Did Anybody Here Buy This Wakizashi?

[TheGermanBastard]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Japanese-Wakizashi-Short-Sword-w-Wood-Sheath-22-5-034-Long-/292336236614

 

I am curious what exactly it was more ... went for more than I was willing to spend out of curiousity.

[dominnimod]

I don't get why it went so high? Chinese habaki, crude modern tsuba and the handle have been most likely glued. Seems like some amateur crude attempt of restoring a vet sword

[TheGermanBastard]

hello jose,

 

it went so high because someone was digging for a lost treasure / sleeper. A disguised Nakako will unfortunately more often bring up the price than down ...

 

However I do not think that this Habaki and Tsuba are Chinese made. The Habaki seems to be a rather decent Shakudo covered piece. It fits very nicely judging from the pictures. Neitehr do you get a Nagamaki shaped Habaki of Chinese origin that easily nor would the random chances of it being a good fit be a gamble I'd take on. I will need about 50 spare Habaki to find a good fitting one.

 

Hence all I think that has been a recent addition is the string on the Tsuka.

 

The blade could be pre Muromachi periode in my cheap oppinion. I saw some good potential in it.

[Alex A]

I think blade is "possibly" genuine

Saya genuine

Habaki genuine, not sure about shakudo, I think possibly sprayed/lacquered black

 

Everything else home made, including tsuba.

 

I get the impression is was brought back by a vet and messed about by kids or whatever, parts lost, then ended up Mad Max style.

 

Speculation.

[TheGermanBastard]

Hello Alex,

 

interesting point on the lacquered Habaki. Could be possibly.

 

I am not sure if the Tsuba is homemade. The Tsuka wrapping is bad. Not question on that. If I did it, it would be the or worse. So we can agree it is bad.

 

However if I di theTsuba it would be much much worse ... I am too ignorant about Tsuba but think the Tsuba is not homemade ... also coming from my bare expirience that GIs used to mess up things by enchanching them but doing a Tsuba on their own is not something we see often. In my humble oppinion the tsuba is made to well to be by a GI.

 

Interestng thing remains teh blade.

[Alex A]

If not home made Luis, possibly bought somewhere, something along these lines maybe.

http://usaknifemaker.com/knife-handle-parts/handle-hardware/pommels-and-guards-c-95-178/guard-small-14-th-x-62-w-x-3-l-slot-measurements-16-w-x-1-10-l.html

 

Ps, looking closer at the saya, don't look so old, or worn.

[TheGermanBastard]

Hello Alex, the Tsuba looked to be copper aloy? The Saya looked late Edo periode to me like the whole Kodugu.

 

the blade caught my attention ... but too much on the table for satisfying my curiosity only ...

[vajo]

I would never buy such a blade.

How often are talked about that?

 

This blade was used as garden tool or maybe something for playing around.

 

I think it is lost.

 

 

 

And the rest of the sword is scrap.

 

Thats my opinion. 

[Alex A]

Hello Alex, the Tsuba looked to be copper aloy? 

 

 

 

No , I was intending to show you that you can get sword hilts/guards or whatever already made, and I'm ASSUMING if you look hard enough you will find them in STEEL or whatever, I didn't look hard enough.

 

The saya could be late Edo, and again when I look at it, it could be 1985, like the one I have upstairs on my Ninja sword.

 

I personally could not spend that much money on the sword, perhaps a polisher bought it, sees some profit.

 

I watched a (potential) Sukesada Katana ending this morning, was half tempted, but as always with Ebay I didn't bother in the end, I find it too risky. I have trouble buying swords with clear pictures and a shinsa result  

[TheGermanBastard]

I thought the blade was not too beaten up to feasable.

 

But I would not have thrown in more than 300 USD

[Alex A]

Its a risk, especially whats under that rope handle?

 

For all we know, someone may have welded a diamond shape steel tang on it, big risk.

[vajo]

I think it is a real nihonto blade. The tsuba is not real. Looks like a bolt.

The saya is genuine but how much worth? $50

The habaki looks strange in color (maybe painted).

The Tsuka is mabe real, but the ito is cord. Its worthless.

And I bet the blade has some hagire. So it is lost.

[TheGermanBastard]

i think there is no question about it being a true nihonto ... but yes many potential risks. i would not be too suspicious about hagire but rather the condition of the nakako

[vajo]

Luis look at my pictures. I think it is hagire and it fits to the whole look of that piece.

[TheGermanBastard]

hello Christoph, I see what you mean and I can not rule out there a Hagire but can confirm them either from the provided images.