My first Nihonto

[cwo4uscgret]

 

I bought my first Wakazashi Sunday at the Paris Flea Market.  “It will not be for sale; I intend to keep this!”

 

Here’s what the dealer has provided me with about this weapon:

Japanese short sword, wakisashi.
Japan, Edo and Kansei era blade,
Blade length : 43,5 ; nagasa : 32,6 ; nakago : 11cm
Blade weight: 272grs
Blade (sugata): straight with tempered line, yakiba, notare ha.
Copper habaki.
The spindle is in white shagreen, brown braided, decorated with a pair of menuki depicting war fans.
Fuchi- Kashira suite with reed and duck motifs.
Iron tsuba with gilded dragon.
Black lacquered wooden scabbard (saya), decorated with a menuki depicting a man with a toad in front of a basket. Silver kojiri. Kozuka missing.

 

I took it apart (with some trepidation!) this afternoon; a bit disappointed that there was no markings on the tang on either side; the handle was loose enough after I pushed the single wood pin out that I didn’t have to use any force to remove it.

 

I took some pictures with my I-Pad which aren’t as good as I can take with my DSLR so when I return home I will take some better photos.

 

I’d love to hear your opinions on this knife.  Thanks in advance - be gentle; I’m new at this!

 

 

[Baba Yaga]

 Wakazashi ?         

[Rivkin]

It has to be a dedicated photo of the nakago, then activity, mune. Its in polish and has potential so best to look at it carefully.

[Bruce Pennington]

Tim,

They are needing measurements

 

And some good pics of the tang (nakago), both sides.  A zoom or 2 of the hamon (sorry I can't type the character between K and M) wouxd hexp.

[2devnul]

14 hours ago, Baba Yaga said:

 Wakazashi ?         

Looks like Tanto to me. 

[Baba Yaga]

51 minutes ago, 2devnul said:

Looks like Tanto to me. 

 

Me too, but what do I know over a  Flea Market dealer. 

Once again, does anyone ever read all the good Newbie articles before posting? 

People spend a lot of time writing them. 

 

[Geraint]

Tim has supplied the dimensions and the nagasa is 32.6cms so setting aside the sunobi tanto/ko wakizashi debate it's a wakizashi as described.

 

All the best.

[cwo4uscgret]

Baba Yaga - yes it is a Wakizashi.  Bought at the Paris Flea Market on Sunday.  There are no visible Mei on either side of the Nakago; I will try some close-ups of the Nakago; vertical, with tip up and hopefully I can find a suitable black drop.  We are in Paris for 9 more days then back to Texas where I can get some better photos. 
 

The Paris “Flea” Market is a bit of a misnomer.  In addition to what you’d think is a Flea Marke there are also individual shops with fine antiques, art work, furniture, and collectibles.  The dealer I bought this from specializes in antique and collectible firearms and also edged weapons.

 

As Geraint has said I posted the data from the dealer in my first post above.  WRT to better pictures of the Nakago, oriented vertically with the blade tip up I’m limited to my I-Pad or I-Phone whilst here in Paris.  When I return to the states late next week I’ll take better pictures.

[cwo4uscgret]

Here are pictures of the hamon on both sides of the Nagasa; I do not have a black background nor do I have any way to download photos from my camera.  That will have to wait until I return to Texas.  The right side of the Nagasa does not have a piece missing it’s just the way it was put on the bed spread, the closest thing to a black background in the apartment.

 

Guys - this is my first “dance” with a Japanese blade; I have years of experience photographing the custom knives I buy, sell, and trade.

 

[ROKUJURO]

1 hour ago, cwo4uscgret said:

Here are pictures of the hamon on both sides of the Nagasa; ..... The right side of the Nagasa does not have a piece missing

Tim,

NAGASA is the Japanese word for the 'length' of a blade (see bruce's post above). It may well be a whole new world of terminology for you!

[Ooitame]

Those dark lines along the hamon, oil quenched maybe.

[cwo4uscgret]

It is!  
 

Blade length : 32.6 cm, tang is 11cm

 

[Baba Yaga]

2 hours ago, cwo4uscgret said:

Baba Yaga - yes it is a Wakizashi.  Bought at the Paris Flea Market on Sunday.  There are no visible Mei on either side of the Nakago; I will try some close-ups of the Nakago; vertical, with tip up and hopefully I can find a suitable black drop.  We are in Paris for 9 more days then back to Texas where I can get some better photos. 
 

The Paris “Flea” Market is a bit of a misnomer.  In addition to what you’d think is a Flea Marke there are also individual shops with fine antiques, art work, furniture, and collectibles.  The dealer I bought this from specializes in antique and collectible firearms and also edged weapons.

 

As Geraint has said I posted the data from the dealer in my first post above.  WRT to better pictures of the Nakago, oriented vertically with the blade tip up I’m limited to my I-Pad or I-Phone whilst here in Paris.  When I return to the states late next week I’ll take better pictures.

 

Here is a link http://www.japaneses...ndex.com/nihonto.htm for you to study. This is just a start, and the 10,000 exceptions. 

 

[Rivkin]

It looks Soshu-styled.

A macro shot of activity with light applied from a side should do the trick. Unfortunately, nihonto photography is always difficult. Nakago is also important.

As is it can (big guess) be shinto piece.

[cwo4uscgret]

Baba Yaga, I’ve downloaded the link; it may take some time to read it all.

 

😲

[Baba Yaga]

Looking at your new photos I can see some resemblance of a Sori which "may" make your blade a Ko- The Ko-Wakizashi featured a blade measuring between 1 shaku (30.3 centimeters) and 1 Shaku 5 Sun, which equates to 45.54 centimeters. The Chonin class or commoners of feudal Japan were able to wear swords of this length.

 

This either muddies the water, or makes it more clear.