Rusty Bizen Wakizashi

[Mimmo]

Picked up this old and very rusty wakizashi a couple of years ago for very little money.  Rust was black and spread throughout the blade, so I used a copper penny and oil to try and remove some of it and see if I could locate a hamon.  Turns out it was there and quite active.   It's an unsigned ubu. Likely from mid muromachi period and as such quite heavy.   I've sent it off to a togishi for restoration and am excited to see the finished blade.  Pics aren't great, and no pattern can be seen on the jigane...but any guesses as to schools? Thx

[Okan]

No one can guess the school with these pictures (and in this condition)...Regarding age, maybe from the Kanbun era..or late Muromachi period..Togishi will help you better at this point.

 

 

 

[Alex A]

Id bet $50 its by a Sukesada, possibly another like Norimitsu, its Bizen Muromachi.

[Mimmo]

Coincidently, just received notice from the togishi that it's a Shinto Kanbun...so Okan your are spot on with period.  Its original geometry has been restored and the blade should be ready in about a month so i'll post final pics soon...

 

 

[Alex A]

I give up

 

Very surprised indeed at that answer.

 

Nakago didnt say Kanbun to me, reminded me of Sue-Bizen

 

As always though, we look at pictures.

 

[Mimmo]

Well, I thought muromachi as well and I actually handled the thing... Lol

[Ooitame]

Well done Okan, I would also have guessed shinto from the shape.

[ROKUJURO]

Mimmo,

looking forward to seeing pictures when it is ready! Please show them always tip-upwards.
Who is the TOGISHI if I may ask?

 

[Mimmo]

Will do... Its Massimo Rossi out of Italy. 

[Okan]

24 minutes ago, Mimmo said:

Will do... Its Massimo Rossi out of Italy. 

Massimo is top notch! Good job. Now we have to wait Massimo to work his magic on it...Ishido school maybe?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

The sugata screams Kanbun Shinto, but I wonder how you were able to label this post as Bizen?

[Mimmo]

Ah, because i was told by two seperate togishi (thru pictures only) that it should be bizen and muromachi...don't think i could change the title at this time?

[Alex A]

Ken, the nakago and hamon scream Bizen, though you see others like Takada with similar nakago, from memory.

 

Be good to see the boshi and clear image of the mekugi-ana

 

Judging the shape of a sword in images can also be misleading, especially sori

 

 

[Mimmo]

Also recall reading somewhere that kanbun has roots in bizen.... So makes sense that pictures may suggest bizen.. 

[ROKUJURO]

Mimmo,

KANBUN is an era in early EDO period, and at that time, many swords with shallow SORI were in fashion. BIZEN is a famous sword making location where certain traditions/schools came from.

[Mimmo]

Yeah I'm aware of that distinction... Meant that I've read that many kanbun smiths take their roots from bizen traditions - wavy hamon, low shinogi etc... So initially thinking that it was bizen and muromachi was mostly a "dating" miscue if that makes any sense.  Had it been older, it most certainly would be reasonable to think bizen and muromachi. The shallow  pictured sori does point to the kanbun era, however as you've said earlier pictures can be misleading...its not as shallow in reality as the pics suggest.  I own another sword, a katana.  I'll post pics of that soon, but my neophyte opinion would be shinto and hizen...i'm sure i'll get a more suitable opinion from the very knowledgable people on this forum..thanks.

[Alex A]

Blades described as Kanbun shape can have very little sori. Used to have a katana, it was not far off straight. Sori was only about 5mm

 

 

[Mimmo]

Ok, wakizashi has now been completed and on it's way.  Highly recommend  Massimo Rossi togishi, he is truly a master of the craft.  

 

Wakizashi: Shinto Tokuden, trad. Bizen Osafune.

Period:  Kan'ei  Shoko 1624/44

[drbvac]

Looks slightly different doesn;t it !!!  How did you connect with Rossi in Italy - what area of Canada are you from as I am guessing Toronto. His turn around time is amazing compared to many of the other toshigis - no problems with the shipping etc?

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[b.hennick]

If you are from the Toronto area we have a club in Toronto. Send me a p.m. and I'll provide you with information.

[Mimmo]

21 hours ago, drbvac said:

Looks slightly different doesn;t it !!!  How did you connect with Rossi in Italy - what area of Canada are you from as I am guessing Toronto. His turn around time is amazing compared to many of the other toshigis - no problems with the shipping etc?

 

Yes, unbelievable how an old rusty nihonto blade can be transformed into a thing of beauty in the proper hands!  No problems at all with any facet of the process - all went as smoothly as can hoped!  Yes, from Toronto, and good old fashion google search is how i connected with Massimo...Best. Domenic