Mumei Shinto Wakizashi (Aka: My First Sword)

[e_v]

I've been lurking the forum for a few years, trying to absorb informations like a sponge, but always felt too newbie to contribute in a constructive way.
Actually I mostly thought that my interest for nihonto would find enough relief in reading, visiting museum and occasionally spending some time with collectors: swords are expensive toys and my freelance coder pockets aren't very deep

 

Anyway this january I was in London, I visited Don Bayney's shop and, as soon as I touched one of the wakizashi he had, I knew I was in trouble. My wife noticed my reaction and told me "it's a really nice sword. I think it's time to do it"; 24 hours later my bank account was a little lighter and I still had butterflies in my stomach.

 

The sword is a shinto mumei wakizashi in mino tradition with a large gunome midare hamon and itame/mokume hada. It's suriage and it came with NTHK papers attributing it to Nobutaka (sendai?).

It's not a juyo luxury blade (which I could not afford anyway), but it closely looks like the image summoned by my own mind when I think about the concept of "Japanese sword", so I instantly fell in love with it.

Here are a  few pictures:

 

I did not have a mekugi nuki with me when I took the pics, so I attached the oshigata of the nakago.
For more higher resolution pictures, you can have look here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gdatmdvltavc1yj/AACx54_gUorbPWw8PvuKrxBaa?dl=0

 

The main reason for this post is just celebrating something special for me; any comment about the sword is more than welcome, as I'm sure it will help to train my newbie eye.

[vajo]

Congratulation to your sword.

I like it Enrico.

 

Welcome on board. 

[Stephen]

Well done

[Shugyosha]

Hi Enrico,

 

Looks like a good pick, I hope you enjoy it.

 

Best,

John

[paulb]

Well done Enrico,

Don is a good man to deal with and its a good looking first sword.

enjoy and welcome

regards

Paul

[Jean]

Very good Enrico, makes me think of Echizen Seki

[Fuuten]

Looks lovely, and that feeling when the blade resonates with the holder, that's such a great feeling. Maybe it choose you.

 

And welcome too! I'm sure you'll help people out

 

 

PS: did you get a maintenance kit with it?

[Kurikata]

Don Bayney in London is a very nice person to deal with. I purchased several Tosogu to him. A very good choice.....

[e_v]

Thanks everyone for your kind words
 

Alex: I did not take a full maintenance kit, just a mekugi nuki. Based on what I read on old posts, I got the feeling that uchiko is pure evil in powder form and that, in my climate, oiling is going to be needed only in humid summer months. My maintenance kit is composed by paper, microfiber cloth and white mineral oil. If I'm doing it wrong, please correct me.

Jean: from what I can understand, the papers point to Owari Nobutaka and I do not dare to add any of my personal considerations. By the way I discovered that my books are a lot more fun to consult while holding a sword in my hand, alternating my gaze between their paper and the steel with a focused expression, trying to look like someone who knows what he's doing:)

[Ken-Hawaii]

 

I discovered that my books are a lot more fun to consult while holding a sword in my hand

Yes, Enrico, we all feel that way!    So study hard!  Have you started writing down all of the details of your lovely new blade as you discover them?

 

Ken

[e_v]

Yes Ken: I'm recording all my findings on a notebook (the old, analog and paper-made type).

[uwe]

Well done Enrico!

[Ryan]

Looks like a very nice choice. Props for having the discipline to not rush your first purchase. 

[John A Stuart]

Maybe you'll learn the knack of getting the hamon to photograph, rather than the kesho, so we can see it. I never was any good at photography, I hope you succeed. John

[e_v]

I know nothing about photography: I like to fumble with any kind of instrument, trying to figure out how it works, but experience suggests that I will never be a decent photographer

 

I spent some time with a LED flashlight and a macro lens, but those pics are the best I could do. If I manage to get my photographer friend to spend a luttle time on the blade, I'll probably be able to post something better.

[Geraint]

Enrico.

 

Have a go at your own oshigata.  You don't necessarily need traditional Japanese materials, thin paper and a selection of pencils will do.  The process really makes you look at a blade and you have a beautiful record of your sword.

 

All the best

[e_v]

Geraint: an oshigata is in my plans: definitely an experience I want to try.