Wakizashi--?? Endo period?? But It has tachi mei markings??

[LEEG427]

I recently purchased a wakizashi blade in need of a togishi's restoration. Any referrals in Japan or North America?

Can anyone translate the markings and possibly let me know why a wakizashi has tachi mei. I thought they were only placed on long swords.

 

email leg427@gmail.com

[Grey Doffin]

Sanjo Munechika Saku, I believe. Very famous smith from very long ago. Unfortunately he didn't make this wakizashi (wakizashi didn't exist until long after his time).

I'd be very surprised if this warrants a polish.

Grey

[Ken-Hawaii]

Welcome to the forum. Please sign your real name per Brian's rules.

 

Where did you find this wakizashi?

 

Ken

[LEEG427]

KEN et al

thank you for the instruction. The blade was purchased on ebay from a german owner who did not know much about the blade. It was advertised as " a project" which sounded very unjapanese, but as I live in Honolulu and love sharp things, I bought it with the intent of bringing it up to its best form:

 

So: the name etching ( Sanjo Munechika Sako)on the tang are not a true statement it would seem if waizashi were not known in his era???

 

Is there someone in Honolulu who might look at the blade and give me some guidance about the most appropriate way to bring it to its best form?

 

Thank you

Lee Guertler

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Lee,

Bob Benson is in Honolulu (I believe he is listed on links above). He is a classically trained polisher and will tell you the truth about whether it makes sense to polish this.

Grey

[Jean]

Hi Lee,

 

Sako

no, it is "Saku" which means: "made by"

[LEEG427]

SAKU= made by got it--- so this was not? Is the practice of etching another's name (onto the tang) common? Obviously misleading

 

Thank you for the info and for the name of the Honolulu polisher

 

Lee

[Brian]

Lee,

Fraudulently signing with a different name is extremely common on Japanese swords. In fact many will say that there are more fake signatures than real ones.

Doubtful if this one is worth a full polish, but since you have one of the West's best polishers near you...the worst that can happen is you get some good advice.

 

Brian

[LEEG427]

10-4

 

CAVEAT EMPTOR would appear to translate well in Japanese then :-)

 

I emailed Bob and once I have the blade assessed will add to the mssg string so uall can see whether I have a "find" ( which I now doubt), a "catch and release", or a blade that provides me with education on how not to buy nihonto.

 

Regards to all

 

Lee

[ROKUJURO]

......Is the practice of etching another's name (onto the tang) common?......

If you have a close look at the NAKAGO you will see that the KANJI are not etched but chiselled. And yes, famous swordsmiths names were frequently used by others (with or without their permission) for different reasons.

[LEEG427]

Got it

 

chiselled on the Nakago

 

come from a knife background------ everything I have I use in the field

 

I have several excellent Japanese hunting knives I use in NZ. Wonderful steel.

 

However, I understand the concept of not driving an original shelby cobra at the drag strip.

 

Thank uall again

 

Lee