Please discuss my new Wakizashi

[Drago]

Hi,

 

I recently bought my second sword, a Wakizashi supposedly by Sukesada. It was more of an impulse buy (it wasn't that expensive), but oh well...

(-> http://www.ebay.com/itm/131306822043)

 

Wakizsahi signed (omote) 横山上野大掾藤原祐定 (ura) 備前國長船住, so probably 6th generation Sukesada (SUK893) in higher quality Type 98 fittings (but no pierced tsuba) with an aluminum saya cover and a nagasa of 50,25cm.

 

I'd like to discuss the following questions in particular:

1. Shoshin of gimei?

2. It's unusual shape.

3. Value/worth.

 

My thoughts so far on the questions:

1. I'd tend to say shoshin comparing it to the double-pic posted by Markus here (http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... 78c9bf8309)

2. I'll post pictures of the blade later, but from the one attached and the eBay pics: Does this count as moro-kiriha-zukuri??? AND the yokote and ko-shinogi are not parallel on both sides, the kissaki is "longer" by 1cm on one side, but the height of the shinogi line on both sides is the same.

3. I know that it is only worth as much as people are willing to pay for it, but what would be a reasonable price should I want to sell it? There are som ships in the fron 3rd of the blade, again, I'll post pictures later.

 

[Marius]

Does this count as moro-kiriha-zukuri???

 

You mean kissaki Moroha zukuri? No.

 

AND the yokote and ko-shinogi are not parallel on both sides, the kissaki is "longer" by 1cm on one side

 

Amateur "polish"?

 

Please post some pics as those on eBay are out of focus.

[Tokaido]

Hi Tobias,

the pictures at ebay are badly out of focus,

but from the placing of the shinogi line in the nakago

I guess the shape is not shinogi tsukuri but rather

kiriha tsukuri (on both sides).

That is a rare shape for a longer sword.

Greetings

Andreas

[Surfson]

Just glanced at the ebay photos and haven't studied the mei. The shape is quite unusual, if not bizarre. I can't imagine that the very short ji and long shinogi ji wouldn't hamper the cutting power of the blade. It's very hard to set a value beyond what ebay has just done, but I suppose that the shape is the main thing that will hold it back (or, less likely make it quite valuable). I'm guessing that the shape is why you got it at the price you did.

[Drago]

Morning guys.

 

Here are the pictures I promised. This was the first time I photographed Nihonto, so the pics aren't perfect... Please bear with me.

 

First of, some clopseups and the kissaki. A note about the kissaki however: I was slightly wrong. The yokote are in the same place, but the ura one is slightly tilted. But the ko-shinogi is NOT in the same place. I'd guess the tip was reshaped slightly. (the boshi/kaeri can be seen near the ko-shinogi in blade-kissaki2.jpg)

 

Overall pics of the blade come in the next post, I didn't manage to get good photos yet.

 

EDIT: Sorry, so far, no pics of the full blade. There is no good sun at the moment and I have to figure out how to get good lighing in a different way.

[Drago]

Okay...

 

Here's ther full view. I took 100 photos with my camera and none turned out good, then I took my phone and took these.

 

It's far from perfect, but I hope this helps.

[Marius]

Tobias,

 

This is not a bad sword, even if it is unusual (nothing wrong with that). The polish seems pretty good, actually, although a different angle of the yokote on each side is unacceptable. Are you sure this is not an optical illusion? Please take some precise measurements.

 

What is the thickness at base (moto kasane)? It looks very beefy.

 

I think some moron was cutting something with this sword - please observe the numerous scratches and the chips in the blade.

 

Other than that it looks healthy and pretty well done.

[Drago]

Yeah, I bought it because of its unusual shape.

 

Polish isn't that good - it's "shiny" but the hamon is only visible with a lot of counter-lighting and on the kissaki it only came out in the photo (it's basically invisible to the naked eye).

 

I guess someone used it, true. But some scratches come from the saya - the metal cover is dented near where the kissaki is and the sword slides in with some difficulty for the last 5cm there.

 

But the sword is pretty good and healthy (only a few polishes judging from the hamachi and thickness). And if shoshin, it was made by a jo-saku smith...

 

So gentlemen, what do you think about my questions? and I'd like to add:

4. How to undent a dentend saya cover?

 

EDIT: I measured the yokote - as well as that is possible with paper, pencil and a plastic ruler and not using my metal tools - they are identical, it really only looks like that because of the different ko-shinogi.

[Dr Fox]

See the post by Marius.

 

Moron/Abuse tie in well together. Saya scratching follow the lines of the blade, chopping marks move from 'ha' to 'mune'.The chips and damage to the cutting edge can be attributed to the 'moron'. In the hands of a good polisher this blade will look 10 times better than now.

 

I mention this, as one of your questions was Value and Worth? Only you can fairly answer that one!

[Marius]

the hamon is only visible with a lot of counter-lighting and on the kissaki it only came out in the photo

 

That is pretty normal for any hamon, especially one consisting of nie. The boshi (hamon in the kissaki) can sometimes be milder than in the rest of blade and, consequently, more difficult to see.

 

I think you have actually a sword in good polish, which a moron has marred with his cutting exercises.

[kusunokimasahige]

Am I correct that the boshi was reshaped ?

 

KM

[Drago]

Yeah, I tend to think so too.

 

So, what about the mei and the shape?

[Drago]

bump...

[Marius]

Shape is odd, Sukesada were so many generations... Signature looks well cut, can't say more. Want to be sure - send it to a shinsa.