Wakizashi - Nihonto, Papers

[MatthewScherf]

Buyer did not pay - reposting. International shipping now available.

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wakizashi-Nihonto-Samurai-Sword-1596-/175242483460?

For sale is a nicely mounted wakizashi by the smith Ujifusa.  It is signed Suruga Jyu Ufiusa, so it was made by the Ujifusa from Suruga Province who worked around the Keicho era (1596). It is hira zukuri in construction with a billowing notare midare hamon.  The hada is a beautiful itame mixed with o-mokume in some areas.  The cutting edge is 37.5 cm and the mota haba is wide, measuring 3.2cm.  The blade is in good polish and in an old shirasaya.  It has a double gold wrapped habaki. 

 
The blade comes in nice Samurai mounts.  The tsuba is iron with a Samurai carved on the obverse with his face being of copper.  The fuchi and kashira are very well made.  In fact, the fuchi is made in three parts and the kashira is made in two parts. The kozuka is copper with the design of an arrow and armour parts (dented).
 
Both the blade and the mounts have papers from the NBTHK in Japan.  The blade has Hozon Token papers and the mounts have old Tokubetsu Kitcho Kodogu papers. I purchased it from a reputable Australian dealer, details on request.
 
There is some age-related deterioration of the silk on the tsuka-ito.

[Brian]

Since I don't want this to become an eBay showcase, please post a price here. I assume the price to members would be less than the eBay price?