My new Wakizashi. Any info / comments?

[gtstcactus]

Hi All,

 

I've just aquired a wakizashi. I don't know much of the history, previous owner said it was 17th Century..... How true that is I'm not sure. It is Mumei, and really could use a polish! It's not rusted. I will post some pics. If there is any information that can be obtained from the photos I'd be most appreciative to hear it. Anything anyone can tell me, as to age, possible school / area it was made.

 

The saya has a slot for a kogatana, and looks like it might have crushed abalone shell in the lacquer / coating.

Do you think this is authentic?

 

Jason G

[gtstcactus]

More pics, this time the menuki up close, looks like a bit of plain iron folded at the sides, certainly not a highly elaborate menuki!

Also pics of the Tsuba. The Habaki and the markings on it. The naked blade.

[gtstcactus]

The bits I haven't covered yet...

The Tang, & kissaki

[gtstcactus]

Last one! A section of the blade to show the state of polish and general condition

[Marius]

One must ask you (but please do not feel offended by these questions): why are you asking? What did you expect buying this sword? Why have you bought it in the first place?

 

Yes, your wakizashi is probably "real" - in the sense that it is not a Chinese copy.

 

Otherwise, not much to say about the blade - it is out of polish, with the tang covered by loose, red rust. The kissaki lacks yokote, which might mean that someone has buffed the sword in the past.

 

Fittings: Tsuba is cast, fuchi-kashira are eaten away by rust, "menuki" is goodness knows what. Tsuka-maki is worse than bad.

 

The whole package is not particularly interesting.

[Stephen]

do a search here for

Satsuma koshirae

 

 

some member are still young and in haste put things down very quick, the sword is in style of the swords carried in the late 1800s the search will tell you more

[Marius]

do a search here for

Satsuma koshirae

 

I have had the same impression, actually :-)

[Lorenzo]

By the picture of the tsuka with a BIC lighter close by, I guess the blade is very tiny.. can you post some sizes?

 

I have had a sword similar in size and shape to yours (as far as I can guess from your pictures) and I was doubting back then that it could have been a boy's day sword.

[gtstcactus]

One must ask you (but please do not feel offended by these questions): why are you asking? What did you expect buying this sword? Why have you bought it in the first place?

 

Yes, your wakizashi is probably "real" - in the sense that it is not a Chinese copy.

 

Otherwise, not much to say about the blade - it is out of polish, with the tang covered by loose, red rust. The kissaki lacks yokote, which might mean that someone has buffed the sword in the past.

 

Fittings: Tsuba is cast, fuchi-kashira are eaten away by rust, "menuki" is goodness knows what. Tsuka-maki is worse than bad.

 

The whole package is not particularly interesting.

 

I am asking if anyone can tell me anything about this sword as in actually being Japanese made, possible age, or if there is anything else that can be learned about the origins of it other than it's from somewhere in Japan. If not, oh well, no big deal.

 

Perhaps the menuki were purely practical as opposed to ornamental which if I read right was a later development. Also maybe a sign that someone wasn't rich...Yes the tsuka-maki is bad, it's seems old and worn, and I suspect half of the material was lost at some point and it was rewrapped with what was left. Perhaps it was made without a yokote? I guess it's not shobu-zukuri. Perhaps it has been erased.

 

To me it is interesting, even if it's just to learn whats average. yeah so I haven't been into this as long as you or others, and haven't handled huge numbers of nihonto as many on here have. I know you said not to be offended and I'm not really but just kind of bummed out. Like your sword is total crap, why did you even bother posting? (probably true it's crap) I'll put it out with the garbage. I no it's no national treasure, nor did I think it could be when I got it. I guess maybe some of you older hands see heaps of newcomers here like me and just get sick of seeing some of us posting pictures of their "uninteresting" swords in less than mint condition.

 

I didn't spend much on it, I thought I did ok. I feel like I should never have posted about it now and just minded my business.

 

I realise posting on here opens it up for comment both good and bad and mariuszk is just calling like he/she sees it, and that's fair enough, no point in sugar coating things.

[Marius]

I feel like I should never have posted about it now and just minded my business.

 

I realise posting on here opens it up for comment both good and bad and mariuszk is just calling like he/she sees it, and that's fair enough, no point in sugar coating things.

 

Wrong. This post has put you in a dicussion mode Also, you have fared quite well - you got your answers, which is probably better than your post being completely ignored. Hang on to this Board, you will learn a lot. Just don't get discouraged. be prepared to move up in your acquisitions, spend much much more money on books than on swords, then, if you know what you like, get yourself a decent sword (does not have to cost a fortune) and begin the journey.

 

Hey, my first sword was crap. The second one - I paid way to much what was low grade in crap polish. I did not learn anything. Impatience is not the best council when it comes to those multi-$$$$ items. Read a lot, refrain from buying, save up, you'll have more fun and education. That's the mantra, and it has been discussed many times here.

[gtstcactus]

By the picture of the tsuka with a BIC lighter close by, I guess the blade is very tiny.. can you post some sizes?

 

I have had a sword similar in size and shape to yours (as far as I can guess from your pictures) and I was doubting back then that it could have been a boy's day sword.

 

It is 39cm from the top of the tsuba to the tip, 13cm from the fuchi to the end of the kashira. Plus .04cm for the tsuba. That gives us 52.4 centimeter = 20.629 inch. So that length is right for a wakizahsi isn't it?

