Help with Wakizashi

[william m]

Hello all,

 

This wakizashi is mounted with the fittings as per my previous thread.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3211

 

If possible could anybody tell me something about the wakizashi? I am redoing the sword's tsukamaki for a friend and I think it would be nice if I could provide some info on the sword itself.

The nagasa is about 53cm long, the niku is very thick. I think the sword may be suriage as the balance isn't quite right it feels a bit heavy.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Brian]

William,

 

Does look like it is at least suriage. Very controlled hamon pattern of regular gunome, one larger, one smaller repeated. Not sure if this will help with an attribution. At a guess I would say late Shinto, early Shinshinto?

It has had that dreaded ferric chloride treatment though, so needs a polish to bring it back. Condition still looks ok and healthy.

 

Brian

[Aloof Pegasus]

What's the ferric chloride treatment if you cud be so kind?

 

Philip

[Gabriel L]

What's the ferric chloride treatment if you cud be so kind?

Philip

Ferric Chloride, i.e. FeCl3, Iron (III) Chloride, etc., is a molecule composed of one atom of the element Iron and three atoms of the element Chlorine. From the Wikipedia entry:

When dissolved in water, iron(III) chloride undergoes hydrolysis and gives off heat in an exothermic reaction. The resulting brown, acidic, and corrosive solution is used... as an etchant for copper-based metals.... Anhydrous iron(III) chloride is a fairly strong Lewis acid....

So it's an acid etch treatment. Presumably someone applied it to bring out the activity, but it's not a very good look.

[Aloof Pegasus]

Thank you very much Gabriel. Very clear.

 

Philip

[william m]

Yes I thought the sword would be quite young due to the very healthy blade. In regards to the etch, I think the entire sword was coated rather than just the hamon area.

What interests me in the sword is the boshi and the very controlled hamon. I will have a look in my books to see if any school specalised in the hamon+boshi combination.

 

Thanks guys

William