Weekend Find: O-Wakizashi/uchigatana

[Death-Ace]

Went out of town to go to a gun show this weekend to sell a all-matching Type 94 Nambu rig and this follows me home! One of the tables told me of his shop in town with many pieces of militaria and a few swords, so I went over. A few were showato, two others very tired and abused and a further two I could not tell if showato or gendaito and were a bit abused, so did not take a risk...funny enough, they were priced all the same and cheap enough, but money is a factor!

I did see... get this one which caught my eye due to the koshirae. The blade appears to have been cleaned and unfortunately the nakago as well. The good news is the blade was straight, no chips, very minute pitting with a nice bohi. It appears to be a shortened katana, but the 24" nagasa and 5" nakago almost appear to be an o-wakizashi or uchigatana? The hamon, barely noted without proper light looks like suguha-hotsure.

I did notice possible ware in the blade, with two most notable in the pics (one very small one near the habaki and the other in the hi, but the horizontal ones I can not tell if due to a rough hada or if the blade is a little tired, as they mostly appear about a few inches from the kissaki where it is notably thinner. It has quite a bit of meat left thankfully.

The koshirae looks to have been a well done set at one time with the tsuba quite artistic. The habaki is a copper two piece. The koiguchi piece is missing and the tsuka, matching in theme, appears to be be too large as well as unaligned with the mekugi-ana although it's possible due to some missing seppa? Unfortunately, time has strutted it's stuff once more and it too is in rough shape although repairable!

I may sell this one in the future as I have a possible gimei Kurihara Nobuhide I would like to send to shinsa to confirm, but if it turns out to be the case, I may sell that one and keep a hold to this for a hot minute. Always have had a fondness for wakizashi and bohi.

 

 

 

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[Death-Ace]

The fittings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lonely panet]

sorry,

 

nothing to see in JI at all. I would say some clown with metal polish or fine wet-rub have ruined any chances of seing the hamon/hada aswell as rubbing over the yokate

[Brian]

It has a well cut hi, nice shape and looks definitely worth investigating further. I would see if you can get a window polished and see what it shows. Shape and hi look good to me.

[Geraint]

Dear L.

 

I agree that the blade is worth some careful investigation.  I suspect that the blade and saya do belong together but that the tsuka is an add on.  You mention that the fit is a little off and the fittings are uninspiring.  The menuki look to be pressed rather than anything else.  Polish and new tsuka to complete the outfit or polish and shirasaya?

 

Enjoy.

[Death-Ace]

Thanks for the comments, guys! Yessir, someone definitely definitely took some cleaner and went to town, unfortunately. The other wakizashi the guy was selling had a tsuka that didn't fit, so makes me wonder if he switched it around. The tsuba itself is a little loose fitting as well.

 

I'm thinking about selling the gimei Kurihara Nobuhide to pay some of my loan as well as to have some extra spending cash , so may use that on a window to see what activities is on the blade.

 

The tsuba, I'm going to study a bit more as well. From the looks, someone mentioned late Edo, so I'm going to check some schools. Also, going to try and narrow down if possible Shinto or koto.

[BenVK]

I see no major issues that would give a trained polisher any headaches. Could turn out to be a real stunner!

[Death-Ace]

Ben,

 

Thanks! The only thing that worries me is the fukure. Not sure whether they look or if the one vertical one that looks as if it could be in the ha could be in the ham On or not.

[Kronos]

I'd take it slow as you don't want to jump straight into a polish on a mumei suriage wakizashi. Like Brian said investigate further and maybe get a window put in to see but mumei suriage makes it hard not to be a financial loser.

[Death-Ace]

Kronos, thank you. I guess imI am rushing into it for some reason! Too be honest, I bought this one to resale to pay off some of a loan and keep my Gimei Nobuhide, but have always loved waks. Gotta slow down a bit!