[gtstcactus]

I also want to ad that the blade probably looks worse than in the pics than it really is... bit like they say tv ads 10lbs, my photography does nothing good for subject

[gtstcactus]

do a search here for

Satsuma koshirae

 

 

some member are still young and in haste put things down very quick, the sword is in style of the swords carried in the late 1800s the search will tell you more

 

 

Any chance of a link to somewhere with a proper explanation of satsuma koshirae, i googled it and got a heap of garbage. I don't get it...

[Marius]

Any chance of a link to somewhere with a proper explanation of satsuma koshirae, i googled it and got a heap of garbage. I don't get it...

 

Jason,

try at the source - as Stephen said "do a search HERE"

 

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5505&view=next

[Stephen]

pic 14 of the nakago shows to my eye that it had the hole filled then re punched?? it may be older and cut down for the wak conver, good habaki so it could be older than 1800s

[drbvac]

True enough oh eagle eye - must be the snow reflecting on your corneas

 

Its a nice copper "cat scratched" habaki IMHO and although all the rest is thrown on the blade to allow someone to use it for what it was designed, as you state, repunched and good enough for a pretty decent habaki could mean the blade is older and maybe worth a window or a second look.

 

Have faith - sometimes you do luck out - but all the advice about reading and waiting is true and what we ALL SHOULD have done!

[gtstcactus]

Its a nice copper "cat scratched" habaki IMHO and although all the rest is thrown on the blade to allow someone to use it for what it was designed, as you state, repunched and good enough for a pretty decent habaki could mean the blade is older and maybe worth a window or a second look.

 

Could you recommend someone who could "open a window"? I doubt there is anyone qualified in New Zealand so it would have to go overseas.

 

I'll try get a better focused shot of the mekugi hole, to perhaps determine if it has been filled and repunched.

[David Flynn]

There is a chap, James Jordan I think, Bob Benson trained in NZ. Sorry don't know any other info.

[IanB]

Jason, Do not be discouraged. What you have bought is a genuine sword, made in Japan in historic times, for a specific purpose. It is true that it is not going to create any interest in the world of 'fine art swords', but to you it is precious and being your first sword you must be excited. I still remember my first sword that had a blade very similar to yours. I absolutely loved that sword at the time and wish I still had it.

What you have is a short sword, made up from old pieces to arm a low ranking soldier. The bits were old when they were put together and are even older now. Treasure it, but do take to heart what has been said and read and look at everything that you can get your hands on - then when you have absorbed more information you can start looking for something that will delight you even more.

Good luck

Ian Bottomley

[gtstcactus]

Jason, Do not be discouraged. What you have bought is a genuine sword, made in Japan in historic times, for a specific purpose. It is true that it is not going to create any interest in the world of 'fine art swords', but to you it is precious and being your first sword you must be excited. I still remember my first sword that had a blade very similar to yours. I absolutely loved that sword at the time and wish I still had it.

What you have is a short sword, made up from old pieces to arm a low ranking soldier. The bits were old when they were put together and are even older now. Treasure it, but do take to heart what has been said and read and look at everything that you can get your hands on - then when you have absorbed more information you can start looking for something that will delight you even more.

Good luck

Ian Bottomley

 

Thanks for your post Ian, it's the sort of information (history) I wanted.

[zuiho]

Hello,

 

Your sword may not be high quality but could be at least a relic of a significant time in Japan. Others have alluded to Satsuma koshirae. They suggest, I think, that the rough bindings indicate its possible use in the Satsuma rebellion, a last-ditch stand of traditional samurai who saw their own selves become outmoded relics in a new age of modern weapons and tactics.

For this reason, I would leave it alone and not try any repairs or "window-polishes". It is likely the blade will disappoint, anyway. Further research is what you should do and really, the main thing you should do.

 

Bill G.

[estcrh]

To me it is interesting, even if it's just to learn whats average. yeah so I haven't been into this as long as you or others, and haven't handled huge numbers of nihonto as many on here have. I know you said not to be offended and I'm not really but just kind of bummed out. Like your sword is total crap, why did you even bother posting? (probably true it's crap) I'll put it out with the garbage. I no it's no national treasure, nor did I think it could be when I got it. I guess maybe some of you older hands see heaps of newcomers here like me and just get sick of seeing some of us posting pictures of their "uninteresting" swords in less than mint condition.

 

.

I like your sword and if you did not pay to much and you were aware that the sword was not a "National treasure" then you did ok. I for one appreciate the average or even low quality samurai objects and your sword in my opinion would be a perfect match with some of the low quality armor I have collected. Most samurai were not rich and took what they could get and this sword has all the signs of being an actual honest average low quality sword. I would not polish it or change it in any way, it can be enjoyed just as it is. You will find many people on the forum do not care for this style of object and that fine but some one needs to keep these items that are still in fairly good shape as they are a window to the past. Here is the type of armor I could see the owner of this sword wearing.

 

[gtstcactus]

If anyone is interested, I sold my uninteresting sword for double and a bit what I paid for it, I'm putting the money toward a nice wakizashi with a great polish... It's mounted in shirasaya, I'd like to have it mounted in koshirae... I'll post about it in a new post.

Jason G