New guy, Old Wakazashi

[bonekrosha]

Just trying to get some info on this sword.

I posted the same info on another board and they have been very helpful and I just want to spread my request for information far and wide to see if anybody catches anything someone may have missed.

I have one that my Grandfather brought back from Japan at the end of WW II. He was a Marine and during the Occupation of Japan, he was in the Suoh (Suo, Swoh) Provice. A family there was contracted to work for him and eventually they became friends. The family had this Wakazashi which they said had been in their family for generations. They said they wanted to give it to him so that it went to someone they respected rather than having it potentially confiscated.

My Grandfather obviously did not know anything of Samurai Swords but thought it was a touching gift. He accepted it, eventually returned Stateside, and put the sword in his garage. Long story short, I found it one day, expressed interest in it and he eventually gave it to me. It had not been well cared for, just sat in his garage. The binding from the hilt is long gone as are the hilt cap and menuki.

The tsuba is very ornate and must have been absolutely beautiful in its time. It still has some gold inlay present on it. The collar appears to be silver. The seppa spacers (there are two) appear to be copper or brass and have decorative beading on them. The Saya is deteriorated but is red with black speckling.

The tang is very dark, almost black, with two holes. Some time ago, I had a colleague who said he could date it. He translated the markings at the sword being made by possibly Kiyosada of Suo Province somewhere between 1320 and 1360. Interestingly enough, I had not told him of the sword being given to my Grandfather by a family in the Suo Province.

The more current consensus is that it is a Nio Kiyosada blade from the 1450's to 1550's and the Tsuba and its accountrements Choshu school, probably mid to late Edo, 1700's to 1850's.

I am hoping someone here might be able to assist me in verifying the signature and giving me a more cluess/opinions on my sword. I know that better photos of the Kanji are needed and I’m working on that.

 

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I'm lazy so I'll just copy what I wrote on that another forum, you might have already read this post though. Members in here have much more knowledge to further help you.

 

I agree with the space Lee, that's why I initially thought there would be 5 characters.

 

I was also thinking/guessing it might be late Muromachi Kiyosada.

 

Here is a mei reference and information from Fujishiro. (note the gap)

 

Kiyosada, Nio, [Eiroku 1558 Suo], sue-koto, chujosaku

 

He is the last of the line of one extended family of Nio, his works are mostly katana, ji is yowai, hamon is sugu hotsure. I have not seen any superior works, and this may be because he made a great number of uchimono (kazu-uchi mono).

 

[bonekrosha]

Lazy? Sometimes

Jussi my friend, I'm just trying to put more eyes on it, I am certainly not doubting anybody's analysis so far.

 

To all, I don't want to slight anybody.

Jussi and the other guys have been super helpful, I'm just wanting to get as many opinions on it as I can.

[Jussi Ekholm]

It's a good thing to come to this forum, as here you will probably get some of the best information you can get by Internet. I was just pointing out that members here can offer you excellent insight on the sword, far beyond what I could.

 

And by lazy I meant I just painted my own post and pushed ctrl+c, instead of writing a new answer. So it was me who was being lazy, not you as you are correctly researching opinions on it. Sometimes as a non-native English speaker everything might not come out as I'm intending.

 

But you are doing the right thing, as this forum is specialized in authentic Japanese swords, and the other is very general and broad. People here can probably offer you much insight on the sword.

[bonekrosha]

Dual laziness then :D

As I said my friend, I very much appreciate your input.

Hopefully I can get some more info on this sword.

[Lindus]

Did you do that clean up on the nakago????if so,please,never again

[drbvac]

Welcome:

 

For sure the better pics of the nakago would help and -- has it been polished or something or is that just the flash on your camera >? Hopefully no one shined it up for ya !!

 

Sorry Roy - missed your post - great minds etc.

[Lee Bray]

No need for alarm, gentlemen.

That's silver foil on the nakago. Someone told the op it would highlight the kanji.

[bonekrosha]

Oh don't worry, I've known enough for a long time not to do any kind of "Clean-up" on it

I used some Bare Metal Foil to try and make the Kanji more legible.

I didn't have any Tin foil as had been suggested to me.

I have to go out of state for surgery (yay, Military!) but I'm bringing the sword with me.

I'll be out of the loop till I get set up there but I will get back at getting better pics.

Again, thank you all for the comments and help!