Wakazaski in Koshirae yoshiyuki

[phil reid]

Hello , just purchased this on the weekend, first time ive bought in shirasaya. Odd habaki ? 

 Thoughts appreciated 

 cheers

Phil

[Ken-Hawaii]

The wooden sheath is called shirasaya, Phil. Koshirae is a different beast. I've seen a number of habaki like yours, so not odd.

 

I can't tell if that's rust on the ura kissaki, or just an odd reflection. A few minor ware, but looks like a pretty nice blade.

[Oshy]

Hi Phil,

 

Koshirae would be in full functional saya and mounting (with tsuba, sepa, fuchi, kashira, and tsuka handle typically wrapped in samegawa, silk ito and menuki)), shirasaya like this piece is typically for storage. In my very limited experience i have also seen 2 habaki similar to this with cutouts of different shapes (moon). Not very common but they do exist.

[phil reid]

Bah , what a novice i am 

 cheers gents

[ROKUJURO]

Looks like a WAKIZASHI, not Wakazaski. The NAKAGO patina lets me believe it could be KOTO or early SHINTO.

[16k]

Do I see a kirikomi on the mune and shinogi? If so, your sword may have seen combat!

[PNSSHOGUN]

Yes there is a kirikomi there.

[SteveM]

The middle kanji is a bit obscured, but

 

陸奥守吉行

Mutsu-no-kami Yoshiyuki

 

No authentication papers, I guess?

[george trotter]

Hi Phil,

Yes koshirae are wearing fittings...yours is in a shirasaya (storage fittings).

The signature is Mutsu Kami? Yoshiyuki, which is roughly =  Lord of? Mutsu Province, Yoshiyuki, (made this)..

Don't know if this is your man, but there was a smith of this name/title working in Settsu Province c. 1650 (Settsu is now the Hyogo Prefecture area in central Honshu and  Mutsu is his honorary title...Mutsu is today Aomori Prefecture at the top end of Honshu).

Kirikomi is small sword cut marks on blade - often a sign of combat.

Regards,

[Oshy]

I'm a bit confused, and perhaps its just the lighting and how its coming through the camera, but the texture and buildup on the nakago looks older than the patina coloration. I cant make out the file marks very well due to the buildup but the patina doesn't look all that dark, a bit conflicting? The second picture looks darker then the first so perhaps im crazy?

[phil reid]

Thanks George , 

Gent as always