Mumei Shinto Wakizashi

[Shamsy]

Good morning all,

 

I'm afraid my knowledge lies with IJA gunto, not traditional nihonto.

 

I have had the following wakazashi in my collection for a few years, as it is military mounted. However, the mounts are quite a mismatched affair, so I took itwith me to sell at a fair. Unfortunately interest in anything Japanese seemed fairly fleeting, though a couple of gentleman attending spoke with some authority.

 

They suggested I keep the sword regardless of it being outside my particular interests or study. I admit that since joining here I have certainly become a lot more fascinated by traditional blades, so I'm here to increase my knowledge and ask some more learned minds.

 

What I can tell you....

 

Mumei wakazashi, suspected Shinto period. Blade is in good condition without any obvious flaws or openings and is in old polish. Unfortunately there are a few striations, but still a pleasure to look at. Nakoga has been cut down, one punched mekugi-ana, one drilled. Some damage under the habaki, though not major and quarantined to one side. Mune has a couple of rough spots, ha has two small chips towards the habaki. To my untrained eye, jigane hada looks good, as does the hamon. Undamaged kissaki. Still razor sharp though I have not and will not test this.

 

Apologies if I interpreted anything incorrectly. I am still learning, as we all were at one time. I hate to be so layman, but could I please get an appraisal of value? I understand most mumei are not as highly regarded as a signed blade.

 

As is often the case any additional information would be appreciated. I'm keen to learn and can feel the nihonto bug biting...

 

Thank you, Steve

[Shamsy]

Additional I was unable to attach above.

[Marius]

Steve,

 

That doesn't look like shinto. I'd say koto, Yamato, Tegai or sue-Tegai. 

 

Just an opinion

[tokashikibob]

Very nice Shamsy,   It's my opinion you were probably very fortunate not to have sold it at the fair it looks like a keeper.

[SAS]

polish looks fine to me, nice sword. Lot of interesting activities in the hamon.

[Shamsy]

Well thank you all for the kind words. It is a beautiful blade, I can certainly appreciate it as such.

 

Koto, Yamoto or Tegai? That's certainly interesting. Is there anything I can provide to assist with dating? I certainly claim little in the way of expertise, so thank you for that suggestion.

[Marius]

Steve,

 

Only better photographs of the hada and nioiguchi (the latter against a light source). But your current pictures are already quite good, and there is a limit of what you can tell even with better ones. Unless you produce something as good as Darcy's pics (www.nihonto.ca)

 

One friendly remark - please do not handle the nakago with cotton gloves. The grip is not firm enough and the sword might slip from your hand. Beside, the patina on the nakago benefits from the touch of a bare hand.

[Jean]

Steve,

 

Buy some basic books on Nihonto. Yamato is a province with five main schools, one of them is Tegai (Kanabo is apart and a later one)

 

Here is an edicational site:

 

http://www.sho-shin.com/contents.htm

[Shamsy]

Thank you both. I am certainly no artist I'm afraid. I will work off what has been provided and see if I can learn more from some reading and study.

 

Regarding the gloves, message received. I wear them as a good handling practice for my swords as the oils etc from the human hand can be quite damaging (silk in tsuka ito, same, plating, paint, lacquer etc). However, I'll take them off when handling the nakoga as suggested. I wasn't certain if bare hands would harm the patina. Glad to hear not.

[Marius]

Steve,

 

Your attitude to nihonto deserves the greatest respect. Very encouraging to hear