Signature help on wakizashi or tanto

[Kubur]

Hi Guys

 

It's me again.

I found another sword, a wakizashi or a tanto, I don't know...

The blade is really cool, as the hilt.

The tang is signed and I would be very gratefull if someone can help for the translation.

And if you have any information about this sword...

Thanks

 

Kubur

[Peter Bleed]

Bushu ju Yasushige saku

Looks like a nice old sword. I'm off to the books

Peter

[Kubur]

Dear Peter,

 

Thank you very much indeed for your very useful message.

Yes it's a lovely sword that I got with another sword from Vietnam.

In fact I was biding on the vietnamese sword and it was a good surprise when I saw the Japonese tanto(?).

 

Kubur

[Geraint]

Dear Kubur.

 

Nice find!  Take it slow, a little gentle work with a piece of bone or antler on the rust and a gente clean and re wrap and it will start to look great.

 

As to tanto or wakizashi, well, it's hira zukuri so the test is nagasa, over 30cms and it's a wakizashi, usually called a ko wakizashi.  Under and it's a tanto.  I would guess from your pictures that it is a ko wakizashi.  Then you can start researching when this style of blade was common and match that to the mei that Peter has given you. 

 

Hours of fun!

 

Enjoy!

 

All the best.

 

Edit to add, jammy, so this was a kind of freebie?

[Peter Bleed]

INDEED! The o-tanto by Yasushige is a perfectly worthy Japanese swords, BUT that Southeast Asian sword is very interesting. Please forgive me if my lust is showing!

Peter

[Kubur]

Thanks all!!

 

Then O-tanto or ko wakizashi?

To me it looks more like a short sword than a dagger, but i know knothing about Japanese vocabulary...

[Geraint]

Dear Kubur.

 

I think the answer to your question is, "Yes."  Either term would work though given it's apparent size and period of production I would be inclined to call it a ko wakizashi as it looks to be quite a bit over the 300mms mark but appearances can be deceptive.

 

Enjoy.

 

All the best.