Sat Wak: Late Koto? 51 cm

[Jon MB]

I was wondering what we think? Mumei wakizashi,

 

Late Koto?

 

No Tsuba

 

Length: 23" overall, 18.5" nagasa

 

Many thanks in advance. Will probably pass it on, but wanted one or two opinions first.

 

Warm rgards,

 

Jon B

[Geraint]

Dear John.

 

Nice koshirae if that makes any difference to your choice.

 

All the best.

[Jon MB]

Thanks Geraint. Gilded habaki and gilding or cold-gold paint to fittings.

[16k]

Dunno, doesn’t look that old to me. Is it muji Hada?

 

I think I see some tame, but that might be wishful thinking.

[Rivkin]

The problem is tha the lens has quite some distortion, so identifying the center of curvature is difficult if sword is photographed from a side. The only solution I would see is to place the camera right above the blade and right in the middle of it. Otherwise prominent fumbari in waki size usually points closer to kambun, but its hard to guess by such pictures alone.

 

Kirill R.

[16k]

That would have been my conclusion too, Kyrill, pending better pictures.

[Jon MB]

Thanks folks. Will take some more pics.

[Jon MB]

Here we go

[Jon MB]

Correction to title: 58 cm overall

[hxv]

Boshi?

 

Hoanh

[Jon MB]

Not visible

[SAS]

Is the habaki removable? interesting potentially.

[Jon MB]

Thank you people.

                               Sans Habaki...

[16k]

Mino blade I think. Not too sure about the date though. Tapering but too much sori for Kanbun I think.

[SAS]

Appears to be takanoha yasurime.....also the nakago has significant curvature;late  Koto/ early Shinto  Mino?

[16k]

That would be my guess too.

[Jon MB]

Thank you. So we think this is the original length then..

[16k]

I’m not good enough to judge on that point. However, this isn’t your typical Mino nakago jiri...

[SteveM]

I think at one time this was a fine wakizashi, and had the condition been maintained it would still be a charming, if not terribly valuable piece. I would think it is younger than koto. But the current condition requires a very thorough polish, which would restore it to its condition of being a nice, suriage mumei wakizashi.

 

Is there an Inoue Shinkai-quality wakizashi lurking under the scratches and the rust spots? I don't think so. It looks interesting, but the scratches are extensive, the kissaki looks troublesome (is that a vertical crack near the tip?), and fixing these various issues wouldn't be worth the expense, and might reveal some other problems. 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Jon, when you show a blade, please start with it completely bare, & lying flat. That's the best way to show sugata, which is what determines jidai.

 

I doubt the blade is ubu, or Koto. Take a look at the mekugiana.

[SAS]

I actually have  a sword very similar to this; provenance has likewise been tricky.

[Jon MB]

Thank you for all comments. Not really my field of interest per se, may pass it on.

Thank you all, once again.