite ancient context.

 

Did fine artists of Nihonto cast off many "imperfect" blades unsigned?

 

Respectfully,

 

Glenn T

[Nickupero]

Just like to say Real nice blade John, looks real intimidating. That horimono is very odd, do you think it could have served a purpose?

 

Hi Glenn, Welcome to the NMB, always nice to meet collectors who have an appreciation for these items. You'll get plenty of good advice here, it never hurts to ask before here before you jimp into a purchase.

Your question has been debated quite often in the past, interestingly I started a thread on this very topic a while back, please see link, it goes on a while:

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14955&p=130942&hilit=removing+signature#p130942

 

Even for superior made nihonto many items were not signed, certain schools would keep the Nakago Mumei, while others would sign only the school and not their actual name, it really depends on the school or individual smith. It is very possible that there were smiths who were embarrassed to sign their name after forging a poor blade. Another important factor is who was the blade commissioned for. A good example are temple blades, they were almost always Mumei.

 

I stand completely on one side of the fence regarding the removal of a signature, some people think its like removing graffiti which makes sense... but I believe your removing the historical blueprints by doing this. I could understand wanting to remove a signature if the forgery was done yesterday, but in my eyes something that was done centuries ago is now part of the blades history. Sometimes there were valid reasons for a smith to want to falsify a signature. I suggest you to read the thread I mentioned, it might help you decide which side of the fence you stand.

 

Thanks!!

[Adrian]

No one is attempting to remove the Roman carvings and graffiti present on the walls and columns of various Egyptian temples Even if these were pure vandalism 2000 years ago.

 

As a matter of fact, they are an interesting research domain on their own.

[kusunokimasahige]

The difference being that Ancient Roman walls and Egyptian Temples containing graffito do not regularly get checked by a team of learned men who can attest the writer's hand to a known person which then because of the certificate makes the value of these walls and temples a lot higher at auction....

 

 

KM

[John A Stuart]

Hi Nick, a few years ago we discussed what these horimono may be, why on one side only etc. No conclusions could be derived. There is no evidence that they were done to eliminate kizu of some sort, just odd. John

[cabowen]

There really wouldn't be any evidence that they were to remove kizu if they successfully removed the kizu...The evidence is inferential- the fact that they are very nontraditional in size, shape, and location. Add to it the fact that they, in my opinion, detract, rather than add, to the blade, and I think the inference is a strong one.

[Adrian]

The difference being that Ancient Roman walls and Egyptian Temples containing graffito do not regularly get checked by a team of learned men who can attest the writer's hand to a known person which then because of the certificate makes the value of these walls and temples a lot higher at auction....

 

 

KM

 

 

Henk-Jan, I was talking about carvings and graffiti made by Romans on the walls of Egyptian temples not on "ancient Roman walls". If a team of learned men was to figure out a "Caesar+Cleo=Love" carving at Karnak and attest it to Julius Caesar, such discovery would make headlines around the world and that piece of wall would instantly become national treasure for Egypt. So I'm not really sure what your point is, other then contradicting me :lol:

 

I pretty much agree with Nick about the fact that a fake signature added a few centuries ago is now a part of the blade's history. And provided a similar example from a different field of historical research (the carvings of Roman soldiers, merchants, administrators and even tourists made on the walls of much older Egyptian temples).

[John A Stuart]

Yes, that could be inferred, Chris. I also wish they weren't done, but, like you hear now, 'It is what it is'. What I do like is that the jigane has that darkish steel you see on some Kamakura steel, at odds with the bright steel late Muromachi, shinto periods. John

[cabowen]

Yes, what is done, is done....