Wakizashi lots of flaws? General age/era?

[ribendao]

 

So this is an update to a post I made a week or two ago about a wakizashi that I bought from an online estate auction. It finally arrived yesterday and I got some pictures of the naked blade.

I knew the blade was in rough shape but it looks like it has some cracks in the steel. I have the cracks pictured below. What kind of flaw is it and is it fatal? Also what time period do you guys estimate the blade is from?

The blade's total length is 26.5 inches and is 21.5 inches from the ha-machi to the end of the  kissaki and still has a somewhat visible hamon. 
 

 

 

[SAS]

Hard to tell from the photos; I can't see anything fatal, looks to be maybe early Shinto, need better photos.

[ribendao]

Yeah unfortunately I can't figure out how to post higher quality images to this website.  The flaw/crack I'm talking about is in the second picture.

[ribendao]

Here are a couple higher quality pictures.
 

[ribendao]

one more

[16k]

Ware, not fatal, although the second one is in a very bad place.

[vajo]

Looks like down polished. 

[ribendao]

Kind of a stupid question but would scrubbing the blade with a toothbrush and choji oil be of any benefit/harm? I know your not suppose to use anything extremely abrasive on the blade, but a toothbrush should clean of the surface dirt and rust without doing any damage, right?

[16k]

Oil and uchiko , but keep the tooth brush away.

[Dave R]

 Lots of information here about "cleaning" which is not the same as polishing. Coarse cloth and alcohol are a decent start, Uchico for a shabby blade is never wrong. I have heard of other things being done, but I suggest caution and searching the subject here. Forging flaws are just part of the territory with nihonto, and so far no fatal flaws such as hagire. Have fun and enjoy your new (to you) blade.

 Don't forget to oil the blade....

[ribendao]

Thanks Dave. I've already taken an Uchico, Choji, and a cloth to the blade and it helped a little. I was just hoping there was another method that would take it just a tiny step further. I'll try alcohol and a coarse cloth but that's probable as far as I will take it.  Ill keep it nice and oiled. Thank you.