Here's A Sword, And I Like Your Thoughts On What I Have

[Prewar70]

Yes I'm a stalker here.  I've always had an interest since my grandfather gave me one he brought home from WWII.  I am an avid gun collector, and I have an eye for originality, which is the reason I purchased this.  The price seemed right, it looked old, original, and of good quality. Any help would be appreciated.  Pics are everything, so if there's something better I can do there let me know.  Thank you.

 

[Prewar70]

[Mark]

it is a genuine sword. Wakizashi, unsigned. Hard to say age probably 200-400 years old. The kissaki looks like it may have been reshaped, can you see the boshi (temper in the tip)?

[Prewar70]

Couple other pics.  I can sort of see the temper line to the point, but not as defined.

[SwordGuyJoe]

The second pic seems to indicate that if it were reshaped, it seems pretty healthy. But the pics aren't too great - I may be seeing things.

[Prewar70]

For what it's worth, looking at it in my hand, it doesn't appear reshaped.  All lines flow very sharply with the rest of the blade.  Crisp.

[Greg F]

Hi guys, I agree on the reshaped kisaki but better pics would be advised. I think it will benifit with good pics/lighting. There is instructions on nihonto photography here somewhere on Nmb. Also it is preferred that we sign our name after each post here. All the best.

 

Greg

[Prewar70]

I will try to take some better pictures tomorrow.  I really like the handle.  There was no tsuba.

[SAS]

Is it an optical illusion, or is there a numeral 2 in the 12th picture in the area where the habaki would rest?

[Greg F]

It does look like a 2, unless its a short and curly hair haha. Tsuka looks ok, some large nodes on the ray skin too.

 

Greg

[tokashikibob]

James,

    Nice grab,  for a first sword you can't do much better since you said you got it for a good price.  Have fun shopping for a tsuba,  here is Grey's site.

 

http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/tsuba-%26-kodogu/t313-iron-tsuba-shakudo-plugs-modern-art

[Caleb Mok]

I'm putting my $ it's curly hair...if it is a 2, it's a perfect two which means it's machine stamped/marked.  But why machine stamp/mark a 2 that actually doesn't look like a standard two ie the curve appears bigger than the base and is really, really circular for a 2.  I don't know, i don't know...

 

My thoughts on what's here is...because I am a noob, i am very susceptible to being unable to distinguish Koto from good Shinshinto. In my noobish opinion it doesn't look shinto.  So i'm looking hard for any signs by which to automatically write it off as either...which i'm failing to find.  Per majority here (?) I'd recommend polish by traditionally trained polisher, and if getting a non-Master grade polish (master grades are like $3000-$4000 USD for katana instead of the "usual" 120000 yen...right?) don't expect exemplary results EVEN IF the sword itself is exemplary.  But, difficult to recoup the cost even if Koto simply because it's mumei wak.  If Shinshinto, extremely difficult to justify the investment, even if a non-master grade polish.  But totally enjoyable as-is: i can totally see myself enjoying the weekly/monthly/quarterly/etc wipe with oil and cotton balls and relish seeing the ball get orange and know the nugui is improving with this sword.  In the same way a traditional sashikomi takes 50 years to look its best, the sword may look better in years to come--if taken care of correctly --Caleb

[Prewar70]

It's a curly hair.  I saw that in the pic and I ran to the sword to take a look and it's not there.  No stamp!

[Prewar70]

The curly hair area.

[Greg F]

Phew! Your not shaving with it are you? lol. It is a good find.

 

Greg

[Prewar70]

So I live in Minneapolis and Grey's is in Duluth, a short 2.5 hours north of me.  How convenient!  I plan to leave the sword as is.  Everything looks original to me and I like that.  I absolutely love the detail on the handle.  I can bring everything with me to find an appropriate Tsuba.  Do you guys have any advice on selecting one?  Style is obvious, but also fit.  I noticed when i align the peg hole on the handle with the tang, there is a 1" gap from the handle to where the tsuba would go.  Is there another piece that would fit between the end of the handle and the tsuba?  What else should I look for that would be age appropriate for the sword?  All thoughts and opinons are appreciated.

 

BTW, I love looking at this sword.  I'm surprised at how beautiful an edge it has and it's sharpness.  So any consensus on age?  200 yrs, 400 yrs?  Is it at all possible to attribute it to a smith or school?

 

One afterthought, did it originally have a tsuba or could it have been made to not have one?  Anyway to tell for sure?

[SAS]

I think you need a new habaki. That would account for the gap.

[Shugyosha]

Hi James,

 

Based on the shape as it is - fairly straight and a smallish point I would be tempted to guess somewhere around 1660 - it looks like a Kanbun sugata but it may not be in its original form i.e. with a re-worked point and so it's hard to be definitive.

 

The jigane looks quite dark in colour (though this might be the photography rather than the blade) and that might give a clue as to it's origins but it might not be possible to tie it down more closely than to a particular region. A quick Google on this kantei point led me to Markus Sesko's Encyclopaedia of Japanese swords which suggests that swords from the Hokkoku region, (the northern provinces), have this kind of jigane so: Wakasa, Echizen, Etchuu, Echigo, Noto, Kaga and Sado. 

 

Anyway, I hope that helps to get a discussion going.

 

KInd regards,

John

[Greg F]

Hi guys, there is a habaki in one of the photos? Maybe put it all together and take a photo so we can see the gap and maybe come up with an answer. I think if you know you spending limit and once you know the measurements of your blade you can narrow down the size of the tsuba and then you may want a certain shape or style. All the best.

 

Greg

[TETSUGENDO]

James,

Looks to me like you only have half of what was a two piece habaki- that would explain the "GAP".  Good luck with your project.

 

Steven K

[Prewar70]

Maybe this will help.  The holes are aligned.

[Prewar70]

[Shugyosha]

Hi James,

 

Yes - you have one part of a two part habaki. This, the thickness of the tsuba and perhaps some metal washers called seppa used to snuggle everything down tightly account for the difference between where the tsuka comes to and the hamachi and munemachi.

 

If you google "two part habaki" you'll get the picture.

 

Best,

John

[Ruben]

Hi Gentlemen,

 

for me this sword looks like a shortened katana or at least o suriage blade.

Just wanted to mention, cause nobody did before I think.

 

Greetings

 

ruben

[Mark]

If you are not far from Grey you should contact him. He would be a great mentor and I am sure he would be happy to encourage you and share any information he can

[Prewar70]

So I was looking at the sword again last night and I noticed something in the top of the scabbard that I hadn't seen before.  It looked like a metal "guide" to perhaps orient the blade.  The closer I looked at it I thought, is that supposed to be there?  Then the light went on, maybe that's the other part of my habaki?  So I got out the needle nosed pliers and gently started to pull not knowing for sure and not wanting to damage anything.  Out it popped and presto, the other half to my 2 piece habaki.  It seemed like it had been in there for a long time.  Tonight I'm searching deeper for the missing tsuba

 

[jason_mazzy]

yes, that is correct. it looks like healthy boshi in pic one of the kissaki

[Prewar70]

The menuki are very detailed and quite beautiful dragons.  Any opinions on them?  Would they be considered normal or higher grade?

[jason_mazzy]

pretty normal grade. not bad but not exceptional.

[Prewar70]

Sorry to keep bringing this one up but I was digging around on the internet and found a link through Grey's site to the CA Nihonto club. Here's a link to gold Menuki that are almost exactly the same as the ones on my sword, although different material. THey are so similar I would think they must be by the same maker????

 

http://www.ncjsc.org/item_momoyama_goto_menuki1.htm