Wakizashi identification

[TomMcRei]

Recently I found for sale this old wakizashi that looks legit to me but I`m not an expert.

Sword length is 51cm.

I am looking for opinions about age of this sword and authenticity.

 

 

 

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi Tony, this looks original but there are many, many problems with it. Best to avoid this one, it has been "polished" by an amateur, the Habaki is not original and there are a number of flaws visible. Save your money, no matter how cheap it is.

[Shugyosha]

Hi Tony,

Swords are very much like ladies: wait a couple of minutes and there will be a more attractive one passing by.  Keep your money in your pocket, check out the sales section on here and what other dealers have and you'll have a better idea of what you can get for your money and a better appreciation of what you're getting.

[TomMcRei]

I am aware that the sword is in rather bad shape but it costs about 100 USD so maybe this deal is not that bad.

[PNSSHOGUN]

That 100usd just turned into 1-2k if you wanted a restored wakizashi! Good condition Wakizashi in mounts are plentiful and not very expensive if you save a little, just check ebay.

[TomMcRei]

Cost of recreating tsuka, saya etc. is not a problem because I am not going to do it.

Rather leave it as it is right know.

 

Just want to buy this for educational purposes, I want to learn more and not spend great amount of money on it.

 

Can anyone estimate how old is it?

[Shugyosha]

It’s a hard one to date as this type of blade was made in every period and there are few details visible. Sticking a finger in the air I’d guess  late koto to early Shinto (1550 to 1650) based on the colour of the patina on the tang, but it’s only a guess and other views could be equally valid. 

 

100$ isn’t much money and you’ll get that back if you sell it so I don’t think you have too much to lose. Maybe working on it with uchiko will bring up the detail and give you something to go on research wise. 

[TomMcRei]

11 hours ago, Shugyosha said:

It’s a hard one to date as this type of blade was made in every period and there are few details visible. Sticking a finger in the air I’d guess  late koto to early Shinto (1550 to 1650) based on the colour of the patina on the tang, but it’s only a guess and other views could be equally valid. 

 

100$ isn’t much money and you’ll get that back if you sell it so I don’t think you have too much to lose. Maybe working on it with uchiko will bring up the detail and give you something to go on research wise. 

 

Thanks for help

[Jacques D.]

21 hours ago, TomMcRei said:

 

 

Just want to buy this for educational purposes, I want to learn more and not spend great amount of money on it.

 

 

 

i'm afraid the only one thing you will learn with this sword which seems to be an amateurish work is what you must avoid...   

[DoTanuki yokai]

I think the "polisher" altered the sugate too much to say from what period this is and i think it is shortned.

Im not sure what you expect to learn but i think you could get much more educational books for 100$

 

https://www.amazon.de/Facts-Fundamentals-Japanese-Swords-Collectors/dp/1568365837/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&dchild=1&keywords=facts+and+fundamentals+of+Japanese&qid=1609109051&sr=8-1

 

https://www.amazon.de/Connoisseurs-Book-Japanese-Swords/dp/1568365810/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&dchild=1&keywords=the+book+of+Japanese+sword&qid=1609109101&sr=8-1

 

https://www.amazon.de/Japanese-Sword-Comprehensive-Guide-Library/dp/0870115626/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&dchild=1&keywords=the+Japanese+sword+sato+kanzan&qid=1609109158&sr=8-1

 

https://www.amazon.de/Art-Japanese-Sword-Swordmaking-Appreciation/dp/4805312408/ref=pd_sim_nf_14_2/261-7469024-9415841?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=4805312408&pd_rd_r=759d5982-6715-46c7-8570-24dc22a3e0e3&pd_rd_w=jnsuP&pd_rd_wg=0XtWk&pf_rd_p=af1c267b-5eca-4ce2-9546-faea78e9b1ea&pf_rd_r=J0J784WT17DK84QMMZD5&psc=1&refRID=J0J784WT17DK84QMMZD5

 

https://www.amazon.de/craft-Japanese-sword-Leon-Kapp/dp/B0039918T6/ref=sr_1_2?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=3S2QT0N7DN7XA&dchild=1&keywords=the+craft+of+the+Japanese+sword&qid=1609109234&sprefix=the+craft+of+the+%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-2

[TomMcRei]

Finally I have decided to buy this wakizashi.

Here are more photos of blade itself, any opinions about age and origin of sword are greatly appreciated.

 

You can click on photo and then click again to see bigger size picture.

 

[JH Lee]

Oof... that habaki really doesn't belong with this blade.  Reminds me of the last time I tried squeezing into jeans too small for my waist.  "Muffin top munemachi"... and someone abused the nakago and ruined the shape just to squeeze that habaki on there.  Ugh.

[Stephen]

Why ask if you know your goingfor it because its so cheap

All good advice for naught.

Please get back in a month and tell us what you think you learned.

[Ooitame]

Best of luck on learning, as Stephen, said after study let us know your opinions. To me it looks like a retempered coal cutter, but hard to tell due to reshapping. Could have been a naginata