Age and translation advice - commercial

[Den1884]

Hello, I have a Wakizashi coming up for auction, quite plain ( no Menuki ) 43cm blade inculding the copper Habaki there is also a minor inscription on the very plain iron Tsuba could anyone offer advice on age and a translation of the mark?

 

Thanks

 

Leo

 

[Geraint]

Dear Leo.

 

So this is a classic Satsuma rebellion koshirae, or okashito.  Have a search here for these terms.  Usually they have a simple iron washer as menuki, this one has little bits of metal of an indeterminate shape.  On rotating your image of the tsuba I think it might be Kunihiro, a mei often found on plain iron tsuba thought the style of the mei is not the usual and I may be way off the mark.  

 

When you say you have this coming up for auction are you thinking of buying it or are you selling it?

 

All the best.

 

 

[ROKUJURO]

Leo,

to make an assessment easier for us, it would be good to show the photos in the correct position, tip-upwards.

The whole looks like a quite beat-up SATSUMA era (end of EDO JIDAI, 19th century) WAKIZASHI KOSHIRAE. The blade may well be older. The (upside-down) signature of the TSUBA seems to start with KUNI, the following character might be something like TSUGU, TOSHI or YUKI. 

Although a genuine sword, it will be expensive to have it restored properly, and it is not sure that you will get your expenses back in a possible sale. 

Please don't try to "upgrade" it yourself!

[Den1884]

Thank you very much the advice guys I will make a contribution to the board!

[Den1884]

1 hour ago, Geraint said:

 

When you say you have this coming up for auction are you thinking of buying it or are you selling it?

 

1 hour ago, Geraint said:

I run an antique auction house in the UK. I'll offer it up for auction on 12th of July!

 

 

[SteveM]

I too think the tsuba is 國廣 (Kunihiro). 

 

(correct orientation)