Mei under rust – who can decipher it?

[Roland]

Another find :-) A Wakizashi, unrestored, but with some quite interesting potential... My problem is that I'm not sure about the two kanji of the mei. So if anybody of the more experienced posters of this fine board has an idea, please don't hesitate to share Your knowledge!

 

Nagasa: 18.5" / 47 cm

Nakago: 6.5 " / 16.5 cm

Length o.a.: 25" / 63.5 cm

 

Sugata: Shinogi-zukuri

Sori: 1.4 cm

 

Mune: Iori (gentle ioshi)

 

Width mune-machi: 2.9 cm

Thickness mune-machi: 0.7 cm

Thickness Yokote: 0.35 cm

 

Tang type (nakago): Futsu, ubu

Mekugi-ana: 1

Nakagojiri: Haagari

Yasurime: Takanoha "Hawk-Feather"

 

Mei: 2 Kanji: ? ?

 

Kissaki: chu-kissaki

Boshi: (not yet identified)

 

Hamon: Suguha

[Darcy]

Sukesada 祐定

[remzy]

hey, dont be a tease and show the sugata to us!

[Roland]

I have done a quick shot with the Nikon. Without any perfection and just to show the Sukada of the Waki. Later I'll add some better (lighted) photos.

 

@Darcy: Nice to meet you again! In the meantime I have received your Bizen-book. Hmmmm... great stuff and extremely helpful for my studies. Thanx again for this spectacular stuff!

 

SUKESADA? That was my first impression too after some Photoshop-work, though I'm by far not as experienced as you to be sure about my impressions.

 

The Waki came with a black laquer saya of poor condition and a really nice set of iron tsuba (mid to late Edo, Shoami style, mokko gata, inlaid shakudo w/gold or brass, silver, possibly Hamano school) fuchi and kashira. From these I'll add photos later too...

[Roland]

It is saturday, the sun is shining and I am shooting some further photos of the Sukesada-Waki. Guys, I must be crazy

 

Here we go...

[Roland]

Here You see the Mune near the yokote and some details of the Koshirae: fushi, kashira and menuki (Shishi lions)...

[Stephen]

being crazy and cynical, , was wondering and usually ask newcomers where do you run across Nihonto in you country.

[Roland]

...and here follow two shots of the tsuba which belongs to the Waki.

 

 

Enjoy and have a sunny day!

[Roland]

Hi Stephen,

 

well, on one hand here in Germany still a lot of GIs are in service. Several of them have brought father's "family souvenirs" with'em. So from time to time there ist a chance to see a interesting piece of nihonto (plus lots of junk!). On the other hand there still is ebay. And yes I know about the risks!

[Stephen]

I am quite schooled on Ebay risks, nice little wak, looks like a good restoration project. Id never have thouht GI's would bring over dads war toys. Happy hunting.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Roland, Just curious but the tsukaito looks tight in the pics. How did you get the menuki out for a shot? More loose than I thought? John

[Stephen]

to the right in the kashira pix you can see where ito is broke

[John A Stuart]

Hi Stephen, Too right. Noticed it. but was too fuzzy for me to call. Thx John

[Roland]

You guys have sharp eyes! Indeed the ito is broken. One further task for the restoration project.

[Roland]

What do You think? Is this a Sukesada Wakizashi from the Bizen tradition during the Muromachi period, Eisho (1504-1521), possibly mass-produced for war like many blades during this time? Or a later Shinto piece?

 

Hm, the Yasurime ("Hawk's feather") style of the nakago was often seen on Yamato province blades...