Request help with Identifying Wakizashi

[La Espada Ancha]

Hello,

 

I recently traded for this wakizashi / uchigatana, and am graciously asking for any assistance the knowledgeable members here may be able to provide to help me identify the period it was produced and the school (or maybe even the smith) responsible for its production.

 

The wakizashi measures approximately 19 5/8 inches / 49.8 cm measured in a straight line from the mune machi to the kissaki. The nakago is unsigned, though there are (remnants of) painted markings on the obverse.

 

What strikes me is the hamon. The character/style of the hamon is distinct and different on each side; the hamon on the obverse seems - how can I describe it? - "wispy," like the tops of clouds, while the hamon on the reverse seems to rise and fall with something (a little) more closely approaching regularity. The boshi, however, looks to be nearly the same on both sides of the blade.

 

I have tried to photographically document the hamon - this has been a frustrating exercise, as while I have been an avid photographer for over thirty years, I just can't quite capture the essence of the hamon as seen with the naked eye in person. Nonetheless, in the following two posts, I will present multiple photos of the hamon from both sides of the blade, in the hopes that combined with the form, someone here can help me place a time and hopefully a school or even a smith to this blade's manufacture.

 

Thank you in advance for any and all assistance you might be able to provide.

 

 

Obverse:

 

Reverse:

 

 

[La Espada Ancha]

Here are more photos of the hamon from the obverse of the blade:

 

 

 

 

[Jamie]

Your pictures are not showing.

just an FYI

[La Espada Ancha]

Thanks, Jamie... I'm guess they need to be re-sized to comply with forum specs. Back to the 'shack to re-size the photos, and I'll re-post them shortly.

 

ETA: I can see the photos I've posted when I view the thread...

[La Espada Ancha]

As I can see the photos when I view the thread, I'm going to go ahead and post the pictures of the hamon as seen on the reverse of the blade before I go about resizing them:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again to any and all who can be of assistance.

[Mark]

it is difficult to try and kantei from pictures. The shape of the blade, length (it appears ubu), and condition of the nakago suggest sue-koto maybe 1550-1580. I can't make anything from the inscription so no help there. I have seen Bizen Sukesada blades that had differing tempers, the file marks may be right for that group, the nakago shape is a bit different but close......

[La Espada Ancha]

Hello Mark,

 

Thank you for your feedback and for sharing your knowledge and opinion. I am grateful to have acquired this, and it will be warmly appreciated in my collection.

 

Regards,

 

Chris