Wak Or Tanto

[IJASWORDS]

Hi All, I promise not to post too much more, but just picked up (today) a little sword with NANBAN TSUBA and fittings and KOGATNA. The blade length is about 14 inches, is this size a TANTO or WAKIZASHI? You will have to cut me some slack, as I am a GUNTO collector, and these pieces are out of my field of expertise. Neil.

[FletchSan]

Hira-zukuri wakizashi. I believe under 30cm is considered a tanto and between 30cm and 60cm a wakizashi.

Actually it might be a nagamaki naoshi. What does the nakago look like?

 

[EDIT - Sorry Shobu-zukuri because it has a shinogi]

 

Cheers,

Ben

[IJASWORDS]

Thanks Ben.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Sunobi tanto, does look to be a shortened naginata (naoshi)

[Geraint]

Hi Neil.

 

Nice find!   Any chance of some more photos including the bare blade?

 

All the best

[IJASWORDS]

Hi Geraint, this is the first time I have looked at the bare blade, (my photos are not the best) so we are both looking at it for the first time together! It looks like a purpose made blade and not a cut down naginata. MUMEI unfortunately, can you identify any age from the nakago? It is hard to see from photo, but there is a nice hamon. Neil.

[Ken-Hawaii]

I doubt that a purpose-made blade would have two mekugiana, Neil. I'm going with a repurposed naginata. Very nice, in either case.

 

Ken

 

[IJASWORDS]

Thanks Ken, this is my first repurposed NAGINATA then. So I am happy that I have a representative piece, Neil.

[Geraint]

Hi Neil,

 

Great to be sharing the discoveries.  Hate to disagree with Ken but I wouldn't make a judgement based on two mekugi ana, it might be a simple as a second one drilled for a new mounting.  So, the nakago jiri looks well finished, often suriage blades have kiri jiri, straight cut, but not always.  Two mekugi ana and do I see the remains of a hi in your third photo?  Do you see any change in the thickness of the blade, looking from the back, just above the machi?

 

Whatever we decide about its origins it looks like a nice find in nice koshirae.

 

Enjoy!